The road to perdition

ALL that was wanted was to stop drivers from using their cellphones for texting, or checking on their social media, or answering a call. But well-intentioned lawmakers wanted a broader definition of Distracted Driving. What followed was a nation collectively asking, “Duh?”

As revealed, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) wanted the Republic Act 10193 or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act so bad, it was all set to implement it last week because drivers were getting worst on the road with their mobile phone addiction, such that it’s common to see motorcycle drivers who are even texting with one hand while driving on highways.

But the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is saying that the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) include those ubiquitous rosaries that have long been hanging on rearview mirrors of Filipino drivers, the destination signs on jeepneys, and even the gadgets used for navigation. Now having navigation gadgets on your seat or below the dashboard will force a driver to look away from the road. Now what gives?

The most questioned is what line of sight means. And it seems that there can be a million interpretation to this phrase, and thus the rosaries and nagivation gadgets and signboards were dragged into the fray.

It is thus with great relief that we welcome the suspension of the law after lawmakers said there has to be a nationwide information dissemination campaign first.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) board member Aileen Lizada announced this on Tuesday, May 23, after the House transportation panel told transport officials they should not be implementing the Anti-Distracted Driving Act yet without conducting a 6-month information campaign as cited under the same law.

“We will abide by the authors of the law, and the COTr (committee on transportation), DOTr will focus more on info dissemination and will hold the enforcement of ADDA,” Lizada said.

During the hearing attended by Lizada with LTFRB chairperson Martin Delgra III, Land Transportation Office (LTO) Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, and other transport officials, lawmakers reminded that Section 7 of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act says: “The DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications)-LTO in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency, the Department of Education, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police and private agencies and organizations shall undertake a nationwide information, education and communication campaign for a period of 6 months from the effectivity of this act.”

Let’s take this six months of information dissemination period to clarify everything and make every driver understand what the law prohibits. That is the best way to start, as no less than the law says.