10,000 violated backriding rules – DILG

MANILA, Philippines — About 10,000 people were reported to have violated protocols on motorcycle backriding, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said yesterday.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the violations were recorded from July 10 to 20, which he said made his agency skeptical about compliance among riders once the government allows riders to carry other family members on motorcycles.

There were still motorcycle drivers who would carry passengers who are neither their spouse or domestic partners and those who carry passengers without using the government-prescribed motorcycle barriers, he noted.

“How could we allow later on family members if there are this many violators already? Our citizens are not getting used to using these barrier shields,” Año said in an interview aired over Teleradyo.

The government earlier approved two prototypes for the barrier, which were met with opposition from a group of mechanical engineers who said it could affect a motorcycle’s aerodynamic design and compromise stability in transit.

Año, however, assured that these prototypes have been tested and were safe to use.

“It’s safe. It’s not dangerous but the thing here is you should also follow the speed limit. If you are carrying a passenger, don’t breach speed limits,” he said.

“There are motorcycle enthusiasts who are criticizing this, (but) you can opt not to use these barriers so long as you won’t carry a passenger. For those who need to ferry their partners, it’s a necessity and a guarantee for their safety,” he added.

The government allowed couples to ride on motorcycles last July 10, provided they have plastic barriers between them as protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Aside from married couples, live-in partners and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are allowed as long as they are living in one house.

The deadline for installing motorcycle barriers is on July 31.