Motorcycle Helmet Act in full swing January 2013
By Ferliza C. Contratista
CEBU CITY, Dec 28 (PIA) -- Deaths and injuries caused by motorcycle accidents are expected to lessen with the full implementation of the Motorcycle Helmet Act come January 2013.
This, after implementing authorities expects a rougher time on the first day of implementation, January 1, Tuesday next week.
In the final briefing for enforcers on Republic Act 10054 or the helmet law, Land Transportation Office 7 (LTO) Regional Director Raul Aguilos said they expect that the number of deaths and serious injuries resulting from motorcycle injuries to lessen due to the new law.
He cited that motorcycle accidents claim 80 percent of road accidents where most resulted in deaths.
“These would have been prevented had they worn the protective, standard, and prescribed helmets,” Aguilos said.
RA 10054, he said, will be implemented in full force in the absence of a restraining order and despite the presence of a Court case pending in the province of Bohol.
Earlier this year, there were a lot of complaints and moves to stop the implementation of the Motorcycle Helmet Law which resulted to the moving of the implementation date from August 31, 2012 to January 1, 2013.
"Which means that all -- deputized agents, PNP, and we should implement RA 10054,” Aguilos said.
He said, even Dumaguete City, the “motorcycle capital” of the Philippines, whose motorists were even resistant to the wearing of helmets, must on Tuesday wear a helmet with the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker.
He added that they will no longer entertain complaints about the law.
Although the campaign was extensively done in the provinces of Central Visayas, Department of Trade and Industry regional director Asteria Caberte said they expect some glitches on the first day or even the first week of implementation.
Caberte said since June 2012, DTI had already marked 23,000 out of the over 27,000 helmets with ICC stickers.
Dario Cabarrubias, engineer of DTI monitoring team, enumerated the things to consider in the enforcement: the ICC sticker, other marks of commodity, minimum extent of protection, and visual inspection.
Cabarrubias said the law enforcers should make sure that there is an ICC or a Product Standard (PS) mark found at the back of the helmet.
“Avoid arguing on the look, genuineness of the ICC sticker, don’t ask for a receipt from DTI for the sticker and avoid arguing about the brand,” Cabarrubias said.
By 2013, DTI will already strictly monitor the stores, dealers, and retailers.
First offense for violators of the Motorcycle Helmet Law is P1,500; P3,000 for second offense, P5,000 for third offense and revocation of drivers license.
Those who will be found tampering or using a fake ICC sticker will be fined P10,000.
The final briefing for enforcers was attended by almost a hundred deputized agents of LTO.
Also present yesterday were officials of the City Traffic Operations and Management Office director Rafael Yap and LTO Assistant Regional Director Arnel Tancinco. (rmn/FCC-PIA7)