THE PROMISE OF A UNIFIED PHILIPPINE ROAD CRASH REPORTING AND

DATABASE SYSTEM: uPARDS APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT AND PILOT

TESTING

Dr. Francis Aldrine A. Uy1, Riches S. Bacero2, Farhad Arian Far3,

Anjanette Q. Eleazar4, Mary Joyce Anne V. Uy5

1,2,3,4,5 School of Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering,

Mapua University, Intramuros, Manila

Abstract: The Unified Philippine Accident Reporting and Database System (uPARDS) main purpose is to provide an
advanced road accident investigation tool, record keeping and analysis system for stakeholders such as PNP, MMDA, DPWH,
DOH, and insurance companies. The system is composed of 2 components, the mobile application for road accident
investigators and the web application that integrates all accident data for the use of all stakeholders. The researchers with the
cooperation of PNP’s Vehicle Traffic Investigation Sector of the City of Manila, conducted the field-testing of the application
in fifteen (15) accident cases. The results of the survey revealed that the respondents were greatly satisfied with the
visualization and functions of the uPARDS applications as it proved to be effective and far more efficient compared with the
conventional method.

Keywords: Road accident, investigation, database, mobile application

1 INTRODUCTION The current scenario, once a traffic accident occurs,

According to World Health Organization (WHO),
there are 1.25 million people die around the world
due to road accidents yearly and average of 3000
people die every day. WHO identified and forecasted
that the third cause of death by year 2020 is road
accidents. In the Philippines, the number of road
crash deaths did not lower to 8,000 since 2010. In
2015 is the highest recorded road crash-related deaths
with 10,012 people killed and 1.79% of the 560,605
total deaths including non-road crash ones recorded
by the Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) that year
shown in figure 1.
Fig. 1 Number of road crash related deaths
there are various agencies automatically involved in
the investigation and processing of necessary
documents. The most important document is the
police report to be filed by the PNP. There are
unfortunately cases when there are no available
policemen at the scene of the accident, and therefore
makes it permissible for the Metro Manila
Development Authority (MMDA) to conduct an
initial investigation. Although MMDA’s personnel
are first to respond at the scene, the entire data
collected from the incident should be invariably
handed over to the PNP. This data would also be filed
as a police report. The information collected from the
investigation will also be useful for hospitals
providing the emergency response and care for the
fatal road crash accident victims. Private insurance
companies, in order to grant insurance to their clients,
require the presence of a police report in supporting
their claims. Upon receiving their insurance, these
companies also provide forms to be filled out by the
party involved in the road accident. Regardless of
road accidents in the Philippines investigated by
different government agencies, it still lacks a unified
and integrated database system that will be beneficial
to everyone. As a result, the data collected is not fully
optimized to its potential and only serves as statistical
data alone.
On the account that the uPARDS application is still
newly developed, it is inevitable for it to have
technical problems that would still require polishing;
these difficulties may be addressed by conducting a
study on how the application can improve its
parameters and its user acceptance. The purpose of
this study is to assess and establish a back end
analytics and observable assessment and evaluation
of the current application towards its improvement
and final features in accordance with the needs of the
stakeholders. Specifically, the study also aims to
generate new ways of presenting road crash data and
information to stakeholders, analyze if the application
is operative in accordance with the needs of all
stakeholders, analyze performance indicators and
other parameters to compare uPARDS with the
conventional method of gathering and storing road
crash data, and to determine further improvements
needed to enhance user experience.
2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
In 2004, local government agency DPWH
implemented a computerized system called Traffic
Accident Recording and Analysis System (TARAS),
using data collected by the Philippine National Police
(PNP). The data collected were intended to be used
by DPWH to identify potential accident blackspots
and to program road safety improvement projects. In
early January 2014, DPWH discontinued collecting
data from accident database system TARAS due to
logistical and situational challenges faced by the
agency. These challenges include training and re-
training the Philippine National Police to support the
system. Further problems entailed that stakeholders
refer to the quality of data collected by TARAS as
very low, due to the fact that the database system is
focused on national highways and does not entirely
record traffic accidents happening in local roads.
Other local agencies such as the Metro Manila
Development Authority (MMDA) uses a different
system and different forms in gathering traffic
accident data and therefore, their data is not
connected to the TARAS database.
In 2015, according to a report by CNN Philippines’
Gerg Cahiles, the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), a
unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP), started
training on the use of the on-site traffic accident
report app called Police Accident Report Kit
(PARAK) as the agency will start using it on 8th of
October, 2015. This app aims to significantly reduce
the time needed to clear vehicular road accidents.
Galileo Software Services Incorporated developed an
application and its main function is to digitize the
creation of a traffic accident police report. Using a
mobile gadget along with its photo-capturing
features, PARAK allows HPG personnel to generate
the necessary photos that insurance companies
require. The application can also be accessed by HPG
using 3G-enabled tablets, which are connected to a
central database, to immediately upload all
information garnered at the accident site.
A report in an online news portal of TV5 called
InterAksyon stated that a total of 95,615 traffic
accidents in National Capital Region (NCR) were
recorded 2015, which caused 519 fatalities.
Additionally, 17,103 were injured and there were
77,993 records of "damage to property." These
figures were acquired, gathered, and recorded by a
program called Metro Manila Accident Recording
and Analysis System (MMRAS). MMRAS is a
program created and operated by the Road Safety
Unit (RSU) of the MMDA-Traffic Discipline Office-
Traffic Engineering Center (MMDA-TDO-TEC),
with the cooperation and assistance of the Traffic
Enforcement Unit (TEU) of the Philippine National
Police (PNP). The program's objective is to compile
and maintain an on-going database of Fatal, Non
Fatal Injury and Damage to Property, and road
crashes, among others. Of the overall traffic
incidents, 36,011 or 37.66% of the accidents occurred
during the hours of darkness or without time
indicated, while 59,604 or 62.33% occurred during
daytime. The MMRAS report showed that
