Road Accidents: The Lived Experiences

of Motorcycle Users

A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of The College of Engineering

in Far Eastern University

In fulfillment of the requirements for Methods of Research

for ME (ME 425)

Bautista, B.
Eduarte, L.
Evaristo, R.

March 2, 2017

ABSTRACT

+MAAwADAA-This study is about the lived experiences of motorcycle users involved in

road accidents. The study aims to determine the reasons why motorcycle users
continuously used motorcycle, in spite road accidents. The study employs
qualitative method of research utilizing in-depth interview. Criteria are set to
qualify Key Informants (KI) and Focused Group Discussion (FGD) participants.

+MAAwADAA-Findings reveals that motorcycle users prefer to buy motorcycle because

of its affordability, convenience and mobility+ADs- Common reasons why motorcycle
users are involved in road accidents are the lack of knowledge and formal
training+ADs- Lack of discipline and inadequate
knowledge on road signs and traffic rules. Participants also claim that they were
under the influence of alcohol when they experience road accident+ADs- a few
experienced traumas but
eventually continue to drive motorcycle.

+MAAwADAA-The researcher+AJI-s recommends to the Land Transportation Office (LTO),

an increment on the existing penalties impose to violators. Likewise it is
recommended to have traffic enforcers visible at the main roads and highways and
strict implementation of traffic rules and regulations. Researchers strongly
recommend that before and after the Land Transportation Office (LTO) issue a
student license, applicant must undergo a mandatory seminars and trainings on road
safety and traffic rules.

Keywords: Motorcycle, Motorcycle Users, Road Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents

Introduction

+MAAwADAA-We are all surrounded by modern vehicles that affect our daily living.
These things were made for the improvement of our lives and make us do less while
the output is higher. Modernizations of technology in transportation have also made
a great impact in history of conveyance.
+MAAwADAA-
+MAAwADAA-Transportation is the movement of people and goods from one place to
another, whether in sea, air and land. A lot of transportation have been invented
and introduce to provide the most sufficient and efficient means of transportation
to the people. In the Philippines, jeepneys, buses, MRT, LRT, UV Express and
tricycles are the most common kinds of a transport vehicle.

+MAAwADAA-Consumers look for a kind of vehicle that will reduce their expenses in
transportation. One of the vehicles that can answer their problem is a motorcycle.
A motorcycle is a two-wheeled vehicle that can carry two to three persons including
the driver. Motorcycles are mostly used by the Filipinos because of its
affordability. A person with an average
income can afford, since it is low in price compared to other vehicles. It can also
transports a person in the least of time that is why motorcycles became popular for
many Filipinos who needs a fast, efficient but inexpensive transport machine.

+MAAwADAA-According to the record of Land Transportation Office (2014), the most

prominent users of motorcycle are in NCR, having a 537,160 registered motorcycle.
Furthermore, motorcycle has the highest number of users compared to other vehicles,
and followed by cars having a 395,782 registered car. Same record from Land
Transportation Office (LTO) indicates the number of motorcycle users also increase,
from 2012, 188,062, on 2013, 197,275 to 249,551 registered motorcycles on 2014.
Despite of the many benefits brought by motorcycle to motorists which result to
rapid growth of people using motorcycle, it considered riskier and more prone to
accident because of being exposed by drivers and passenger/s to twice as much the
risk compared to other transport vehicle that leads to accident that causes
injuries, damages to property and eventually death. Based on the record from Metro
Manila Accident Recording Analysis System (MMARAS), there is an increase in number
of road accidents involving motorcycle from year 2009 to 2014.

