Government vehicles exempt from seat belt law?

A jeepney group challenged the government to implement Republic Act 8450 or the Seat Belt Law among state-owned vehicles.

Efren de Luna, president of the Philippine Confederation of Drivers Organizations – Alliance of concerned Transport Organizations (PCDO-ACTO), said they have observed that enforcers do not apprehend violating government vehicles.

"It seems like government vehicles are exempted from the law. Many of these vehicles are still not equipped with seat belts or their passengers do not comply," he noted.

The full implementation of the law started on Nov.1. The law also prohibits children below six years old on the front seats of moving motor vehicles.

De Luna complained there is no clear provision in the implementing rules of the law that mandates the use of seat belts in government vehicles.

"Higher penalties must even be imposed for government vehicles. This is to show that the government is serious in implementing this law," he added.

PCDO-ACTO was among the transport groups that have sought the deferment of the implementation of the law, citing flaws in its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

These flaws include the varying configurations of the required seat belts and the imposition of penalties on drivers if their passengers refuse to buckle up.

De Luna said if the government wants the seat belt law to succeed, it has to correct these flaws.

"The law must be applied to all. No exemption. What happens now is that traffic enforcers are strict only when it comes to public utility vehicles," he complained. – Sheila Crisostomo