motorcycles have the "highest fatality accident rate"
with 262 involved, followed by trucks with 129, and
cars with 125. (Masinag C, TV5 Online News Portal
InterAksyon, 2015).
Researchers and journal writers (Azeez, Ajetola,
Ogunrinde, Mutiat, Adeleye, & Olaide, 2015)
designed a vehicle sensor known as ARTSYS that
can detect the intensity of an accident while
simultaneously reporting it to local Internet server
powered by 3W. ARTSYS is a web-based
multiplatform accident reporting and tracking system
wherein a web administration and other
corresponding federal agencies and hospitals can
work together in order to address the accident.
Furthermore, it was designed to provide avenue for
prompt reporting of accidents and avoid possible loss
of lives. The system provides an efficient and proper
reporting as well as tracking of vehicles involved in
an accident immediately after the accident
occurrence. It was designed to handle carnage on
Nigerian roads where adequate reporting of accidents
is almost nonexistent using the GPS technology. The
tracking module to sense accidents occurrences, track
the location of accidents and to send alert and report
to concerned agencies. Further reporting could also
be done on the website through appropriate
documentation interested members of the public.
A study conducted by researchers (A. A. Mustaffa1,
K. Hokoa, M.M. Rohani, M.Y. Aman, & M.B.
Saifullizan, 2014) in Johor, Malaysia presented the
Integrated Road Traffic Accident System (IRTAS)
which utilizes the available traffic data from
emergency service providers to obtain the efficiency
of their cooperation. The Emergency Response
System (ERS) in Malaysia is provided by the
following agencies (1) police; (2) hospital; (3) fire
and rescue; and (4) civil defense. The study uses a
collaboration of data gathered from all the providers.
In the development of IRTAS, ambulance records
and a one-year police data were extracted and
transferred into the developed computerized
database. The available data are used by agencies for
input and retrieval purposes. The collection of data is
used to effectively improve the cooperation between
emergency service providers. A unit of the results
can assist the providers to improve their emergency
services and to optimize their response time to reduce
the fatalities of road accidents.
On June 20, 2016 it was reported by TASS Russian
news agency that, in the upcoming months Era-
Glonass road accident emergency response system is
to be presented in HUANGSHAN/China by Russia’s
State Space Corporation Roscosmos and JSC Glonass
(Go Taikonauts Team, 2016). This system is
designed to help reduce emergency services' (police,
rescue services) arrival time at the scene of the
incident by 30%, utilizing modern navigation,
telecommunication and information technologies.
The first commercial operation of the Era-Glonass
system started back in 2015, the first call was
recorded on January 23, 2016.
Sophie Eastaugh, from CNN.com, in 2016 reported
about “CrashDetech” an app for smartphones that
pinpoints your location, detects accidents and
contacts an agent who will in turn dispatch the
nearest emergency vehicle in hopes of saving lives
and reducing response time. The app also sends your
personal medical information, like allergies and
blood type, to help doctors and paramedics to offer
more effective treatment. WHO (World Health
Organization) estimated that on average 38 people
die in road accidents each day in South Africa. Dr
Pieter Venter of the Global Road Safety partnership
stated "A number of providers of such services have
launched both here in South Africa and right around
the world, and there is a growing body of anecdotal
evidence which supports the position that this
technology can play a key role in helping to save
lives.
BBC news reported (Bethany Bell, BBC News,
Strasbourg, 2015) on August 28, 2016 that an EU-
wide emergency alert system named the “eCall” was
voted for by the European Parliament to help
emergency services (Ambulances, Police etc.) get to
accidents faster. from 31 March 2018 it is reported
that it will be a standard system in new cars. The
eCall will automatically alert rescue services. “A
standard accident alert system is needed in Europe,
because "when you cross a border you have a
language problem and often do not even really know
where you are", said Czech Social Democrat MEP
Olga Sehnalova, the parliament's lead negotiator on
the issue. Though installation of the device is likely
to add about €100 (£72; $109) to the cost of a new
car.
Wall ST daily Feb 4, 2015 reported (Aníbal
Alejandro Madrid, 2016) everyday in United States
80 people are killed in traffic accidents, almost
30,000 deaths in a year. During most accidents, there
are others around to help but in some cases where
there is no one around using modern mobile
technology and apps have helped save lives. Taking
such situations into consideration, Anibal Madrid’s
“SoSmart” app steps in. According to Madrid “If
you’re driving late at night or driving on the highway
and you happen to have an accident, nobody will
know about it for maybe 10, 15, or 20 minutes. And
we all know very well that the time between when
the accident occurs and when emergency services are
notified is fundamental and could make the
difference between life and death.” SoSmart notifies
family or friends immediately as soon as something
goes wrong. It detects potentially deadly accidents
and alerts loved one immediately. 1.3 million People
die from traffic accidents worldwide every year.
According to Madrid, the SoSmart app could save
130,000 lives.
Dubai’s Khaleej times reported (Amira Agarib, 2016)
on July 13, 2016, that 256 drivers alerted Dubai
police during Ramadan using “Report an accident”
app. Around 881 drivers benefitted thanks to this app.
Colonel Khaled Nasser Al Razzuqi, Director of the
General Department of Smart Services said, “The
smart application enables people to report accidents
and move on without having to wait for the police.
This helps prevent traffic jams.” The app is easy to
use, drivers just need to access the Dubai Police
application and click report an accident, then number
of number of vehicles involved, the driving license
number of those involved. Also filming the accident
is also an option.
Dutch News.NL (Ivano Abbadessa, 2016) reported
on March 29, 2016, that Dutch insurance companies
launched an app, which helps to get rid of filling
complicated forms after a car accident. Police and
insurance companies worked together to tackle
problems created by “old fashioned paper
documents.” The app takes pictures and with the use
of GPS determines the exact location of the accident.
Even cyclists or witnesses can use this app to report
accidents. Besides insurance companies, even
government officials and road safety groups have all
been involved in developing this app. They hope to
reduce the number of road deaths.
respondents. For the mobile application, 15
respondents corresponding to 15 different traffic
accidents were conducted.
3.2 Time Efficiency t-Test Formula
The t-Test or more popularly known as Student’s
Test was a statistical equation used in this study to
determine whether the uPARDS application is more
efficient that the conventional pen-and-paper method.
The following formula were used in the study to
analyze the time efficiency of uPARDS when it
comes to processing traffic accident investigations:
𝑋̅1 −𝑋̅2
𝑡= (1)
𝑠 2 𝑠 2
√1 + 2
𝑛1 𝑛2

