Vehicular accidents in Cebu province declined by 24 percent in the January to May 26 period this year, but incidents involving fatalities linked to reckless imprudence increased, according to police data.
Records from the Cebu Police Provincial Office showed 2,688 road crashes were logged in 2026, down from 3,535 cases in the same period in 2025. Three out of 10 incidents involved motorcycles.
Despite the overall decline, cases of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide rose by 26 percent, from 69 to 87.
Police said deaths accounted for 3 percent of total road incidents. Most crashes, or 61 percent, resulted in property damage, while 35 percent caused physical injuries.
Police Lt. Col. Jose Rovic Villarin, deputy provincial director for operations of the Cebu Police Provincial Office, said all police stations have been ordered to help reduce road incidents by 15 percent this year following a 15 percent increase recorded in 2025.
Villarin said the province has seen improvements in road safety despite high-profile incidents, including the hit-and-run case that killed 23-year-old entrepreneur Kingston Ralph Cheng last February.
He attributed the decline in overall crashes to intensified police visibility, including checkpoints in accident-prone areas and increased deployment of patrol personnel along major roads.
Authorities have also strengthened enforcement of traffic laws, including the No Plate, No Travel policy, the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act, and local traffic ordinances.
Villarin reminded motorists to exercise caution and discipline on the road.
“Don’t drive fast. Drive slow. Slow is safe, and safe is fast,” he said.
Globally, road traffic crashes remain a major public safety concern, with the World Health Organization estimating 1.19 million deaths annually and tens of millions of injuries worldwide.
Photo courtesy of CCTO / Facebook
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