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
base on my own experience i noticed motorist are more aware when my lights are on( specially busses ), they give me more space. drl is very good.
macky carapiet is a well known race car driver in our country. take it from him with his expertise in advance driving. drl is really good for us motorcycle riders.
the end justifies the means. drl is good.
I agree with you mon. safety should come first.
@ #40
not true
i am not a motor bike rider. but its true whenever i drive my car those bikes are more visible to me with their headlight on. yes this ordinance is very very good for all of us on the road.
#40
yes thats why they are making it an ordinance. may study talaga sila dito that drl is good. nahuhuli na tayo sa ibang bansa in safety issues. time to move up.
it seems we are all aware that drl is good as seen on this forum. mas marami na aware sa safety issues. keep those lights on and happy motoring guys!
just got a new honda 125cc. its got automatic headlight on. i found out all of their new models are equipted with this feature. times have changed. proof that drl is indeed proven to be a standard for safety. lets all move on.
@59
There is no doubt that DRL improves visibility. But again it should NOT be made into an ordinance. The law should just require the manufacturers of new vehicles and motorcycles to incorporate it in their design to automatically turn on as what the First World Countries do (since mahilig tayo gumaya sa kanila gumaya na tayo ng tama). What if I leave my house and forget to switch it on e di piyesta na naman mga buwaya
@60
madali lang yan para di mo makalimutan wag mo na off lights, that always auto on na.
the real issue here is safety and from this forun we saw that most of us agree that drl is very good. iba na issue about buaya.
@61
I have to turn it off since nakakahina ng battery ang headlight on while starting ( as what the manual says turn off all lights before starting) that means old motorccyle were not designed to have their headlights on always.
@62
And that is another issue why drl should not be pushed as an ordinance, we have enough laws already and hanggat hindi pa din naipapatupad ng maayos ang mga batas natin useless gumawa ng batas. Kaya kung gagaya lang tayo sa so called First World yung tamang gaya lang.
OK yan pero di nga masayang battery dahil may dynamo naman kaya lang yung lifespan ng bulb mo mapapadli dahil lagi naka on at mas madali mapundi yan pag nalulubak ka na naka on ang ilaw dahil mainit ang filament.
Safety can be expensive on short term but in the long run it will be cheaper, in saving your life.
Not unless you feel your life is not worth the safety on the road.
The people who loves you will always value your life, when nasa lamayan na, few pesos could have been worth the expenses and the regrets.
Nasa huli ang pagsisi nang mga naiwanan, d ka na makapagsisi.