Don’t text and drive: Remember the Anti-Distracted Driving Act

Many motorists and riders seem to have forgotten that there is a law, passed in 2016, that prohibits a person who is driving a motor vehicle from using mobile communication devices and electronic entertainment gadgets. The prohibition does not only apply while the motor vehicle is in motion, but also while it is stopped on a traffic light or a road intersection.

There are hefty fines for violating that law known as Republic Act 10913 or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act (ADDA) –₱5,000 for the first offense; ₱10,000 for the second; ₱15,000 plus a three month suspension of driver’s license for the third; and revocation of driver’s license plus ₱20,000 fine for the fourth offense.

We are bringing up the existence of RA 10913 or ADDA because there appears to be many motorists who have forgotten about it.

These days, it is not unusual to observe odd driving behavior on the road, like a car driving too slow, or drifting from its lane.  Some sightings from an informal survey conducted recently were:  A motorist swiping through his Facebook page on a mobile phone attached on the dashboard while driving very slowly along busy España Boulevard. A rider engaged in a conversation via the speaker of his mobile phone held in one hand, while the other hand was holding the handle bar and slowly driving the motorcycle. A mobile phone attached to a dashboard holder in front of the driver was streaming a movie.

According to a clear advisory on ADDA issued by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA): “Prohibited acts made while driving include but not limited to: Making or receiving calls; writing, sending or reading text-based communications; playing games; watching movies; performing calculations; reading e-books; composing messages; surfing or browsing the internet.”

The law allows the use of mobile phones only for hands-free operation: “The operation of a mobile communications device is not considered to be distracted driving if done using the aid of a hands-free function or similar device…”

“GPS or cellphones may be placed or mounted below, at the same level, or on-top of the dashboard, and even on the windshield, as long as the highest point of the device is not higher than four inches from the dashboard,” the MMDA advisory said.

According to the World Health Organization Global Status Report on Road Safety, distracted driving is a serious threat to road safety. Studies have shown that “drivers talking on a mobile phone are four times more likely to get into an accident because they are unable to stay in the proper lane and they tend to have a longer reaction time. Texting considerably reduces driving performance and places inexperienced drivers at a great risk.”

The law covers both public and private vehicles and also wheeled conveyances like bicycles, pedicabs, agricultural and construction vehicles “operated or driven in public thoroughfares, highways or streets,” the MMDA advisory said.

It is time for the Land Transportation Office, the lead agency implementing this law, the MMDA, local government units and other agencies, and private organizations to conduct information campaigns to remind motorists of ADDA. Traffic of the days before the pandemic is back, heavy downpour caused by typhoons bring low visibility, and soon, the “ber months” will be here, and we all know what kind of traffic that brings.

Let’s do our share.  If you are a driver, set your destination on Waze or Google Maps before you leave a place.  Do not answer a call or text message.  It’s the right thing to do.

Credit belongs to : www.mb.com.ph