Bawal gumamit ng cellphone ang drayber kahit nakahinto pansamantala dahil sa stoplight

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta - @Magtanong Kay Attorney | January 09, 2022

Dear Chief Acosta,

Nahuli ang asawa ko dahil sa pagtawag niya sa akin gamit ang kanyang telepono.

Pinuntahan siya ng kawani ng Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) habang siya ay nakahinto sa stoplight nang tawagan niya ako at agad na binigyan ng traffic violation ticket dahil sa distracted driving. Tama ba ang traffic enforcer na nanghuli sa aking asawa? -Carla

Dear Carla,

Para sa inyong kaalaman, ang batas na sumasaklaw sa sitwasyon na inyong inilahad ay ang Republic Act (R. A.) No. 10913, o ang “Anti-Distracted Driving Act.” Nakasaad sa Section 4 ng R. A. No. 10913 ang sumusunod:

“Section 4. Distracted Driving. - Subject to the qualifications in Sections 5 and 6 of this Act, 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, which are hereby declared unlawful:

(a) Using a mobile communications device to write, send, or read a text-based communication or to make or receive calls, and other similar acts; and

(b) 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.

Section 5. Extent of Coverage -

(a) The operation of a mobile communications device is not considered to be distracted driving if done using the aid of a hands-free function or similar device such as, but not limited to, a speaker phone, earphones and microphones or other similar devices which allow a person to make and receive calls without having to hold the mobile communications device: Provided, That the placement of the mobile communications device or the hands-free device does not interfere with the line of sight of the drive xxx.

(b) The provisions of this Act shall not apply to motorists of motor vehicles which are not in motion, except those which are stopped momentarily at a red light, or are pulled over to the side of the road in compliance with a traffic regulation. xxx.”

(Binigyang-diin)

Maliwanag na nabanggit sa nasabing batas na ang paggamit ng mobile phone o pagpapadala ng text messages, pagtawag o pagsagot ng tawag at iba pang gawain na may kinalaman sa mobile phone ay mahigpit na ipinagbabawal sa mga taong nagmamaneho ng sasakyan. Hindi rin maaaring gumamit ng telepono ang drayber ng anumang sasakyan kahit pa nakahinto pansamantala ang sasakyan dahil sa stoplight.

Samakatwid, ang pag-isyu ng traffic violation ticket sa inyong asawa dahil sa distracted driving ay naaayon sa ating batas.

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang inyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa impormasyong inyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng inyong salaysay.

Maraming salamat sa inyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.