According to this article, the answer is... The bus is the most unsafe mode of public transport in Manila, says report - Yahoo! News Philippines

The bus is the most unsafe mode of public transport in Manila, says report

By Monico D. Mekaniko

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – Riding the bus is the most unsafe mode of public transportation when you’re in Metro Manila, a study claims.

The likelihood of getting into a road-related accident is higher among buses than in any mode of public transport, according to a report by a professor from the University of the Philippines Diliman Institute of Civil Engineering (UP-ICE).

The report by UP-ICE Assistant Professor Hilario Sean Palmiano, which he showed during the 9th Professional Chair Colloquium, presents causal factors of road crashes in Metro Manila and its effects on the Philippine economy.

The report itself is a synthesis of several researches from undergraduate students on the causes of traffic accidents as well as possible solutions.

Palmiano’s synthesis showed that by far, buses have the highest rate of accidents among all vehicles in Metro Manila, both public and private.

Citing data from the Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS) for 2010, there were already 7,633 recorded incidences, which was against just 7,050 registered buses that year. This meant that statistically, there was at least one accident per bus.

Despite having more accidents reported by public jeeps, the chances getting involved in a jeepney accident is lower. There are 50,085 registered jeeps by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in 2010 versus 11,296 recorded incidences.

Taxis and FX vehicles are also exposed to high risk incidences. There are 37,478 LTO-registered cabs and FXs in 2010 while there were 7,927 reported incidences.

Tricycles are more numerous but reported the least number of accidents. There were 70,080 registered vehicles in 2010 but only 3,221 accidents as of 2010.

Traffic incidences involving private vehicles were also high (72,906 reported in 2010) largely due to being the biggest group of registered vehicles in 2010 (401,801 registered by the LTO).

Citing another undergraduate study, Palmiano said that among the causes of road crashes include driver inattentiveness, risky driving behavior, vehicular defects, and road defects. Certain types of roads, particularly the warped parallel type (parallel roads in weaving formation) cause around 40 percent of reported pedestrian injuries and 29 percent fatalities.

The length of sections, called weaving lengths that allow for U-turns also poses risks especially those that are coming in from the outside lane. Many weaving lengths in Metro Manila are less than 180 meters, which is not enough for vehicles from outside lanes to approach the U-turn. Palmiano suggests that weaving lengths must be no less than 180 to 200 meters in length for ample distance to approach a U-turn slot.

Palmiano also suggests that bus drivers be given constant road safety training programs to lessen the conditions that make buses a major cause of road accidents. In addition, provisions for pedestrian facilities in major roads must also be given. The government must also implement speed limits and strictly apprehend reckless drivers.

Stay safe and till next time, this is Monico D. Mekaniko, Va-va-vroom!