Law banning kids from riding motorcycles OK’d

MANILA, Philippines - Children are now barred from riding  motorcycles along national and provincial highways.

President Aquino has signed into law Republic Act 10666, the Children’s Safety on Motorcycles Act of 2015. 

It is a consolidation of Senate Bill 2488 and House of Representatives Bill 4462.

It is now unlawful for a motorcycle rider to have a child on board on public roads having heavy volume of vehicles, high density of fast moving vehicles or where the speed limit of more than 60 kilometers per hour is imposed.

Exemptions include if the child’s feet can comfortably reach the standard foot peg of the motorcycle and if the child’s arms can reach around and grasp the waist of the rider, or the child is wearing a standard protective helmet.

The prohibition would not also apply in cases of emergency, such as when the child to be transported requires immediate medical attention.

Violators will be fined P3,000 for the first offense, P5,000 for the second and P10,000 for the third offense.

The driver’s license will also be suspended for a month, while the license of fourth offenders will be automatically revoked.

Sen. Vicente Sotto III introduced and sponsored the bill in the Senate.

Children riding on motorcycles are in reckless endangerment, Sotto said.

“Reckless endangerment by definition is the act of doing something with the full knowledge that it is potentially endangering the life or safety of someone,” he said.

“Children are extremely vulnerable and at risk when riding at the backseat of a motorcycle.

“Because of their tender age, their reflexes are different from adults and they may not be able to react rightly to some situations, thus their reactions may result in a situation that could cause them to fall and suffer injury or even death.”

Sotto’s counterparts in the House are Reps. Romeo Acop of Antipolo City, Evelio Leonardia of  Bacolod City and Cesar Sarmiento of Catanduanes.

They co-authored House Bill 4462.

In late 2014, the House committee on transportation unanimously endorsed the approval of House Bill 4462, the Motorcycle Safety for Children Act.

The bill seeks to ensure road safety, especially for children, by regulating the operation of motorcycles along highways and roads, the authors said.