Press Release
April 12, 2009

RP IN DIRE NEED OF HELMET LAW

Due to the alarming increase of motorcycle accidents in the country, Senator Bong Revilla today urged anew the immediate passage of his Mandatory Helmet Bill that would oblige all drivers and back riders of motorcycles, including scooters, to wear standard quality helmets.

The senator stressed that even the officials and members of the Motorcycle Philippines Federation (MCPF), the nationwide umbrella organization of different motorbikers and riders' clubs, recognize the need for the country to have a Mandatory Helmet law. "It is not only our million motorcyclists who are aware of the danger of wearing no helmet, but also the motorcycle manufacturers and dealers. Studies showed helmets are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries and 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries to motorcyclists. Wearing of helmets will greatly reduce fatalities in road accidents and would also boost a sense of discipline to all motorcycle riders, "Revilla said.

The lawmaker further explained that it is only proper that the government implements a safe motorcycle riding policy nationwide considering the figures gathered by the Traffic Operations Center of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from January to December 2008 revealing that motorcycles have the highest fatality rate in road accidents with 106 motorcycles involved, or 28.19 percent of the total fatal accidents.

Revilla said there are about 3.5 million motorcycles in the Philippines , comprising 45 percent of all registered vehicles in the country and together with this is the alarming statistics of growing incidents of road mishaps involving motorcycles. "From narrow streets to major thoroughfares, motorcycles and scooters are common sight, day and night. And everyday, accidents involving these vehicles are already common news to us. We must address this problem as soon as possible," he said.

Revilla appealed to his colleagues in the Senate for the urgent passage of Senate Bill 1863 or the Mandatory Helmet Bill aimed to mandate the wearing of standard quality helmets among drivers and back riders of motorcycles and scooters.

Under Senate Bill 1863 which is pending for second reading in the Senate, all motorcycle riders, the driver and the back rider, must wear standard quality helmets while driving motorcycles, whether long on or short drives, in any time of the day, in any type of road and highway. Exempted are drivers of tricycles.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is tasked to release specifications regarding standard quality helmets while the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), through the Land Transportation Office (LTO), is directed to issue guidelines necessary for the implementation. Violators shall be subject to confiscation of driver's license and/or a fine of not less than three thousand pesos (P3, 000), but not exceeding twenty thousand pesos (P20,000).

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