The Land Transportation Office in Negros Oriental will soon require motorcycle riders to wear crash helmets, following the enactment by President Gloria Arroyo of Republic Act 10054, or the Mandatory Helmet Act of 2010. {{more}}
Under this law, all motorcycle drivers and their passengers are required to wear helmets at all times. There are stiff penalties on violators.
Republic Act 10054, authored by Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., is aimed at protecting motorcycle drivers, back-riders as well as pedestrians from injuries and death in accidents.
The law, however, exempts drivers of tricycles — a motorcycle with a side cab, which is a common mode of transport in the country — from wearing helmets.
Revilla said it took a long while to see his measure enacted into law. There are an estimated 3.5 million motorcycles registered in the country.
He said studies have show that good helmets and their proper use are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries and 67 percent effective in preventing brain damage to motorcycle drivers and their passengers.
Under the law, those who will be caught not wearing protective helmets face a minimum fine of P1,500 and a maximum penalty of P10,000.
The law requires the Department of Trade and Industry to conduct mandatory tests on all locally manufactured and imported motorcycle helmets in the country.
Manufacturers and importers of motorcycle helmets are also required to secure a Philippine Standard mark or an import commodity clearance before they can sell and distribute their products or pay a fine of P10,000 to P20,000 if they violate the provision.
Dumaguete LTO chief Roland Ramos said they will be conducting an information drive before enforcing the law starting in September. The information drive, Ramos said, will be done in cooperation with the Dumaguete Traffic Management Task Force.
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