Philippine Lawmakers Want Motorcycles Banned On Main Roads, Highways

Manila, Philippines (AHN) - Motorcycles could be banned on many Philippines roads. Despite being the most common means of transportation in the Philippines, lawmakers have filed a bill seeking to ban motorcycles on main roads, thoroughfares and national highways in the country.

House Bill No. 3080 filed by Reps. Narciso D. Santiago III (Party-list, ARC) and Marcelino R. Teodoro (1st Dist., Marikina City, Lakas-CMD) establishes guidelines designed to prevent road accidents, particularly those involving motorcycles.

According to Santiago, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that in many countries in Asia including the Philippines, deaths and injuries from motorcycle accidents are now considered a 'Public Health Epidemic.'

"Nearly 1.2 million persons die of road traffic accidents every year, 40 percent of which are under 25 year-olds," Santiago said.

Santiago noted that young motorcyclists make up a significant percentage of injuries and fatalities among road users in many Asian countries.

"Reports identified over-speeding, non-use of helmets, risk-taking behavior, and drunk-driving as contributing factors to the rising trend of traffic accidents," Santiago said.

For his part, Teodoro cited the Asian Development Bank (ADB) report on road safety in the Philippines. According to the report, motorcyclists were the second most at risk of being killed or injured in a road accident.

"At present, motorcycles are a growing concern as its number increased to 40 percent per year in the last three years," Teodoro said.

"The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) report showed that motorcycles have the highest fatality accident rate with 122 motorcycles or 23.6 percent of the total fatal accidents percentage," Teodoro added.

Santiago and Teodoro sought the passage of the bill to prevent the growing number of road accidents involving motorcycles in the country.