No more distractions

I have heard of innumerable cases of motorists being penalized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority for violation of this law. Believe me, the MMDA is really doing its job.

I was driving along EDSA through heavy traffic. As traffic stood still, I observed the drivers in cars not that heavily tinted, around me. It made me smile seeing most, if not all, of them steadily looking at the road. Save for a very few who were fixing the angle of their phone to see Waze better, everyone else had their hands on the steering wheel. I thought that day was just one off. But as I tried to observe day after day of being stuck in traffic, I noticed a marked improvement in seeing drivers concentrating on the road and doing nothing else. No one could be seen holding his phone to his ear talking to someone. Neither was there anyone holding his phone up texting or watching video.

Thanks to the law. It works. Just to refresh your memory, Republic Act 10913 known as the “Anti-Distracted Driving Act” penalizes the use of a mobile phone while driving. Having taken effect on 21 July 2016, its Section 4 provides, “Distracted Driving. — Subject to the qualifications of Sections 5 and 6 of this Act, distracted driving refers to the performance by a motorist of any of the following acts in a motor vehicle in motion or temporarily stopped at a red light, whether diplomatic, public or private, which are hereby declared unlawful: (a) using a mobile communications device to write, send or read a text-based communication or to make or receive calls, and other similar acts; and (b) Using an electric entertainment or computing device to play games, watch movies, surf the Internet, compose messages, read e-books, perform calculations and other similar acts.”

The law indeed clearly enumerates the acts prohibited. And mind you, better obey. I have heard of innumerable cases of motorists being penalized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for violation of this law. Believe me, the MMDA is really doing its job. They can spot a driver committing an infraction. Said office has high-tech surveillance cameras that can zoom in and enhance images. Even if your tint may be on the heavy side, the glow coming from your phone captured by the camera will be considered a violation. So be compliant. And like what I said, I am happy with what I have been observing thus far. Drivers seem to be taking the law seriously, just as MMDA is. And as this discipline is instilled, road accidents certainly are minimized if not at all avoided.

Do take note that the law affords certain exceptions. If a motorist is caught using his mobile phone, he will not be held liable if it is an emergency call to a law enforcement agency and the like. So, if the MMDA officer flags you down, you can very well explain your circumstance and no citation will be given you. But if the call is no emergency, prepare to shell out P5,000, which you pay not to the officer, but to the MMDA or any entity authorized by the MMDA to accept payment. And that is only for the first offense. A second infraction translates to P10,000, while a third means P15,000 plus a three-month suspension. There are still other imposable penalties. I will stop here as I encourage you to read the law for you to personally see and better remember the impositions.

So, you may ask, what if someone calls you while you are driving, does that mean that you cannot take the call at all? You may, provided you take it hands free. Practically many cars nowadays offer this feature. You can answer a call and still have both your hands on the wheel. Assuming your car does not offer hands-free calling, the use of earphones to take the call is permissible.

When on the road and traffic stops, look around you. You will see what I observed. And that will entice you to even be more compliant. All it takes really is instilling the proper discipline.