+MAAwADAA-The government and other concerned sectors implemented policies in order

to minimize the volume of motorcycles involve in road accidents which is as of now
continuously operating. The Republic Act 4136, Land Transportation and Traffic
Code, this law controls the registration and operation of motor vehicle to limit
the people who drives on the road and only give license to the persons who are
worthy to give opportunity to drive vehicle on the road. The Republic Act 10054,
Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009, this law requires all motorcycle users to wear
standard protective helmet while driving a motorcycle. Other laws are the Senate
Bill 2488 and House Bill 4462 which prohibits the children to ride the motorcycles,
the approved measure prohibits any person to drive motorcycle with a child on board
on public roads where there is heavy volume of vehicles, high density of fast
moving vehicles or where a speed limit of more than 60 kilometers per hour is
imposed. A children who can wrap their arms on the driver and their feet reaches
the step knot that supports the feet, are the only eligible in riding a motorcycle.
Also the implementation of Motorcycle Lane Policy by Metro Manila Development
Authority (MMDA) on some area that is prone in road accidents most likely in Quezon
City.
+MAAwADAA-Although many provisions and policies are implemented in order to avoid
motorcycle accidents, still a continuous number of related accidents are recorded.
There are still motorcycle users who are stagnant in using motorcycle even though
they themselves have already experienced a road accident. The purpose of this study
is to know the reasons of these people that continue to use motorcycle even after
they experience road accidents.

Theoretical Framework

+MAAwADAA-Motorcycle has been a trend in the last five years. The number of
motorcycle users increases continuously as if there was no danger in using it.
However, as the number of motorcycle users increases, the number of motorcycle
users that has been involved in accidents is also increases.

+MAAwADAA-A theory entitled +AJI-Prospect Theory+AJI- by Daniel Kahneman and Amos

Tversky (1979), states that people value gains differently from losses and, as
such, will base decisions on perceived gains rather than perceived losses. Thus, if
a person were given two equal choices, one
expressed in terms of possible gains and the other in possible losses, people would
choose the former. Stated differently, people make decision on what they might win
rather than what they might lose.

+MAAwADAA-It was in 1979 when Daniel Kahneman along with his colleague, the late
psychologist Amos Tversky delivered a paper in Econometrica by the name +AJM-
Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk+AJQ- , came up with the concept
of Prospect Theory also called as +AJM-Loss-
aversion theory+AJQ-.

+MAAwADAAACI-In prospect theory, loss aversion refers to the tendency for people to
strongly prefer choosing gain than losses. It suggests people express a different
degree of emotion towards gains than toward losses. Individuals are more stressed
by prospective losses than they are happy from equal gains.+AJQ-

+MAAwADAA-The theory proposed that the outcome of the decision is based on the
perceived gains than its perceived losses. In regard to his study, the motorcycle
users who had been experience motorcycle accident choose to use or ride again a
motorcycle because of the advantages they got in using it. They continuously using
motorcycle as means of transportation rather than to stop after the terrible
experience they got in motorcycle accident. They blindly ignoring the risk and
focusing on the gains and advantages in using motorcycle because of escalating
transportation fare and cost of living expenses of every family which rapidly
increasing.

Conceptual Framework

+MAAwADAA-According to the Prospect theory an individual may disregard the risk or

loses on their decision and focus only on the advantages or gains. Assumes that
motorcycle users are knowledgeable and does have an idea on the risk they+AJI-re
facing when using a motorcycle and the advantages, the benefits and the gains that
they get in using motorcycle. The dependent variables in the study are: (1)
Advantages in using a motorcycle+ADs- (2) Risk in using motorcycle. (3)How a
motorcycle user values risks and advantages+ADs- and the (4) Outcomes or the
decision they made are the independent variables. These variables can be measure by
asking semi-structured question to the subjects of the study.

+MAAwADAA-The relationship of how motorcycle users value advantages and risks

affects the outcomes or the decision they made, using again+ADs- discontinue the
use, after experiencing a road accident. Moreover, the relationship of other
variables to another was further explored.

