The Department of Health (DOH) has reported a grim toll from road accidents during the recent holiday revelry. From December 21, 2025, to the early hours of January 2, 2026, seven people lost their lives in separate road crash incidents across the country.
Motorcycle Riders Bear the Brunt of Fatalities
In a social media advisory, the health department provided a breakdown of the tragic deaths. Five of the seven fatalities were motorcycle riders, while the remaining two victims were pedestrians. These incidents contributed to a staggering total of 1,113 cases of road crash injuries recorded by the DOH from a network of ten sentinel hospitals during the same monitoring period.
Alarming Statistics on Safety Neglect
A deeper look into the data reveals a disturbing pattern. The DOH noted that the vast majority of the injury cases, a total of 787, involved motorcycles. This means that approximately 71 percent of all recorded road crash injuries affected motorcycle riders.
Furthermore, the department highlighted a critical lapse in safety compliance. An overwhelming 965 of the victims were not using essential safety accessories like helmets or seat belts at the time of the crash. This neglect significantly increases the risk of severe injury or death.
Alcohol Implicated in Numerous Cases
Adding to the concerning figures, the DOH report also identified alcohol as a contributing factor. The department recorded 135 cases where individuals involved in crashes were under the influence of alcohol. This underscores the persistent danger of driving while intoxicated, especially during festive seasons.
The data, collected from 5 a.m. on December 21, 2025, to 5 a.m. on January 2, 2026, serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of unsafe road behavior. The DOH continues to advocate for stricter adherence to road safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
