RISK FACTORS AFFECTING ROAD ACCIDENTS AT SUSANO ROAD, SAN AGUSTIN, NOVALICHES, QUEZON CITY

Abstract

Road safety continues to be a critical issue in urban settings, where the high volume of vehicles often leads to increased incidents of accidents, resulting in injuries, fatalities, and property damage. Susano Road, located in San Agustin, Novaliches, Quezon City, is one such area experiencing heavy traffic congestion, which exacerbates these concerns. Despite ongoing efforts by local authorities to manage traffic and improve safety, accidents remain frequent.

Although extensive studies have been conducted on road safety at broader levels, there is limited localized research that focuses specifically on the conditions and risk factors affecting roads like Susano. More importantly, the perspectives of road users and traffic enforcers are often underrepresented. This study aims to address this gap by identifying the key causes of road accidents, analyzing the common types of incidents, and offering practical, community-informed recommendations to improve safety along Susano Road. The study adopted a descriptive quantitative research design to evaluate perceived risk factors and road safety issues along Susano Road in San Agustin, Novaliches, Quezon City. Using purposive sampling, a total of 50 participants were selected, including 20 drivers, 20 commuters, and 10 traffic enforcers who frequently use or monitor the area.

Data collection was conducted through a Perceived Road Risks Questionnaire, which focused on three categories: ancestry and social environment, individual mistakes, and physical hazards. Respondents also identified common accident types and recommended safety interventions.

Data were analyzed using frequency distributions, percentages, and weighted mean to interpret the responses and identify significant risk patterns and potential solutions for improving road safety. Most respondents were 18–30 years old, male, and high school graduates. All respondent groups—drivers, commuters, and traffic enforcers—strongly agreed that individual errors, particularly reckless driving and traffic rule violations, are the primary causes of road accidents along Susano Road.

Although ancestry and social environment were also identified as contributing factors, they were perceived as less influential. Notably, traffic enforcers considered physical hazards and unsafe actions to be of lower significance compared to other risk categories.

The most common types of accidents reported involved motorcycles, rear-end collisions, and pedestrian-related incidents. In response, participants recommended several preventive strategies, including:

Enhanced police visibility and patrols

Stricter enforcement of illegal parking laws

Routine road maintenance

Improved traffic signs and signal systems

Development of safer pedestrian infrastructure The findings indicate that human error, particularly reckless behavior and traffic violations, is the primary contributor to road accidents along Susano Road. While social and environmental influences were also acknowledged, their perceived importance varied across respondent groups. Infrastructure-related risks were viewed as less critical, especially by traffic enforcers who placed greater emphasis on behavioral factors.

One limitation of the study is its reliance on quantitative data, which may overlook the deeper context behind road safety issues. To address this, future studies should consider using qualitative methods or a mixed-methods approach to explore underlying behaviors and motivations. Longitudinal research could also provide valuable insights into the long-term effectiveness of implemented safety measures.

Expanding the study to include other high-risk roads in Quezon City is recommended to gain broader, comparative data that can inform more comprehensive and adaptive road safety strategies.