TMC backs move to prohibit cellphone use while driving

MANILA, Philippines - Admitting that the use of mobile phones while driving has been a major cause of accidents along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the Tollways Management Corp. (TMC) yesterday said it supports initiatives in Congress to prohibit the use of cellular phones while driving.             

TMC-Corporate Communications senior manager Benigno Valles said 70 percent of car accidents in the NLEX were caused by driver’s error.                                                       

Eight percent of the accidents were attributed to mechanical failure, seven percent to tire failure, while 15 percent were attributed to other causes.                                                       

Valles advises drivers to stop by service stations to read and reply to text messages.                                                                                  

Other causes of road accidents are highway hypnosis and fatigue that cause the driver to fall asleep behind the wheel. Valles said that they have not been remiss in reminding the drivers of the dangers of texting while driving. This safety reminder is often stated in the 80,000 copies of NLEX magazine that they hand out for free to motorists.                  

There have been bills filed in Congress criminalizing the use of mobile phones while driving.                                           

Tarlac second district Rep. Susan Yap has filed House Bill 318 punishing violators with a fine of P3,000 to P10,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year.                                 

She cited a report of the Philippines Global Road Safety Partnership and the Philippine National Police (PNP) stating that accidents caused by the use of mobile phones rose 601 percent to 491 in 2009 from 70 cases in 2008.                                                                                         

Valles said that another problem they encounter with truck drivers is drunk driving.                                                         

“There are several carinderia (eateries) just outside the NLEX that sell liquor… I am hoping that these carinderias would stop selling beer and other liquor to these truck drivers because they become drunk or tipsy which is dangerous since they would be entering an expressway wherein the speed limit is 60 kilometers per hour and above,” he said.                                                                                   

Many of these food stops are situated in Tarlac and Pampanga.                                                                                    

He said that they have not brought up this concern to the local government officials because they are still attending to the grass fires in Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Bataan. People living close to the NLEX habitually burn leaves near the highway. The smoke blown to the highway affects the visibility of motorists.                                   

 The TMC met with driver-members of the Integrated North Harbor Truckers Association yesterday to remind them of road hazards and to discuss the implementation of the Anti-Overloading Law which would take effect on May 1. The law requires trucks to follow the maximum load of 13.5 metric ton per axle rule and the gross vehicle weight.