Lawmakers seek motorbike ban on highways
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Two lawmakers have filed a bill at the House of Representatives seeking to ban motorcycles on main thoroughfares and national highways.
Reps. Narciso Santiago of the Alliance for Rural Concerns and Marcelino Teodoro of Marikina said House Bill 3080 aims to prevent road accidents, particularly those involving motorcycles.
Citing a World Health Organization report, Santiago said in many Asian countries including the Philippines, road accidents are usually caused by motorcycles.
“Nearly 1.2 million persons die of road traffic accidents every year, 40 percent of which are under 25 years old,†he said.
Santiago said young motorcyclists make up a significant percentage of injuries and fatalities among road users in many Asian countries.
Among the accident reports cited by WHO, speeding, non-use of helmets, risk-taking behavior and drunk driving were contributing factors to the rising trend of traffic accidents, he added.
Teodoro said an Asian Development Bank report on road safety in the Philippines showed that motorcyclists were the “second most at risk†of being killed or injured in a road accident.
“At present, motorcycles are a growing concern as its number increased to 40 percent per year in the last three years,†he revealed.
Records from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority showed that motorcycles have the highest fatality accident rate with 122 motorcycles or 23.6 percent of the total fatal accidents. – Delon Porcalla
…. A few days ago this was the news that shocked the motorcycle riding community even the people involved in the business of motorcycles.
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