Research Design

+MAAwADAA-This study uses Qualitative Approach. Qualitative research is a

systematic scientific inquiry which seeks to build a holistic, largely narrative,
description to inform the researcher+AJI-s understanding of a social or cultural
phenomenon (Astalin, 2014). McMillan and Schumacher (1993) define the qualitative
research as, +AJM-primarily an inductive process of organizing data into categories
and identifying patterns (relationships) among categories.+AJQ-

+MAAwADAA-In this study, the researchers use Phenomenology. It is defined as a

strategy research of searching the core of the human experiences that the
researchers will try to find, with regard to a phenomenon as described by the
participants. The objective phenomenological approach to qualitative research is to
depict the exact and certain lived experiences of people and no to create baseless
theories or models of phenomenon being studied (Creswell,
2009).

+MAAwADAA-Descriptive Research design was also used in this study. It is a method

of fact finding study with accurate interpretation of the data. This method will be
used by the researchers to interpret the information from the participants. It is
mainly focused on collecting and analyzing the findings based on the lived
experiences of the participants. It is also emphasizes what actually exist such as
the current situation, practices, happenings, or any similar phenomena (Marvel
+ACY- Mendel,2010).

Scope and Delimitation

+MAAwADAA-The participants of this study were from the vicinity of Quezon City,
Philippines.They were motorcycle users who experienced road accident and continuing
the use of motorcycle with 3 years or more, experience in driving a motorcycle.

+MAAwADAA-The study contains seventeen (17) qualified participants, 4 participants

in Key Informants and 13 participants in Focus Group Discussion. The participants
in the Focus Group Discussion were clustered into three (3) groups, which were
Clusters A, B +ACY- C. The researcher clustered the Focus Group Discussion (FGD)
based on the severity of the injury they acquired in the road accidents they
experienced.

+MAAwADAA-Key Informants were persons or officials who had knowledge and

understanding on the situation of motorcycle users and plays a significant role on
the safety of motorcycle users and other road users. The time frame of this study
is from June-March, Academic year 2015-2016.

Method

+MAAwADAA-The In-depth interview and Semi-Structured interviewed was used as a

method of data collection in the study. In-depth interview is a type of data
collection where the participants receive questions with fixed response categories.
The in-depth interview, while focused, is discursive and allows the researcher and
respondent latitude to explore an issue within the framework of guided conversation
(Crabtree, 1999).

+MAAwADAA-Galleta (2013) defined semi-structured interview as a qualitative method

of inquiry that combines a pre-determined set of open questions that prompt
discussion with the opportunity for the interviewer to explore particular themes or
responses further. It does not limit respondents to a set of pre-determined
answers. It is used to understand how interventions work and how they could be
improved. It also allows respondents to discuss and raise issues that you may not
have considered.

+MAAwADAA-The research instruments used in the study are semi-structured guide

questionnaire that are non-biased and formulated only for the purpose of getting
only the needed information for the study. The guide questionnaire was pre-tested
to twenty-five (25) participants to ensure the understandability of the questions
when asked to the subjects of the study. After the pre-test, the results tabulated
and revised the questions that are slightly unclear or ambiguous. After revising
the questions, the Land Transportation Office validated the guide questionnaire.

+MAAwADAA-Researchers also prepared Informed consent that is signed by the

participants after discussing the nature of the study, their rights and
confidentiality of the gathered data in the whole interview footage.

Analysis and Discussion

+MAAwADAA-In the Philippines, motorcycle as a mode of transportation is very

rampant not only that, road accidents are also evident at the same time. Base on
the record of Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System (MMARAS), it
shows an increase in accidents involving motorcycle in Quezon City. They recorded
15,106 accidents on 2009 and 113 or (0.75+ACU-) of it are fatal accidents. In the
previous year, 2014, they record 20,515 accident and 204 or (0.99+ACU-) of it are
fatal. Based from the data, there is an increase of (35.80+ACU-)
from the year 2009 to 2014.
Based on all the participants from the Key Informants (K.I) and Focused Group
Discussion (FGD), results showed that motorcycle users preferred to buy and use
motorcycle because of its affordability, convenience and maneuverability on road
even in a heavy traffic condition.

