USE seatbelt, wear helmet and don’t do drugs and booze while driving.
These are the three basic but tried and tested rules to live by for a safe travel this Holy Week break, the Philippine National Police reminded on Tuesday.
Amid rising traffic accidents in the past year, PNP spokesperson Generoso Cerbo Jr. reiterated the sanctions motorists might face if found violating the seat belt, helmet and anti-drunk and driving laws.
Based on PNP’s Highway Patrol Group’s data, for the entire year of 2014, vehicular accidents nationwide increased from 12,875 in 2013 to 15,572.
Among the top causes of accidents include bad overtaking, bad turning, using mobile phones while driving, drunk driving and hit and run incidents.
Republic Act 8750 or the seat belts use act of 1999 requires mandatory compliance by motorists of private and public vehicles to use seat belt devices and requiring vehicle manufacturers to install seat belt devices in all the manufactured vehicles.
The law also prohibits children (ages six years and below) to sit in the front seat of any running motor vehicle.
Failing to wear the prescribed seat belt devices or failure to require his or her passengers to wear the prescribed seat belt device will face P100 up to P5,000 fine and suspension of driver’s license.
Republic Act 10054 or the motorcycle helmet act of 2009 mandates all motorcycle riders to wear standard protective motorcycle helmets while driving and providing penalties.
The law penalizes motorists caught not wearing the standard protective helmet from P1,500 to P10,000 and confiscation of driver’s license.
Republic Act 10586 or the anti-drunk and drugged driving act of 2013 penalizing persons driving under the influence of alcohol, dangerous drugs and similar substances and for other purposes.
Violation of the law has a penalty of three months’ imprisonment and fines ranging from P80,000 up to P500,000.
“Sana sundin natin ito nang maging ligtas ang ating byahe. By just observing these three, one can save lives,” he said. AC