IT IS every parent’s worst nightmare to put their children in grave danger. Considering the spontaneity of accidents, it is always better to take serious precautions before it happens.
Not many people know that one of the most prevalent fatality rates among children is death from car crashes or road accidents. With this in mind, children 12 years old and below can no longer ride in private vehicles without a child restraint system (CRS) using safety car seats. This is according to Republic Act 11229 or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act.
A nationwide public information campaign on the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act of 2019 had its first leg in Cebu last Dec. 6 at Bayfront Hotel Cebu.
The forum gathered various stakeholders from government agencies, civil society organizations, academe, and the private and public sectors and discussed the law and expounded on the process for its implementation.
The forum seeks to raise awareness of the law as drivers or private car owners only have a year to install CRS in their motor vehicles before it is strictly enforced.
Jarriza Biscante, project development officer of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said incidents on roads should not be referred to as “accidents,” but rather as results of human error as they are avoidable through safety practices.
CRS are specially designed portable seats to protect on-board children from injury in a motor vehicle. Its price ranges from P3,000 to P30,000 depending on the brand. However, Biscante said the brand of the CRS does not matter, as long as it is licensed and standard as indicated by DOTr.
One year after the signing of the law’s implementing rules and regulations, law enforcers will start imposing penalties on violating drivers. Violators will be fined P1,000 for the first offense; P2,000 for the second offense and P5,000 plus suspension of driver’s license for succeeding offenses. There are also penalties for using substandard, unlicensed and expired CRS has also corresponding charges.
For now, the law only mandates the use of CRS in private motor vehicles. However, the DOTr will conduct a feasibility study on the use of CRS in PUVs including jeepneys, buses, and school buses, taxis and other motor vehicles used for public transport.