The study of Olanloye (2014), confirms that motorcycle users prefer motorcycle than
other vehicles because: it is very cheap and affordable, low on fuel consumption
and low maintenance cost.
Another study conducted by Hsu et al. (2003) stresses that: motorcycles are
relatively small in size, giving maneuvering flexibility and the freedom to park
practically anywhere+ADs- motorcycles have the agility and the capability to weave
through queues in congested
areas+ADs- the weight of a motorcycle is relatively light and able to be moved by
driver+ADs- the price of motorcycle is low and affordable by many people in
developing or in the low-income economies.

Motorcycle users also claimed that they do not have enough proper precautionary
measures before riding motorcycle they just only wear helmet and other safety
gears. Do not have a proper training on driving a motorcycle. And also the sources
of their knowledge or skills in driving are mostly from: observing others and
actual experiencing.

This is supported by the theory Social Learning Theory proposed by Albert Bandura
(1971), it states that an individual can learn or acquire new pattern of behavior
through direct
experience or by observing the behavior of others.

Furthermore, findings revealed that the most common causes of their involvement on
road accidents are because they had improper knowledge about traffic rules and road
safety, they
don't had a proper training before driving a motorcycle and lack of discipline.
They also claimed that driving under the influence of alcohol, aggressive driving,
slippery road and carelessness are some of the factors which lead on their road
accident.

The information underpins the report of National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA) the different factors that cause Motorcycle Accidents are
the following: (1) Dangerous roadways cause riders to wipe out, (2) Aggressive
driving, (3) Distracted driving,
and (4) Drunk driving.

In the Philippines, Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System (MMARAS,
2014) shows the top accident causations: (1) Human Error+ADs- (2) Other+ADs- (3)
Vehicle Defect.

(1)Human Error is composed of:

+MAAwADAA-(a) Alcohol suspected+ADs- (b) Avoided a Path Hole+ADs- (c) Hitting
Animal+ADs- (d) Hitting Another Vehicle+ADs- (e) Hitting Pedestrian+ADs- (f) Moving
backwards+ADs- (g) Counter-flow+ADs- (h) Cut by another vehicle+ADs- (i) Driver
Error+ADs- (j) Inattentive+ADs- (k) Lost Control+ADs- (l) Tired/Asleep+ADs- (m) Too
close to another vehicle+ADs- (n) Over speeding.

(2) +AJM-Others+ACI- is composed of:

+MAAwADAA-(a) Driver is suffered from heart attack while driving+ADs- (b) Due to
scattered objects+ADs- (c) Road Condition+ADs- (d) Slipped+ADs- (e) Slippery Road.

(3) Vehicle Defects consist of:

(a) Bike part broke+ADs- (b) Lost brakes+ADs- (c) Mechanical+ADs- (d) Tire
Exploded/Blown out Tire.

The researchers found out that in spite experiencing road accidents, motorcycle
users preferred to use again motorcycle because of its said advantages and
features. Moreover, the participants said that the main reason why they
continuously using motorcycle is because it is a necessity on their job.
Recommendations

+MAAwADAA-The study reveals the different problems encountered by motorcycle users,

the causes of their involvement in road accidents and their continuous use of
motorcycle in spite experiencing accidents. The researchers formulate these
recommendations base on the results, these are the following:

+MAAwADAA-The researchers recommend to the authorized agencies that govern land

transportation, such as Land Transportation Office (LTO), to reconsider an
increment on the penalties in the following violations:

(a)Not wearing crash helmet+ADs-

(b)Reckless Driving
(c)Disregarding+ADs-
(d)Traffic Sign (DTS)+ADs-
(e)Obstruction+ADs-
(f)Driving without Driver+AJI-s license (DL)+ADs-
(g)Driver+AJI-s License not carried (DL)+ADs-
(h)Expired Driver+AJI-s license (DL)/Temporary Operator+AJI-s Permit (TOP)+ADs-
(i)Illegal change of body parts and accessories+ADs- and
(j)Driving under the influence of alcohol

+MAAwADAA-The researchers also recommend traffic enforcer visibility to every

highway, especially on congested roads, and the strict implementation of traffic
rules and regulations.

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