3 METHODOLOGY
Where, 𝑋̅1 is the mean of first set of values, 𝑋̅2 is the
The researchers conducted a qualitative analytical
mean of second set of values, 𝑠1is the standard
framework that involves an organized plan that
deviation of first set of values, 𝑠2 is the standard
establishes the process of the research by first
deviation of second set of value, 𝑛1 is the total
handedly identifying the statement of the problem,
number of values in first set, and 𝑛2 is the total
followed by emphasizing the objectives of the study,
number of values in second set.
studying relevant local and foreign literature,
organizing the framework for the chosen research
3.3 Chi Squared Test
methods and data gathering procedures, as well as
The Chi Squared Test is an approach that can depict
providing results in be indicated in the results and
how much difference exists between the observed
discussion, conclusion, while subsequently providing
and the expected counts if there were no relationship
a distinctive recommendation for future researchers.
at all in the population. The following formula were
Furthermore, the design of the survey was based on
used in the study to help analyze the majority of the
the concept of Technology Acceptance Model
feedback of the respondents towards the application:
(TAM) developed by Davis in 1989, which was used
to enhance the user experience of the application. The
influential key factors in the theory are notably
(2)
Perceive Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease-Of-Use
(PEOU). The survey is also divided into two
components: one of which assesses the visualization
of the application, and the second of which analyzes
the back-end analytics of the system.
3.4 Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient
The researchers adapted the statistical approach of
3.1 Participating Stakeholders of the Study Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient to determine the
The uPARDS application is divided into two relationship of the responses of one survey question
components: the mobile application and the web- to the other. These questions would serve as the
based application. For the mobile application, the variables to be studied for its linear correlation.
participating stakeholder is PNP’s VTIS (Vehicle
Traffic Investigation Section), as uPARDS mobile
application is mainly focused on data gathering and (3)
the traffic investigation practice. The participating
stakeholders for the assessment of the web-based
application are (1) PNP’s VTIS, (2) Manila Doctors
Hospital, and (3) Charter Ping An Insurance
Company. The sample population for each of the
participating stakeholder for the web-based
application assessment involves a number of 30
4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 uPARDS
The Unified Philippine Accident Reporting and
Database System (uPARDS) is a mobile and web-
based application developed by Dr. Francis Aldrine
Uy of the Mapua Institute of Technology. It aims to
serve as an integrated system for government
agencies and private companies in the Philippines
concerned with road accidents. The uPARDS
application envisions creating a mobile application
tools and a single database system for all the
stakeholders that will pave way for faster road
accident site investigation, a quicker and more
efficient emergency response and a better transaction
of claims and creation of relevant documents. The
uPARDS system is composed of 2 components, the
mobile application for road accident investigators
that takes advantage of available technology to
advance data gathering and the web application that
integrates all accident data for the use of all Fig. 3 uPARDS Web-based Application for PNP
stakeholders. Flowchart
Shown in figure 2 is the flowchart of uPARDS
mobile application, in figure 3 is the flowchart of
uPARDS web-based application for PNP, in figure 4
is the flowchart of uPARDS web-based application
for Hospitals, and in figure 5 is the flowchart of
uPARDS web-based application for Insurance
Companies.

