MANDATORY HELMET FOR BACK RIDERS PUSHED

To reduce the high number of serious injuries and deaths in accidents involving two-wheeled motor vehicles, Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. filed a bill that mandates all back riders of motorcycles, including scooters, to wear standard quality helmets.

According to the senator, there are about 3.5 million motorcycles in the Philippines , comprising 45 percent of all registered vehicles in the country.

"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, "Revilla said.

Citing figures gathered by the Traffic Operations Center of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from January to December 2006, Revilla said motorcycles have the highest fatality rate with 122 motorcycles involved or 23.60 percent of the total fatal accidents. This was followed by cars with 113 accidents or 21.86 per cent.

For non-fatal accidents, cars have the highest rate with 30.22 percent share followed by motorcycles with 25.59 percent.

The lawmaker also pointed out the report of the Traffic Management Group (TMG) which showed that out of the total 14,202 traffic accidents in 2004, 3,010 or 21 percent involved motorcycles.

"It is alarming that the figures rose to 24 percent or 2,798 out of 11,425 accidents in 2005. In the first two months of 2006, the TMG recorded a total of 485 motorcycles accidents out of the total 1,364 accidents, which accounted for 35 percent of the total traffic accidents. We should do something about it," he said.

Under Senate Bill 1863, 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.

Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Act 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).

"Based on the Hurt Report which is the basis of most motorcycle safety programs around the world, no element of accident causation was related to helmet use. The significance of helmet use by motorcycle riders is highly recognized and appreciated. In this regard, passage of this bill is earnestly sought," Revilla added.