Car Safety Measures for Children Pushed

(PNA) — Lawmakers want to require owners of private motor vehicles to install and use age-appropriate restraint devices for child passengers.

BUHAY Party-list Reps. Mariano Michael M. Velarde Jr., Jose L. Atienza Jr. and Irwin C. Tieng filed House Bill 5815, citing Article 2, Section 5 of the Constitution, which mandates the State to provide for the protection of life, liberty, property and promotion of the general welfare of the people.

“Pursuant to this policy, and emphasizing that safe driving practices and proper use of safety devices remain the best way to protect children from traffic crashes and injuries resulting from vehicular accidents, this measure seeks to penalize any driver of a motor vehicle to travel with children on board without providing for a safety device for such children,” Velarde said.

Atienza said violators face a fine of PHP5,000 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days, or both at the discretion of the court.

Tieng said the driver’s license of the violator should also be revoked upon final conviction for two violations. Such revocation shall prohibit the grant of a new driver’s license for the 12 months from the date of conviction.

As defined under the bill, to be known as the “Child Restraint Act,” Child restraint (CR), a child restraint system (CRS), a child restraint device (CRD), or a car seat safety device is an age-appropriate crash-tested seat, device or system that is specially designed to provide child crash protection.

General terms for these systems include child safety seats, car seats, booster seats, vests or car beds, and those items approved by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to ensure the safety of a child or children riding in motor vehicles.

The bill also declares it unlawful for any adult accompanying any child or to allow such child to travel on a motor vehicle that does not have car seat or child restraint device for children unless the adult provides one for the child’s own use.

Any person who violates this provision shall be punished with a fine of PHP2,000 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days, or both.

The LTO shall be the primary implementing and supervising agency in enforcing the measure.

Not covered by the measure are jeepneys, buses, as well as emergency vehicles. (PNA) FFC/PJN