BONG REVILLA'S HELMET BILL FINALLY A LAW

Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. today expressed victory for the millions of road safety crusaders in the country after finally achieving the much-awaited passage of his pet bill that obliges all motorcycle riders, including back riders, to wear standard protective helmets.

"After more than two years of pushing this bill, our long wait is finally over. The passage of this measure will not be fulfilled if not for the support of our motorcyclists and the motorcycle manufacturers and dealers who are aware of the danger of not wearing a helmet. I am also deeply grateful to my colleagues who unanimously voted for its approval, recognizing the importance of its urgent passage to address the alarming incidence of motorcycle-related accidents in the country," said Bong Revilla, referring to Republic Act No. 10054 or the Mandatory Helmet Act which was enacted into law last March 23.

Under the new law, all motorcycle riders- the driver and back rider- must wear standard protective helmets while driving motorcycles, whether on long or short drives, at any time of the day, in any type of road and highway. Drivers of tricycles are exempted.

The lawmaker said he is confident that the Mandatory Helmet Act will serve its purpose which is to reduce the high number of serious injuries and deaths in accidents involving motorcycles. "From narrow streets to major thoroughfares, motorcycles and scooters are common sight every day and night. 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," he pointed out.

The enactment of the Mandatory Helmet Act brought the senator's legislative accomplishment to 106 bills passed into law. "If we will be fortunate to be reelected in the Senate, we will push again the passage of our other road safety bills," vowed Bong Revilla, who was conferred by Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Motorcycle Philippines Federation (MCPF) as Ambassador for Safe Ride for his relentless effort in promoting road safety in the country. Aside from this, he was chosen by motorcycle manufacturing company Suzuki as its Safety Ambassador.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), there is a booming motorcycle sale in the country with an average of 7,000 motorcycle units a week. Unfortunately, with the rise of the motorcycle sale in the country, comes the alarming increase of motorcycle-related accidents. A report of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) of the PNP says that a total of 209 cases of accidents involving motorcycles have been recorded in January this year, a significant increase compared to last year's record of 106 cases.

The United Nations (UN) reported that some 1.3 million people die every year around the world from road traffic crashes and half of those people are pedestrians, bicyclists or people on motorcycles. The UN General Assembly proclaimed the period from 2011 to 2020 as the Decade of Action for Road Safety to spur national and global efforts to halt or reverse the increasing trend in road traffic deaths and injuries worldwide.