THE Anti-Distracted Driving Act lapsed into law and took effect Thursday. It’s bound to create a stir—if it hasn’t already—because it challenges, in insidious ways, how many people have been acting for many years.
Distracted driving is defined as using telecommunications or entertainment devices while in motion or temporarily stopped at a red traffic light.
The law is in reaction to a reality that has evolved, of course. According to the World Health Organization, 1.2 million people around the world die every year because of road accidents – accidents that are predictable and preventable.
Here at home, Philippine Statistical Authority numbers tell a similar story. Deaths due to road crashes have been on the rise, peaking at 8,666 in 2014. There are no numbers yet for 2015 and 2016 although we might imagine what they look like.
Anecdotal evidence tells us drivers are more prone to commit errors or to be less on guard when they are using their electronic devices for one reason or another.
But many who have developed certain habits over years, even decades, may find it impractical and anti-instinct, especially when their established behavior has not brought them any trouble anyway.
There are provisions for exception and emergency—but these no doubt will fail to cover many situations people would consider important.
The law is not perfect, sure. A few years from now, it will need amending to reflect evolving changes in technology and driving behavior. It also opens up opportunity for corruption among apprehending officers. First-time violators will have to shell out P5,000—not something to sneeze at, so the temptation to find a way to settle in other ways may be strong.
Notwithstanding these dangers, the law must be given a chance. All too often, we don’t give thought to what we do if we’ve become used to them. We no longer evaluate the potential consequences of our acts.
It’s a dangerous habit.
This new law will at the very least make us rethink why we do what we do—if only to avoid the unsavory scenario of paying the penalty.
Different people are distracted in different ways. But there are certain universal distractions and common behaviors associated with road accidents. Lives are always on the line—if not the drivers’, then their passengers, those in other vehicles or innocently standing on the street. This must not be taken lightly, no matter the number of hours we spend on the road every day.
We agree it must be jarring to be told what would and would not be a distraction. But it’s a small price to pay for developing better, safer habits.