BACOLOD City – Councilor Bartolome Orola urged Bacolodnons to observe the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 10913 or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act.
RA 10913 prohibits motorists from using communication devices and other electronic entertainment and computing gadgets while vehicles are in motion or temporarily stopped on a traffic light or an intersection, according to the Land and Transportation Office.
A motorist, under the Act, is a person who is driving a motor vehicle.
Orola, who authored an approved resolution pushing for the strict observance of the Act, said he is also requesting the Office of the City Mayor to conduct a citywide information, education, and communication campaign on safe driving.
The councilor said RA 10913 will “safeguard [the] citizenry from the ruinous and extremely injurious effects of vehicular accidents.”
Only motorists who are using their mobile phones“for emergency purposes, including but not limited to an emergency call to a law enforcement agency, health care provider, fire department, and other emergency services, agency or entity,” and “while operating an emergency vehicle such as ambulance, a fire truck and other vehicles providing emergency assistance, in the course and scope of his or her duties” are exempted from the law.
According to Orola, using mobile phones while driving is one of the top causes of road accidents and thus, RA 10913 must be followed to “ensure the protection of all commuters.”/PN
