PNP SOP on Major Road Traffic Accident Response

Legal basis and referenced laws

The SOP cites Verbal Instructions of HEPBSA III for the HPG to take the lead role in the investigation of major traffic accidents.
The SOP references Republic Act No. 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code in the Philippines).
The SOP references the Revised Penal Code.

Policy purpose and intended outcomes

The SOP requires policies and procedures for investigation of Major Road Traffic Accident events with high impact collisions or vehicular traffic accidents.
The SOP covers incidents resulting in multiple deaths and serious injuries, damage to properties of great magnitude, or accidents that gained national attention.
The SOP is driven by the need to address the loss of lives, serious injuries, and property damage arising from road safety indifference.
The SOP directs emphasis that HPG must take the lead role in the investigation of major road traffic accidents.
The SOP recognizes that local police units have limited investigative capability to cover broad road networks within their localities.

Definitions governing key terms

“Highway” means a main public road, especially one connecting towns, municipalities, and cities, including expressways, national roads, provincial roads, and major thoroughfares and road networks connecting cities.
“Expressway” means a major divided highway designed for high-speed travel with few or no intersections, also called a superhighway, and often privately managed.
“National Roads” are roads continuous in extent that form part of the main trunk line system and are maintained by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“Provincial Roads” connect one municipality with another and are maintained by the Provincial Government.
“City Roads” are roads and streets within the urban area of a city, maintained by the City Government; in NCR, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is the overall administrator.
“Municipal Roads” are roads or streets within the immediate town area of a municipality and are administered by the Municipal Government.
“Barangay Roads” are rural roads managed by the Barangay Council.
“Major Road Traffic Accident” means accidents occurring in a traffic way involving motor vehicle/s resulting to: (1) multiple deaths and serious injuries, (2) damage to properties of such magnitude, and (3) traffic accidents that gained national attention.
“Motor Vehicle” means any vehicle propelled by power other than muscular power using public highways, except enumerated vehicles (including road rollers, trolley cars, street-sweepers, sprinklers, lawn mowers, bulldozers, graders, fork-lifts, amphibian trucks, and cranes if not used on public highways; vehicles running only on rails or tracks; tractors, trailers and traction engines of all kinds used exclusively for agricultural purposes).
“Pedestrian” means a person on foot or in a perambulator.
“Road” means a place where one way ride; an open way or public passage for vehicles, persons, and animals; a track for travel forming a means of communication between one city, town, or place.
“Traffic” refers to movement of persons, goods, or vehicles powered by combustion or animal drawn, from one place to another for purposes of travel.
“TARAS” means Traffic Accident Reporting and Analysis System, an acronym for a traffic investigation reporting format administered by DPWH for nationwide traffic accident data maintenance.

Scope and geographical coverage

The SOP applies to the investigative functions of the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and Police Regional Offices in relation to major road traffic accidents.
The SOP requires that HPG take cognizance of all major road traffic accidents occurring along the highways.
The SOP provides that NCRPO remains responsible for all road traffic accidents within NCR.
The SOP requires that, except for NCRPO, all Police Regional Offices (PROs) act as First Responders to major road traffic accidents along highways and turn over the case to HPG for completion of procedural investigation and dispositions.
The SOP assigns PROs responsibility for investigation of all road traffic accidents occurring on Municipal and Barangay roads within their jurisdictions.
The SOP defines “highways” for operational coverage through its defined subtypes (expressways, national roads, provincial roads, and major city roads).

