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[av_heading heading=’EDITORIAL | Reckless driving’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”][/av_heading]
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Sunday, May 21, 2017
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THE ENFORCEMENT of the Anti-Distracted Driving is most welcome. It’s main objective is the curb road accidents. But we can’t help but wonder what happened to the Speed Limiter Law. It also aims to reduce if not totally eliminate vehicular accidents due to recklessness. Why is this not being enforced?
The Speed Limiter Law requires buses and trucks to install a device that automatically prevents a vehicle from going beyond the speed of 80 kilometers per hour. The author of this law (Republic Act 10916 otherwise known as the Road Speed Limiter Act of 2016) is Iloilo City’s Cong. Jerry Treñas. Has the Department of Transportation (DoTr) organized a Technical Working Group (TWG) which would craft its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR)?
Aside from reducing the possibility of road accidents due to over speeding, RA 10916 would also help reduce carbon emission and fuel consumption due to over acceleration. Under this law, selected public-utility vehicles (PUV), except for taxies, jeepneys and so-called Transportation Network Vehicles (TNVs), closed commercial vans, cargo haulers, tanker trucks and company shuttles are required to be equipped with speed limiter devices so as not to exceed a pre-set speed limit. Speed limiters are a combination of mechanical, electronic and/or communications devices that prevent motorized vehicles from exceeding a speed limit which would be set by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Speed limiters are a prerequisite for the registration of new PUVs and other vehicles covered by RA 10916 at the LTO and to obtain new franchises at the LTFRB. Under the law, the LTO and the LTFRB are mandated to supervise and inspect the installation and setting of the speed limiters, while the Department of Trade and Industry will accredit the manufacturers and installers of the limiters.
A fine of P50,000 will be meted for non-compliance of the speed limiter law apart from penalties such a one-month driver’s license suspension and/or a three-month vehicle franchise suspension, on the first offense, followed by a three-month driver’s license suspension and/or a six-month vehicle franchise suspension on the second offense. For the third offense or more, the driver’s license will be revoked and/or the owner or operator’s vehicle franchise will be suspended for one year.
Those found guilty of tampering with a speed limiter will be sentenced to prison from six months to three years, along with a P30,000 fine.
Recklessness or human error remains the main cause of horrific road mishaps. This is that the Anti-Distracted Driving Act and Speed Limiter Law want to address. The DoTr should immediately implement these laws.
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