The Anti-Distracted Driving Act is now a law which would prohibit and penalize “distracted driving” like using your mobile or electronics devices while operating a vehicle.
Back in May, the Senate has approved on its final reading SBN 3211, or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act. Now a law, it is now assigned as Republic Act No. 10913.
According to the new law, distracted driving refers to the performance by a motorist of any of the following acts in a motor vehicle in motion or temporarily stopped at a red light, whether diplomatic, public or private:
• Using a mobile communications device to write, send, or read a text-based communication or to make or receive calls, and,
• Using an electronic entertainment or computing device to play games, watch movies, surf the internet, compose messages, read e-books, perform calculations, and other similar acts.
However, it is not considered as distracted driving if you’re not holding the mobile device like when in hands-free function, using the speaker phone, earphones and microphones. Provided, that the placement of the mobile device or hands-free device does not interfere with the line of sight of the driver.
There are a few exemptions to the provisions of the act:
• When used for emergency purposes such as an emergency call to a law enforcement agency, health care provider, fire department, or other emergency services, agency or entity; and,
• When operating an emergency vehicle such as an ambulance, fire truck, and other vehicles providing emergency assistance.
Violators of this act will be penalized with a fine of Php5,000 for the first offense, Php10,000 for the second offense, Php15,000 with suspension of driver’s license for 3 months for the third offense, and Php20,000 with revocation of driver’s license for the final offense.
