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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Lights on for safety

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Motorbike riders, take heed. The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading House  Bill 8322 that requires motorcycle riders to  turn on their headlights when driving. 

The proposed “Mandatory Automatic Headlights On for Motorcycles Act” mandates the need to maintain their headlights on while their motorcycles are running on all roads at all hours of the day and night.

The penalties are rather stiff. For the first violation, the fine amounts to P1,000.00.  For chronic violators, fine  rises from P2,500 up to P5,000 with confiscation of driver’s license.

The bill is principally authored by Buhay Hayaang Yumabong (Buhay) party-list Rep. Mariano Michael Velarde Jr.

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The bill aims to enforce a low-cost method to reduce road crashes and prevent day-time and night-time head-on, front-corner, and other forms of collision by increasing motorcycle conspicuousness and visibility.

The bill requires motorcycle drivers and operators to automatically turn on their headlights as soon as they start their motorcycle engines and to maintain their headlights on at all hours of the day and night while their motorcycles are running on all roads.

A fine of P1,000 to P2,000 shall be imposed for the first violation on any riding motorist, driver, owner or operator who failed to use

headlights; a fine of P2,500 to P3,000 for the second violation; and a minimum fine of P3,500 to P5,000 and suspension of driver’s license for a period of one month for the third and succeeding violations.

Meanwhile, for the first violation, a fine of P5,000 to P10,000 and suspension of the license to manufacture, assemble, import or distribute for a period of one year shall be imposed on any manufacturer, assembler, importer and distributor for every motorcycle unit without a working headlight and/or an Automatic Headlight On System, mechanism or device.

Similarly, a fine of P10,000 to P20,000 and suspension of the license to manufacture, assemble, import or distribute for a period of two years, for the second violation shall be imposed; and fine of P50,000 and suspension of the license to manufacture, assemble, import or distribute for a period of five years, for the third violation.

A total of 215 congressmen approved the bill during a plenary vote last Monday

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