The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has announced a remarkable improvement in road safety, with official data showing a staggering 96 percent reduction in road crash incidents for January 2026 compared to the same month in the previous year. This significant decline marks one of the sharpest year-on-year drops recorded in recent traffic monitoring history in the region.
Dramatic Decrease in Incident Numbers
According to the comparative traffic report released by the DCPO on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, authorities documented only 21 road crash incidents involving 39 vehicles throughout January 2026. This represents a substantial improvement from January 2025, when police recorded 579 incidents involving 1,073 vehicles, highlighting a dramatic shift in road safety outcomes.
Vehicle Involvement Patterns Remain Consistent
Despite the overall reduction in incidents, the distribution of vehicle types involved in crashes showed familiar patterns. Private vehicles continued to be the most frequently involved, accounting for 46 percent of the total crashes. Motorcycles followed closely at 26 percent, while pick-up trucks made up 13 percent of the incidents. Other vehicle types comprised the remaining share, mirroring trends observed in January 2025 when private vehicles and motorcycles also topped the list.
Severity and Fatality Rates Analyzed
In terms of incident severity, the January 2026 data revealed that most crashes resulted in property damage, accounting for 81 percent of cases. Minor physical injuries were recorded in four percent of incidents, while serious physical injuries occurred in two percent of cases. Notably, fatalities were reported in 13 percent of the crashes, representing a higher percentage compared to January 2025 when homicide-related cases accounted for only one percent despite the much higher overall incident volume.
Human Error Persists as Primary Cause
The DCPO report identified human error as the continuing primary cause of road crashes, responsible for 95 percent of all incidents in January 2026. Vehicle defects accounted for the remaining five percent, while no cases were attributed to road defects during this period. Driver inattentiveness emerged as the most common contributing factor within human errors, representing 45 percent of recorded driver mistakes, showing almost identical patterns to those observed in the previous year.
High-Risk Areas Identified
The police report also pinpointed several locations where road crashes were most likely to occur during January 2026. Barangay 76-A recorded the highest share at 42 percent, followed by Maa Road, CP Garcia Highway, and the Calinan District, each accounting for 17 percent of incidents. Barangay Tugbok recorded eight percent of the crashes. This distribution differs from January 2025 data, which showed major highways such as McArthur Highway and CP Garcia Highway among the most accident-prone areas.
Time Patterns and Traffic Flow
DCPO officials noted that most incidents occurred during daytime and early evening hours, with peak periods identified between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m., 10 a.m. to 12 noon, and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. These timeframes coincide with peak traffic flow and truck ban hours, suggesting that congestion and regulatory factors may influence accident occurrence despite the overall reduction in numbers.
Police Urge Continued Vigilance
While celebrating the sharp decline in road crash incidents, DCPO officials emphasized that motorists must remain vigilant. They stressed that strict adherence to traffic rules and responsible driving practices remain crucial to preventing injuries, property damage, and loss of life on Davao City roads. The police encouraged all drivers to maintain focus, avoid distractions, and prioritize safety measures regardless of the improved statistics.
