The Department of Health (DOH) unveiled its flagship initiative “Basta Driver, Road Safety Lover” during the 2025 Road Safety Summit at the Philippine Trade Training Center last Saturday, June 14, 2025.
The event convened motorists, law enforcement, policymakers and stakeholders including UNICEF, WHO Philippines, Angkas, JoyRide, Move It, Move As One, LTO‑accredited driving schools, and provincial vehicle inspection operators, to emphasize shared accountability on the nation’s roads.
Structured around interactive educational zones, the summit featured free medical and vehicle services, driver health screenings, mental health support, road safety seminars, and safety simulations . “Road safety begins with proper education and proper condition of the driver, vehicle, and even the road. It is a shared responsibility of everybody,” emphasized DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
According to the DOH, approximately 12,000 Filipinos die annually in road traffic incidents with around 33 fatalities each day. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) recorded 11,096 deaths in 2021, marking a 39% increase from the 7,938 reported in 2011. In 2024, over 37,000 people were recorded injured in traffic incidents, per the DOH’s online surveillance.
Beyond the human toll, road crashes have become the 9th leading cause of death among Filipinos aged 5 to 29, highlighting serious public health implications. Vulnerable groups include pedestrians, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and motorcyclists. Many of whom are disproportionately affected.
Learning from high‑risk industries
Drawing on his motorsports medicine background, Secretary Herbosa noted how Formula 1 employs strict protocols, such as rapid extraction teams, on‑site hospitals with burn units, and race‑track ambulances, to drastically reduce fatalities at high speeds. “I wish all our roads were as safe as an F1 track,” he remarked, underlining the need for disciplined infrastructure and preparedness.
Turning statistics into action
Campaign research from IDinsight’s 2023 Health Promotion and Literacy Longitudinal Study revealed concerning trends in driver behavior: 30% admitted to drinking and driving, and nearly 20% admitted to mobile phone use while driving. These widespread attitudes and practices fuel calls for multi‑sector collaboration between DOH, DOTr, LTO and other agencies, to bolster both behavioral campaigns and the enforcement of safe driving laws.
A shared path forward
At the summit, free services such as mental‑health counseling, driver seminars, health checkups, safety simulations and even multivitamins and snacks were provided, underscoring the DOH’s people‑centered approach. Stakeholder participation from international agencies and ride‑hailing groups reflects the campaign’s inclusive aim to reshape public behavior and policy around road safety, aligning with the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan (2023–28), which targets a 35% reduction in road deaths.
By confronting driving culture, health, infrastructure and law enforcement, the DOH’s “Basta Driver, Road Safety Lover” initiative reasserts the message: every sector and individual has a direct role in protecting lives on our roads.
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