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[av_heading heading=’ EDITORIAL | Toying with people’s lives’ 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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Friday, July 7, 2017
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THE CULTURE of carelessness among drivers is evident in accidents that leave many people dead or hurt. To reduce or prevent road accidents, drivers must be mindful of others. This is the basic premise of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act which has taken effect yesterday.
Let us be clear on this. A person is not allowed to use a mobile phone or any communication gadget while driving or even while the vehicle is temporarily stopped at a traffic light.
The driver may only use a mobile device upon pulling over on the side of the road or when making emergency calls, and the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the law defines “emergency” as a situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or environment.
A person driving a vehicle may also make a call provided that he or she is using the phone’s hands-free function and that the device is not within the line of sight set four inches above the dashboard.
The IRR can’t be clearer than these. Of course, there are sanctions for violators. We need to put an end to this culture of carelessness by putting in place more serious punishment for negligent drivers and road maniacs who have no regard for the safety of pedestrians and passengers.
In a study conducted by the Department of Health’s Road Safety Program as early as 2003, road accidents in the country ranked fourth on the list of leading causes of death among Filipinos. Who hasn’t heard of motorcycles crashing against or being crushed by other bigger and faster vehicles? There are many other cases. These accidents would have been prevented had drivers exercised utmost care.
Will the idea of facing severe punishment deter negligent drivers from throwing caution to the wind and toying with people’s lives? We must send a strong warning to drivers that criminal negligence is not taken lightly by the law.
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