Still many motorists 'violating' helmet law

CEBU, Philippines – The City of Talisay-Traffic Operations and Development Authority, the city's traffic arm, admitted there are still many motorists who do not wear helmet when driving, especially habal-habal drivers.

This was pointed out by CT-TODA planning officer Placido Labajo and traffic manager Mario Zafra after noting of the continuous increase of motorists who do not follow the law.

Labajo and Zafra, in a letter addressed to Vice Mayor and CT-TODA chairman Romeo Villarante, said the city government should strictly enforce the helmet ordinance.

"Our day-to-day operations in Tabunok is always met and added with bull-headedness and insubordination of our habal-habal drivers. As a matter of fact, these drivers would just play cat and mouse with us because they only follow our parking advisory," the letter read.

Habal-habal drivers usually pick up passengers at the underpass of Tabunok flyover. However, CT-TODA claimed that when traffic enforcers start questioning suspected habal-habal drivers parking at the area, they would say they were merely waiting for a colleague, a friend or a relative.

Zafra and Labajo asked the city government to conduct an intensified operation against non-wearing of helmet, particularly among habal-habal drivers, as they are said to break traffic rules just to reach their destinations faster.

"This approach will not just ensure traffic decongestion but will also help improve habal-habal drivers' level of safety awareness and compliance with established traffic rules and regulations," they added.

Under the current law, a standard helmet must bear the Philippine Standard  mark or Import Commodity Clearance sticker to signify that it complies with the standards set by the Bureau of Product Standards.

Engineer Mario Gaudiano of BPS-7 said those who have helmets already can avail of the PS mark or ICC sticker by securing a clearance from their office or the nearest DTI office.

Anyone who is caught not wearing the standard helmet will be fined P1,500 for the first offense; P3,000 for second offense; P 5,000 for third offense; and P10,000 for the succeeding offense plus the confiscation and suspension of license.

The fines for not wearing helmet are equivalent to those who are not wearing the standard helmet.

Persons caught selling helmets without the PS mark or ICC sticker will also be fined P3,000 to P5,000 and anyone who are caught tampering, altering, forging, and imitating the PS mark and ICC stickers will be fined P10,000 to P20,000.

In the meantime, Labajo and Zafra said they are issuing through public address system the possibility of intensified helmet inspection among all motorcycle riders parking in Tabunok.

They added that they continue to remind motorists in the city to be careful in driving to prevent any accident in the streets.

Vice Mayor Villarante could not be reached for comment as of press time yesterday as he was in Manila for an official government function.