The NAMSSA has urged the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to implement the Daylight Riding Light (DRL) scheme for the safety of motorcycle riders in the country. After the audience with the Metro Manila Council of Mayors last February and has been unanimously approved and awaiting their ratification and implementation within 15 days of publishing.

In a proposal issued to the MMDA, Macky Carapiet, director general of National Motorcycle Sport and Safety Association (Namssa), said the emergence of affordable terms of payments, fuel efficient and less traffic for motorcycle users resulted in the increase of motorcycles on the road and that his group is concerned with the safety of motorists.

Namssa is the Philippine representative to the Federation International de Motocycliste, the world sports governing body based in Switzerland composed of 100 countries.

“Namssa has statistics that with the daylight riding lights on, road accidents will be lesser. Statistically, DRL saves lives on the road,” Carapiet said.

In some countries, Carapiet said, the DRL is a requirement for monitoring motorcycles to increase their visibility on the road. Among the countries that have imposed a mandatory use of DRL are Singapore, Thailand, Canada and Northern Europe.

Namssa added in Canada and some American states, even cars are required to use DRL.

At a meeting earlier held by the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the policy-making body of the MMDA, when MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando asked how much it would cost one DRL unit, Carapiet said it doesn’t entail any cost since all motorcycles have their own lights. “The rider will just convert their current switch on the headlight permanently,” he said.

Despite the approval of the Namssa proposal by the MMC since last February, local government units have yet to pass their own law which is why there are no crackdowns conducted on violators. The NAMSSA shall also award the international road safety seal of approval for the MMDA for their recognized efforts in promoting road safety.

Fernando said the MMDA decided not to include tricycle drivers after getting suggestions that the use of DRL can result in reduction of the life span of motorcycle batteries.

“Tricycle drivers will be affected, especially so that they use tricycles to earn a living. People might think that we voted in favor of the battery manufacturers rather than the tricycle owners,” he said.

FLASH NEWS: Stay tuned for urgent developments of the DRL MMDA NAMSSA City Ordinance as per May 30, 2007