Defensive Driving Act of 2024 filed in Congress
The roads in the Philippines are probably one of the most stressful to drive or ride on in the world, not because our roads are bad, but because a mishap with another driver, motorcycle rider, cyclist, or pedestrian could mean instant jail time even if you are not at fault. It’s just because of the old procedure of the authorities that the driver with a “lesser damage” is automatically presumed at fault.
That may soon change as House Bill (HB) 10679 or the Defensive Driving Act of 2024 is filed in Congress by representatives Margarita Nograles of PBA Party List and Cheeno Almario of Davao Oriental.
Anti-kamote law
Dubbed as the “Anti-kamote law”, HB 10679 seeks to prohibit the detention of the “person driving a motor vehicle” who was involved in a traffic incident, provided that he or she can provide proof that he or she is not at fault. It is not yet clear if a ‘person driving/riding a motorcycle’ is included in this proposed law.
The proof can be a recording from a dashcam, CCTV, or other video footage or still images from any witness in the vicinity of the incident showing that the driver of the vehicle was not violating any traffic rules before and during the incident.
In their explanatory note, the representatives cite as an example the incident that happened on March 2024, where an alleged drunk motorcycle rider went up while counterflowing to Skyway Stage 3 Balintawak off-ramp until he collided with an oncoming vehicle. The rider died from his injuries at the hospital and the involved driver was detained by the responding police.
In 2019, HB 1987 or the 'Philippine Responsible Driving and Accountability Act' was filed then Iligan City Representative (now Mayor) Frederick Siao. HB 1987 also intends to update the country's road safety laws, as well as laws on criminal, civil, and administrative culpability and liability of drivers involved in traffic violations/road safety incidents.
The full text of HB 10679 can be viewed here.
