The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will now catch those not wearing standard helmets after the implementation of the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009 resumed yesterday.

LTO-6 chief operation Marlon Velez said violator of the Act will be fined P 1,778 for the first and second offenses. On the third offense, he/she will be fined along with driver’s license suspension.

Velez said they will honor only those helmets with Philippine Standard (PS) license or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) marks. These marks indicate that the helmets have complied with the specifications set by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS).

The law orders all motorcycle riders, including drivers and backriders, to wear standard protective motorcycle helmets while driving, whether on long or short drives, in any type of road and highway.

“Non-wearing of a helmet is one of the reasons for higher incidence of highway accidents involving single motorcycles. The use of helmets will help minimize road injuries and other untoward incidents while driving,” Velez said.

Meanwhile, DTI-6 director Dominic Abad said the standard helmet has a good retention system and complete assembly that maintains its position on the head, preventing it from flying off the wearer’s head during movements or an accident.

The DTI has issued a list of 51 brands of imported helmets and visors with ICC marks and one locally manufactured product with PS license that buyers can refer to.

OTHER VIOLATIONS

Apart from non-wearing of helmets, the other violations committed by motorcycle drivers are: driving without license, excessive passengers (more than two passengers) and non-wearing of the proper gears.  

Velez told riders to wear protective devices such as goggles, protective clothing, and leather boots or shoes, gloves; and during the rainy season, wear rain suits, heavy pants and heavy jackets for big bikes.

The Traffic Management and Transportation Regulation Office (TMTRO) through its 275 traffic aides, will strictly ensure that drivers and riders of at least 4,000 motorcycles along the busy streets of Iloilo City will follow the law, said TMTRO officer-in-charge Joe Tengco.*