JV sa Anti-Distracted Driving Act: Pinagulo ng DOTr

MANILA, Philippines —  Pinasususpinde ni Sen. JV Ejercito ang pagpapatupad ng Anti-Distracted Driving Act dahil sa kalituhang inabot nito mula nang ipatupad ng Department of Transportation (DOTr) at Land Transportation Office.

Sinabi ni Ejercito, vice chairman ng Senate Public Services Committee, na kailangan munang plantsahin ang batas bago ito ipatupad muli.

“It seems that DOTr officials misunderstood the essence of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act. They have made matters complicated when it is basically just about banning the use of cellphones while driving,” pahayag ni Ejercito.

Sinabi ni Ejercito na bibihira ang aksidente sa kalsada dahil sa paggamit ng navigational applications at sa utos ng LTO ay lalo lamang itong makahihikayat ng kapahamakan.

"It is counterintuitive when using Waze or other navigation apps since the use of cellphone is less dangerous if it is within the line of sight. Every second that the driver's eyes are on the road counts. Mas delikado pa yumuko!" dagdag niya.

Ganito rin naman ang saloobin ni Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III na nagsabing ang intesyon lamang ng batas ay maiwasan ang pagte-text at pagtawag ng mga driver habang nagmamaneho.

“I think it’s time to sit down and study the IRR (implementing rules and regulations), talk about the way we pass the law, really concentrate on talk and text and using the cellphone by driver – that is really the intention of the law,” pahayag ni Sotto.

“‘Yung description nila nung line of sight na ultimo mga rosaryo at mga line of sight…they really have to find out what they mean with the line of sight…Na-expand masyado,” dagdag niya.

Ipinatupad ng DOTr  at ng LRO ang batas nitong nakaraang linggo kung saan pati rosaryo na nakasabit ay ipinagbawal nila maging ang pag-inom kahit matindi ang daloy ng trapiko.