Seat Belt Law full implementation starts tomorrow

It’s all systems go for the full implementation of Republic Act 8750 or the Seat Belt Law tomorrow, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said.

Antonio Marquez, head of the LTO-Flying Squad, noted yesterday that thousands of enforcers would be out on the streets to ensure full compliance of the law. "It’s about time we adopt a law like this. It will help minimize deaths and injuries during road accidents," he added.

Marquez said that LTO has deputized various agencies to help enforce the law. "As required, people from these agencies have been trained to go after violators. We want this law to succeed."

These agencies include the Department of Transportation and Communication’s Action Center, Metro Manila Development Authority, Philippine National Construction Corporation and local government units.

The law has been partially enforced from May 1 among new vehicles or those with installed seat belts. Compliance rate during this period was placed by LTO at 90 percent.

"Many people have started to buckle up. This somehow achieved the goal of the partial implementation. That is to prepare the motorists for the full implementation," he added.

But for the members of the Confederation of Land Transport Organizations of the Philippines (COLTOP), full implementation has to be deferred unless its flawed Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) are corrected.

Otherwise, Maranon warned, motorists will only end up victims of abuses and discrimination. "There are so many loopholes that need to be patched up before this law can be implemented. So we suggest to the government to postpone the implementation and amend this law," he said.

Maranan has estimated that only five percent of the two million public utility vehicles nationwide are equipped with seat belts. "We’d rather be apprehended than submit ourselves to a flawed law."

The 500,000-strong COLTOP is composed of the Federation of Jeepney Drivers Association of the Philippines; Integrated Metro Bus Operators Association (IMBOA); Inter-City Bus Operators Association; Metro Manila Bus Operators Association; Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines and Taxi Operators in Metro Manila Inc.

COLTOP has outlined the alleged flaws in the IRR in a letter to DOTC Secretary Vicente Rivera Jr. A technical working group created by Rivera is still looking into these flaws.

For one, the group believes that the IRR, itself, contradicts Section 4 of the law that states that "the driver and front seat passengers of public or private vehicles are required to wear or use their seat belt devices."

Cesar Apolinario, IMBOA president, explained that in buses, passengers seated near the doors are required to buckle up.

"There are also varying configurations of seat belts for buses. If the enforcers are not properly trained about these, drivers will be in trouble," he added.

Apolinario also said that the law violates the "fundamental rights" of drivers by penalizing them if their passengers refuse to wear seatbelts. "They cannot be penalized as a result of the failure of others to obey the law."

COLTOP found it "funny" that while passenger seat belts are required in buses, they are allowed to take in passengers beyond the sitting capacity.

The group also bewailed that enforcers might not detect non-compliance in private cars with heavily tinted windows and windshields. "Our lawmakers overlooked or forgot these details when they approved this law. Drivers of motor vehicles, whether private or public, are entitled to the same rights and privileges," Apolinario added.