House OKs anti-distracted driving bill

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill regulating the use of mobile phones and other computing or entertainment devices while driving.

Passed was House Bill 4531 or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act authored by Reps. Harlin Abayon (Northern Samar), Romeo Acop (Antipolo City), Emmeline Aglipay (DIWA party-list), Rolando Andaya (Camarines Sur), Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (Pampanga), Diosdado Arroyo (Camarines Sur), Joselito Atienza (Buhay party-list), Cesar Sarmiento (Catanduanes), Irwin Tieng and Mariano Velarde (Buhay party-list), and Susan Yap (Tarlac).

Sarmiento, chairman of the House committee on transportation, sponsored the measure on the floor.

He said the bill was meant to “ensure the safety of the citizenry from injurious effects of vehicular accidents by regulating the use of mobile communications, entertainment and computing devices while driving.”

It defined distracted driving as consisting of “the performance by a motorist operating a mobile communications device with one or both hands or operating an electronic entertainment or computing device with one or both hands in a moving motor vehicle or a motor vehicle stopped at a red light.”

The measure also covers wheeled agricultural machineries, construction equipment and other forms of conveyances such as bicycles, pedicabs, habal-habal and kuliglig (improvised three-wheeled motor vehicles) and animal-powered vehicles.

The first offense has a fine of P5,000 while the second has P10,000. The third offense has a penalty of P15,000 and suspension of the driver’s license for three months.

The fourth offense is fined P20,000 and revocation of the license.

The measure does not apply to drivers whose vehicles are not in motion or have pulled over to the side of the road. Emergency calls are exempted under the bill.