Ban on motorcycles carrying kids pushed

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. is pushing for the passage of a bill that will prohibit children seven years old and below from riding with their parents or adults on motorcycles on a national highway.

Revilla said children were seriously hurt in several recent accidents on the road while riding on motorcycles with their parents or adults.

In his speech during the 1st Laguna Motorcycle Riders Congress last Saturday at the Baker Hall, UP Los Baños, Laguna, the senator explained that “children lack the physical development to pay attention and properly secure themselves while riding on a motorcycle.”

He said the bill is a separate measure from Senate Bill 1863 which he filed last year, mandating the wearing of standard quality helmets by all motorcycle drivers and back riders.

“This is consistent with our advocacy to provide safety measures to all riders and passengers and avoid injury or fatality, especially for children on motorcycles,” Revilla said.

He also cited a study by Safe Kids Philippines, a global non-government organization dedicated to the prevention of unintentional injuries to children, showing that at least 20 million children are at risk of dying or being injured in road accidents every year.

It said 35,000 Filipino children die or are hurt in road accidents each year, or about 263 a day.

Under Senate Bill 1863, all motorcycle riders – the driver and the back rider – must wear standard quality helmets while on motorcycles, whether on long or short distance drives, at any time of the day, and in any type of road and highway. Exempted are drivers of tricycles.

In calling for the ban on children as back riders, Revilla said that it is the duty of the government to protect the welfare of children.

“In invoking its power of parents, the state may exercise its authority to usurp the rights of the natural parent or guardian and to act as parent of any child or individual, or an incapacitated and dependent person, who is in need of protection against danger, risk of their lives and limbs,” Revilla explained.

He said exceptions may be made in provinces where there is no vehicular traffic and motorcycles are the only means of transportation. He is also considering pegging the maximum fine for violators at P10,000.

Before speaking at the motorcycle riders’ congress, Revilla joined thousands of motorcycle and scooter enthusiasts in a motorcade from Calamba City Hall to the forum at UP Los Baños.

Last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern over deaths and injuries from motorcycle accidents, considered as a public health epidemic in many countries in Asia, including the Philippines.

In its report, the WHO said people belonging to low- and medium-income families use motorcycles as a family vehicle, often to fetch children from school. – Christina Mendez