Friday, September 19, 2008 Full-face helmet rule suspended By Carlo P. Mallo
THE Land Transportation Office in Southern Mindanao has temporarily suspended the implementation of the full-face helmet rule, but not the wearing of the helmet.
For almost two weeks that the full-face helmet rule was implemented by LTO, 329 violators were arrested for either wearing a half-face helmet or no helmet at all.
LTO Southern Mindanao Director Gomer Dy said in Thursday's AFP-PNP Press Corps that the number of violations was disappointing because they had conducted massive information drive on full-face helmet rule for more than a month before they started implementing it on September 8.
"There are 329 violators who were apprehended, and we just started on September 8," Dy said.
"People still do not see the importance of wearing helmets."
Other than the helmet violations, Dy said there were also a number of other violations that are blatantly violated by the motorists.
"Some wear slippers while riding the motorcycle. This is no longer allowed," Dy said.
Based on the records of LTO Southern Mindanao, there were 45 violators apprehended for wearing slippers, 17 for modifying the handle bars, and 5 others who did not have the proper lights on their motorcycles.
"The central office is drafting new guidelines for the helmet rules," Dy said.