Tasking and responsibilities by unit

OPR (in implementation):
- The SOP assigns OPR to implement the SOP.
- OPR must ensure broad dissemination of the SOP and related directives to concerned offices, particularly HPG, NCRPO, and the rest of the PROs.
- OPR must facilitate issuance of TARAS forms to HPG in coordination with DPWH.
- OPR must monitor and consolidate investigative reports and compliances for overall assessment on SOP effectiveness.
- OPR must perform other tasks as directed.
DIDM:
- DIDM must act as OPR in conducting investigation of all major road traffic accidents.
- DIDM must maintain a database/statistics of road traffic accidents sourced from HPG (major accidents along highways), NCRPO (traffic accidents in NCR), and the rest of the PROs (accidents along municipal and barangay roads) in coordination with DPWH and other road safety functionaries.
- DIDM must enhance the investigative capacity of HPG and local traffic investigators.
- DIDM must perform other tasks as directed.
PCRD:
- PCRD must enhance/sustain public awareness on road safety.
- PCRD must supervise media release on major road traffic accidents and actions taken.
- PCRD must perform other tasks as directed.
PIO:
- PIO must provide appropriate media coverage/press releases on road safety.
- PIO must perform other tasks as directed.
DC:
- DC must provide funds for implementation of the SOPs.
- DC must perform other tasks as directed.
DL:
- DL must provide logistical equipment and support.
- DL must perform other tasks as directed.
HRDD:
- HRDD must oversee and monitor specialized traffic accident investigation courses.
- HRDD must perform other tasks as directed.
HPG:
- HPG must conduct procedural investigations on major road traffic accidents along highways (expressways, national roads, provincial roads and main city roads) in close coordination with local first responders.
- HPG must create a database on major highway accidents based on consolidated TARAS reports in close coordination with concerned police units and road administrators.
- HPG must coordinate with road safety functionaries, focusing on Education, Enforcement and Engineering for road safety enhancements.
- HPG must submit immediate reports of all major highway accidents in 5Ws and 1H format.
- HPG must ascertain basic facts needed for immediate actions and continue investigation until termination, including preparation of Traffic Accident Investigation Reports to filing of cases and court attendance requirements.
- HPG must endorse official recommendations for remedial measures to concerned agencies such as LTFRB and LTO (including possible suspension of franchise, MV operator’s permit, and drivers’ licenses), and to DPWH and concerned LGUs for accident-prone road infrastructure development.
- HPG must perform other tasks as directed.
NCRPO:
- NCRPO must perform investigative functions on all road traffic accidents occurring within NCR.
- NCRPO must, in close coordination with HPG, MMDA, and DPWH, create and maintain a database of NCR road accidents based on consolidated TARAS forms.
- NCRPO must coordinate with road safety functionaries on Education, Enforcement and Engineering enhancements.
- NCRPO must submit immediate reports of NCR major accidents in 5Ws and 1H format.
- NCRPO must ascertain basic facts for immediate action and proceed until termination, including preparation of Traffic Accident Investigation Reports for filing of cases and court attendance.
- NCRPO must endorse official recommendations for remedial measures to LTFRB and LTO (possible suspension of franchise, MV operator’s permit, and drivers’ licenses) and to DPWH and concerned LGUs for accident-prone infrastructure development.
- NCRPO must perform other tasks as directed.
PROs 1-13, COR, ARMM:
- PROs 1-13, COR, ARMM must act as First Responders at highway major accident scenes within their geographical jurisdictions, supporting HPG and in accordance with Police Operational Procedures (POP).
- They must perform investigative functions on traffic accidents not considered major highway accidents within their AOR.
- They must perform investigative functions on major road traffic accidents occurring within Municipal and Barangay roads.
- Provincial Police Offices (PPOs) must collate traffic accident data in TARAS Form for submission to DPWH and local road administrators.
- They must submit immediate reports of major accidents on municipal and barangay roads in 5Ws and 1H format.
- They must ascertain basic facts for immediate action and proceed with investigation until termination, including preparation of Traffic Accident Investigation Reports for filing of cases and court attendance.
- They must endorse recommendations to LTFRB and LTO and to concerned municipal and barangay LGUs for accident-prone infrastructure development.
- They must perform other tasks as directed.
PNP CLG:
- PNP CLG must perform necessary on-scene examinations of physical evidence upon request of concerned offices.
- PNP CLG must prepare appropriate examination reports for use by investigating units.
- PNP CLG must perform other tasks as directed.

Coordination, turn-over, and evidence handling

First responders must implement the turn-over and assumption protocol when handing major highway investigations to HPG.
First responders must (1) initially cordon the area of the incident, (2) secure and protect injured victims from further danger, and (3) take immediate pictures of the scene while maintaining a record of events based on witness accounts, including identities of victims and the hospitals where victims were taken.
First responders must secure and conduct necessary apprehensions of the drivers involved.
First responders must inform the nearest HPG office/personnel about the incident, recording the time the incident report was conveyed to HPG and the identity of responding investigators.
Responding HPG investigators must be equipped with all necessary materials for major road accident investigation to avoid haphazard results.
Responding investigators must take copies of all notes and records from first responders using proper signed receipts and acknowledgements.
Both first responders and HPG investigators must render immediate reports of the accident to their respective offices.
Local police units must continuously assist HPG, including securing the scene, rescue and evacuation of victims, and traffic management.
HPG must request necessary assistance from PNP-SOCO during the investigation.
HPG must provide copies of investigation results to all concerned offices, including territorial police units.
HPG must proceed and complete all procedures of investigation.
All units must strictly follow investigative procedures on the handling and chain of custody of evidence.
All units must observe POP and Human Rights in all police operations.
Timely reporting of major road traffic accidents is mandatory.
All tasked units must operate on existing logistical and financial allocations; NHQ PNP provides additional logistics and financial support on a case-to-case basis.
Lateral and vertical coordination between echelons of civil government, stakeholders, and other concerned private organizations is encouraged.

Repeal, separability, and effectivity operation

All issuances, memoranda, rules, and regulations issued by the PNP that are inconsistent with the SOP are deemed repealed or amended accordingly.
The SOP takes effect fifteen (15) days after filing at the University of the Philippines Law Center, consistent with Executive Order No. 292 on filing-based effectivity.