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Friday, March 29, 2024

MMDA catches 127 phone-using drivers

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Most of those apprehended by the Metro Manila Development Authority during the first full day of implementation of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act were riders of motorcycles, who also figured in the most accidents on the road last year.

Data released by the MMDA public information office showed that from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. last Thursday, the agency’s Metro Base through its no-contact apprehension program caught a total of 127 drivers violating the law.

It also showed that 89 of those apprehended were motorcycle riders, 25 were private motorists, seven were truck drivers, five were public utility vehicle drivers, and one was a UV Express driver.

Republic Act 10913, which prohibits both private and public utility drivers to use mobile communication devices when behind the wheel —and even when stationary during traffic or at stop lights —was created to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians, and prevent or lessen the number of road accidents.

Based on the 2016 Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System program or MMARAS, reckless motorcycle riding remains the top cause of deaths and injuries on Metro Manila streets.

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MMRAS statistics last year showed that motorcycles have the “highest fatality accident rate” at 218 total deaths, followed by trucks (103) and private cars (98). Over 23,000 motorcycles were involved in  road accidents last year.

Motorcycles also topped the list of vehicles with the most number of injuries at 11,456, followed by cars (7,544) and public utility jeepneys (1,922).

In apprehending violators, the MMDA uses high-tech closed-circuit television cameras, which can monitor lights from devices inside heavily tinted cars to determine if drivers are using their mobile phones and other electronic devices while on the road.

The Anti-Distracted Driving Act states that writing, reading, sending a text-based message, making phone calls, watching movies, surfing the internet, reading an e-book, or “performing any sort of computation on a mobile device” by a motorist is not allowed. 

The law also covers motorcycles, trucks, cargo haulers carrying hazardous or flammable materials, cyclists, pedicabs, ‘kuligligs’ (improvised motorcycles) and animal or human-powered vehicles.

Automobile Association of the Philippines president Augusto Lagman supported the government’s initiative in enforcing the law, saying other countries have also started policies against using gadgets while driving.

“It’s about time. It’s even worse than drunk driving because you are not looking at the road while using a mobile phone, so you are putting your life and the lives of others in danger,” said Lagman in a television interview.

Lagman said there were other ways for Uber and Grab drivers and even private motorists to navigate with their gadgets without violating the law, such as using the mobile traffic application Waze. “The law allows hands-free (navigation apps),” he said.

MMDA legal and legislative affairs staff Victor Nuñez said violators will be slapped with a P5,000 fine for the first offense. The second offense costs P10,000, while P15,000 marks the third offense, including suspension of the driver’s license for three months. The fourth offense carries a P20,000 fine and revocation of the driver’s license.

Apart from the MMDA, enforcers of the Land Transportation Office, local government units, and the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group are also implementing the law.

It is not considered as distracted driving, the law says, if the driver is not holding the mobile device like when in hands-free function, using the speaker phone, earphones, and microphones, as long as the placement of the mobile or hands-free device does not interfere with the line of sight of the driver.

The law exempts the following:

• When the gadget is used for emergency purposes, such as an emergency call to a law enforcement agency, health care provider, fire department, or other emergency services, agency or entity; and

• When operating an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance, fire truck, and other vehicles providing emergency assistance.

The MMDA said the number of vehicular accidents in the National Capital Region rose in 2016 to 109,322 from 95,615 in the previous year.

According to the World Health Organization’s 2015 Global Status Report on Road Safety, 53 percent of reported road fatalities in the Philippines involved motorcycle riders.

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