Fig. 4 uPARDS Web-based Application for Hospitals

Flowchart

Fig. 2 uPARDS Mobile Application Flowchart


Fig. 5 uPARDS Web-based Application for
Insurance Companies Flowchart
The sample evidences stored in uPARDS system and
digital reports generated by the uPARDS system are
shown in figure 6 and figure 7.
Fig. 6 Sample Evidences stored in uPARDS
System
Fig. 7 Sample Digital Report generated by the
uPARDS system
For the chi-squared test statistical, the p-value for
each question was analyzed to assess the statistical
difference between the responses. Statistical p-values
less than 0.05 (p-value<0.05) entails that the
difference between the responses is significant. This
will also aid the researchers in analyzing the majority
of the feedback of the respondents towards the
application. Furthermore, the researchers also
conducted Pearson Correlation Coefficient statistical
approach to determine the relationship between the
responses in the survey. A value greater than 0.75
proves that there is a strong correlation between the
responses from one question to another.
4.2 Time Efficiency Statistics between Pen-Paper
Method and uPARDS (t-TEST)
From the results of the t-Test statistical significance
conducted between the conventional pen-and-paper
method and uPARDS, it is evident that the
researchers can reject the null hypothesis because the
p-value is less than 0.05. Therefore, there is a
statistical difference and this analysis yields that the
results produced evidence to say that uPARDS is
more time efficient compared with the conventional
pen-and-paper method.
Table 1 Time (hr) consumed to complete a case the stakeholders towards the visualization and the
using two different method functionality of the application were positive.

