The C-5 Road is Metro Manila's Top Killer Highway in 2018

Think the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue--or popularly known as EDSA--is the most dangerous highway in the Philippines? Think again. According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Circumferential Road 5 or C-5 is actually is the top killer highway for 2017 and 2018--averaging 27 deaths last year. EDSA was next in line, with 21 deaths; Roxas Boulevard had 17 incidents; MacArthur Hghway had 11 cases, while Commonwealth Avenue had 10 death cases--with the Metro Rail Transit 7 construction one of the main reasons for these occurrences.

Despite this, C5 does not hold the highest rank when it comes to road accidents. According to Inquirer.net, it tallied around 8,252 road accidents last year, while EDSA ranked number one-- with 17,276 cases.

The Circumferential Road

C-5 is a network of bridges and roads that stretch through Quezon City, Pasig, Marikina, Makati, Valenzuela, Parañaque, Taguig, and Pasig. It’s considered the second most important road after EDSA.

It's prone to liquefaction, and it sits on top of the Marikina West Valley Fault line. C-5 is particularly dangerous at night, especially the stretch between Market! Market! and Kalayaan Avenue. Many drivers report people throwing rocks at their cars, or having their tires 'spiked' by nails.

Road Safety Plan

These road crash fatalities are the primary reason why the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has launched a "road safety plan" to help lessen road crash fatalities. Originally launched in 2011, the newly-updated road safety plan's primary goal is to lessen road crashes by 20 percent in 2022. They have already started with the key areas they plan to improve on, which are the newly-implemented public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program and tighter motor vehicle inspection regulations.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Arnulfo Fabillar told in an interview with Rappler:

"[Road safety> is a collaboration, a cooperation among people. Everybody has a role to play. Simply following the rules is a start," he said.