Last week, I wrote about the safety of children in private vehicles. I lauded the fact that Congress has come out with another bill that looks after the safety and welfare of our children. Hopefully, the President inks this soon making it a law. At the end of my article, I mentioned children’s safety on board motorcycles. Today, we still see some motorcyclists dangerously putting children on their two-wheeled vehicles. It gives me goosebumps when I imagine what may happen to them, especially the young innocent ones, in case of an accident.

“ There is presently a law which prohibits children or protects them when on board motorcycles.

Actually, there is presently a law which prohibits children or protects them when on board motorcycles. We have Republic Act (RA) 10666, otherwise known as An Act Providing for the Safety of Children Aboard Motorcycles. It mandates that “[i]t shall be unlawful for any person to drive a two-wheeled motorcycle with a child on board on public roads where there is heavy volume of vehicles, there is high density of fast-moving vehicles or where a speed limit of more than 60/kph is imposed…” (Section 4, RA 10666). The exception is when the child is big enough where his feet reach the foot peg of the motorcycle, his arms reach around and grasp the waist of the driver and is adequately wearing the standard protective helmet required by law.

RA 10666 actually became law as early as 2015, with its implementing rules coming out in 2017. As you can see, the State as early as back then already addressed this grave concern. Rising incidence of accidents involving children on motorcycles made our country install more measures to avoid further accidents and damage to our young ones.

Just like the bill I wrote about regarding safety of children in private vehicles, this law imposes sanctions for violation of its provisions. Penalties range from P3,000 to P10,000, with a suspension of license for one year for the fourth infraction. But what distinguishes this law from that bill applying to private vehicles is its penal sanction. “If, in violation of… this Act, death shall have resulted or serious or less serious injuries shall have been inflicted upon the child or any other person, a penalty of one year imprisonment shall be imposed upon the motorcycle driver or operator of the motorcycle involved without prejudice to the penalties provided under Act 3815, otherwise known as The Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, as amended (Section 8, RA 10666).

This means that the erring driver will face a double whammy from two laws. And in both laws, the acts being punished as crimes, incarceration is involved. See how severe the punishment can be? It is thus important.

That is why I write about this today — to disseminate information about this law to you, my readers. With the awareness of this law and its accompanying punishments, we have to let our motorcycle-riding friends know about this. I am pretty sure, they are aware of the hazards of riding a motorcycle. But they may not be aware of this law and its pernicious effects in case of violation.

One more thing. Our children are our next generation. They are the future movers of our society. We, as always, should be vigilant and keep them from harm’s way. They deserve to grow in a safe environment. By following the law, we keep our streets safe, not only for us; but more importantly for them. And by doing so, our society will be able to raise these young ones to become able-bodied adults healthy and fit to realize their dreams and, in turn, protect the generation that follows theirs.