Table 3 Average p-values for each survey of the

respondents from each participating
stakeholder
Average p-value for each
Participating Stakeholder
survey
Philippine National Police
0.01183464
VTIS
(mobile application)
Philippine National Police
0.012908467
VTIS
(web-based application)
Manila Doctors Hospital 0.001498439
(web-based application)
Charter Ping An Insurance
0.001095187
Company
Table 2 Results of the t-Test method for time (web-based application)
efficiency

Table 4 p-values for the visualization and the

functionality of the application
Average p-value Average p-value
Participating for the for the
Stakeholder visualization functionality of
of the application the application
Philippine National
0.000107511 0.011727129
Police VTIS
(mobile application)
Philippine National
Police VTIS 5.22835E-08 0.01427301
(web-based
application)
Manila Doctors
Hospital 6.2991E-05 0.001435448
2 (web-based
4.3 Chi-Squared Test (χ test) Results application)
The results of the Chi-Squared Test conducted from Charter Ping An
the survey were categorized into each of the Insurance Company 0.00193397 0.000256403
participating stakeholder and is presented in Table 3. (web-based
application)
The evaluation of the response of the stakeholders
towards the visualization and the functionalities of
the application are presented in table 4. Table 3
shows that the average of the p-values are less than 4.4 Pearson Correlation Coefficient Results
0.05, whose largest statistical difference can be The correlation of respondents for the
observed from the responses obtained from Charter functionality of UPARDS web-based application
Ping An Insurance Company. From the p-value itself, is considered ‘very strong’. Based on the
the analysis of the responses shows that most of the collected data, 96.84% of the calculated values
feedback of the stakeholders is positive towards the using the statistical approach of Pearson’s
application. Table 4 shows the p-values categorized Correlation Coefficient are higher than 0.75,
into the visualization and the functionality of the which entails that there is a strong correlation
application. It presents that the average p-values between the variables. Only 3.16% of the
obtained from each of the stakeholder is less than
calculated values are considered having a weak
0.05, which also meant that there is a statistical
difference between respondents. Collectively, the p-
correlation; On the other hand, correlation for
values from table 4 illustrates that the responses of functionality of UPARDS mobile application is
not as strong as the correlation for web-based
application; only 82.63% % of the calculated
data have a strong correlation and 17.37% of the
calculated values are considered weak
correlation. The totality of the results for the
correlation of respondents with regards to the
functionality of UPARDS web-based application
is stronger.
The data in Table 5 shows that the correlation of
survey results for web-based application for
insurance companies is stronger than the results
for web-based application for hospitals. Most of
the results have strong correlation for both
Charter Ping An (94.12%) and Manila Doctors
Hospital (76.4%). Nonetheless, Charter Ping An
have 17.72% stronger correlation compare to
that of the Manila Doctors Hospital.
Table 5 Strongest and weakest correlation among
the relationship of the variables
Strongest Weakest
correlation correlation
Correlation of
respondents for
the functionality 0.9684 0.0316
of UPARDS web-
based application
5 CONCLUSION
From the results of the field-testing, it is evident that
the use of the UPARDS mobile application was able
to gather all the necessary details needed to complete
a police report. The data gathered proved that the
web application for the PNP could produce a digitally
generated police report at a reduced time, which
proves its time efficiency.
The analysis gathered from the Chi Squared Test
results for the UPARDS mobile application and web-
based application depicts that most of the p-values
are less than 0.05. In conclusion, there is a statistical
difference between the respondents and that the
responses were positive towards the application.
For the Pearson Coefficient Correlation results, it
showed that most of the respondents had a strong
correlation to one another. As shown in the values
presented in Table 5, there were cases wherein the
correlation between variables was less than 0.75
(weak correlation); therefore, a revision for the
specific question in the survey required rephrasing or
a complete change in question. Majority of the
hospital staff also stated the application would be
beneficial to their department and that the
information generated from the system is accurate for
them to process treatments at the hospital.
Based on the facts the researchers have gathered, it
was evident that the functions of UPARDS were
designed effectively and efficiently enough to satisfy
the needs of the stakeholders.

Correlation for REFERENCES

functionality of Masinag C, “NCR records show almost 96,000 traffic
0.8263 0.1737 accidents in 2015” TV5 Online News Portal
UPARDS mobile
application InterAksyon, (2015): 2
Azeez, Ajetola, Ogunrinde, Mutiat, Adeleye, &
Survey results for
web-based Olaide, “A web-based accident reporting and
application for 0.9412 0.0588 tracking system (ARTSYS) using sensor
insurance Technology” International Journal of Advances
companies in Engineering & Technology, (2015): 3
Survey results for A.A. Mustaffa1, K. Hokoa, M.M. Rohani, M.Y.
web-based Aman, & M.B. Saifullizan, “Integrated Road
0.764 0.2360
application for
Traffic Accident Systems (IRTAS) for Emergency
hospitals
Service Providers” World Conference on
Integration of Knowledge, (2013): 1
Zein, Salleh, Grundy, “A Systematic Mapping Study
of Mobile Application Testing Techniques”
Elsevier Inc., (2016): pp. 1-2