Anti-Distracted Driving Act nabahiran ng kontrobersiya

Ipinapasuspinde ng mga senador ang pagpapatupad sa Anti-Distracted Driving Act dahil ang sabi nga ni Papa Noli de Castro, nanganak na nang nanganak ang mga ipinagbabawal ng Department of Transportation at LTO.

Ang mga dating senador na sina Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revilla, Jr. at Sergio Osmena III ng Committee on Public Services ang mga author ng Anti-Distracted Driving Act na nagbabawal sa mga motorista na gumamit ng mga cell phone o gadgets habang nagmamaneho para maiwasan ang mga aksidente sa kalsada.

Ang kaso, nadagdagan ang mga ipinagbabawal dahil pati ang mga Holy Rosary at mga imahe ng maliliit na santo, ipinapaalis na rin sa mga dashboard at windshield ng mga sasakyan kaya bayolente ang reaksyon ng madlang-bayan.

Eh ang linaw-linaw ng mga nakasaad sa panukala nina Papa Jinggoy, Bong at Serge na mabilis na naipasa bilang batas. Walang nakalagay na bawal ang mga rosaryo at kung anik-anik pa kaya pati si Senator Dick Gordon, nag-dialogue na OA na ang mga nagpapatupad ng batas.

Para sa kapakanan ng dear readers at para malaman nila ang kanilang  mga karapatan, ito ang  mga nakasaad sa Anti-Distracted Driving Act o Republic Act 10913 na inilabas ng LTO at may-I-share ko sa inyo bilang serbisyong showbiz ng PSN.

“RA 10913 or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act is a new law that prohibits motorists from using communication devices and other electronic entertainment and computing

 gadgets while vehicles are in motion or temporarily stopped on a traffic light or an intersection.

A motorist, as defined under this law, is a person who is driving motor vehicle.

This act covers both public and private vehicles. It also covers wheeled agricultural machineries, construction equipment, and other forms of conveyances such as bicycles,  pedicabs, trolleys, “habal-habal”, “kuligligs”, wagons, carriages and carts that may either be human-powered or pulled by an animal as long as the same are operated or  driven in public thoroughfares, highways or streets.

Prohibited acts made while driving include but not limited to: making or receiving calls, writing, sending or reading text-based communications, playing games, watching  movies, performing calculations, reading e-books, composing messages and surfing or browsing the internet.

Motorists are allowed to use their devices to make or take emergency calls to authorities in case of a crime, accidents, bomb or terrorist threat, fire or explosion, instances  needing immediate medical attention, or when personal safety and security is compromised.

Motorists can use the aid of hands-free function and applications as long as these do not interfere with the driver’s line of sight. This means that no communication or electronic gadget should be affixed on the car’s dashboard and steering wheel. In addition, drivers are only allowed to wear earphones when making or receiving calls.

Using earphones to listen to music falls under “similar acts” in Section 4B of the law, in addition to reckless driving violation penalized under other relevant laws.

Although motorists are being advised to set their preffered destination on these applications prior to their departure. Gadgets with these applications may be installed in   areas that will not obstruct the driver’s view. In cases when motorists need to find alternate routes while in traffic, they are advised to first pull their vehicles aside.

The DOTr - Land Transportation Office (LTO) is the lead implementing agency of the Act. The LTO also has the authority to deputize members of the PNP, MMDA and LGUs to carry out enforcement functions and duties.

Aside from high-definition cameras that can monitor lights from devices inside heavily-tinted vehicles, the law will also be strictly enforced by enforcers on the ground who were well-trained to determine from the movement of the vehicle whether or not a driver commits distracted driving. A Memorandum Circular setting specifications on the regulation of tints shall be released by LTO soon, upon consultation with tint manufacturers.

Violators will be penalized with a fine of five thousand pesos (Php 5,000) for the first offense, ten thousand pesos (Php 10,000) for the second offense, and fifteen thousand  pesos (Php 15,000) for the third offense with a three-month suspension of driver’s license. Violations incurred beyond the third offense shall be penalized with the revocation of driver’s license and a fine of twenty thousand pesos (Php 20,000).

Operators and owners of Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) and other commercial vehicles shall both be held liable for the violations committed by their drivers.”

Napakaganda sana  na legacy nina Papa Jinggoy at Bong ang Anti-Distracted Driving Act pero nabahiran ng kontrobersya dahil sa mga idinagdag na hindi naman relevant.