MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives is set to deliberate on a measure filed by Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo criminalizing and imposing penalties on drunk driving.
Arroyo filed House Bill 382, co-authored by her son Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo, which seeks to declare driving while under the influence of alcohol or liquor a criminal act.
The former President said studies have shown that drivers under the influence of alcohol have a significantly higher risk of being involved in a road accident than those who have not consumed alcohol.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) and various studies showed that alcohol intake, depending on the level of intoxication, results in impairment which increases the likelihood of a crash since it produces poor judgment, decreased reaction time, lower vigilance and decreased visual acuity,” Arroyo said.
She cited news reports on tragic road accidents filling the newspapers, television and radio have consistently remained one of the leading causes of deaths in the country.
Arroyo said these road accidents are attributed to several factors and a significant percentage of which include driving under the influence of alcohol.
She cited Philippine statistics that showed there has been an increase of 6.2 percent in 2009 in alcohol-related accidents nationwide resulting to death, physical injuries and damage of properties.
“While other countries have institutionalized their policy regarding driving under the influence of alcohol (DUIA), the Philippines has seemingly remained reserved and lenient in punishing drunk drivers. Road accidents are often treated as a result of reckless imprudence and not viewed as irresponsible and deliberate acts, giving emphasis to drunk driving,” Arroyo said.
She said though the government has already enacted Republic Act 4136 or the “Land Transportation and Traffic Code,” the law is insufficient in defining what constitutes drunk driving.
Under the measure otherwise known as “Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUIA) Act of 2010,” a person can be charged with drunk driving when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with alcohol by reason of which the driver’s mental and motor skills are impaired, or when the driver’s blood alcohol concentration level is 0.06 or more.
It also provides that every applicant for a driver’s license shall complete a course of instruction that provides information on driving and safety matters including the effects of consumption of alcoholic beverages on the ability of a person to operate a motor vehicle and the hazards of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Furthermore, all drivers involved in vehicular accidents resulting to loss of lives or physical injuries of serious nature shall be subjected to chemical tests to determine the presence and concentration of alcohol.
The bill also imposes a P5,000 fine and two months’ suspension of the driver’s license for first offenders. For a second offense, the penalty shall be P6,000 fine and three months’ suspension of driver’s license.
For a third offense, the penalty shall be P7,000 and six months’ suspension of driver’s license and for succeeding offenses, the penalty shall be P7,000 and automatic revocation of driver’s license. - By Paolo Romero (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)
No comments:
Post a Comment