AFTER two years, the bill mandating all motorcycle drivers including back riders to wear standard protective helmets has been enacted.
In a statement, principal author Senator Bong Revilla Jr. expressed “victory” for Republic Act No. 10054 or the Mandatory Helmet Act, which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law last March 23.
“The passage of this measure will not be fulfilled if not for the support of our motorcyclists and the motorcycle manufacturers and dealers who are aware of the danger of not wearing a helmet. I am also deeply grateful to my colleagues who unanimously voted for its approval, recognizing the importance of its urgent passage to address the alarming incidence of motorcycle-related accidents in the country,” Revilla said.
Under this law, all motorcycle riders - the driver and back rider- must wear standard protective helmets, while driving motorcycles, whether on long or short drives, at any time of the day, in any type of road and highway.
Tricycle drivers are exempted from the law.
Revilla said he hopes that the law “will serve its purpose” of reducing the high number of serious injuries and deaths in motorcycle-related accidents.
“Studies showed helmets are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries and 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries to motorcyclists. Wearing of helmets will greatly reduce fatalities in road accidents and would also boost a sense of discipline to all motorcycle riders,” the re-electionist senator said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said motorcycle sales averaged at 7,000 units per week but a report from the PNP’s Highway Patrol Group said 209 cases of accidents involving motorcycles have been recorded in January this year, a significant increase compared to last year's record of 106 cases. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)