More than 500 motorists were caught violating the Anti Distracted Driving Act in the National Capital Region during the first month of its full implementation, according to the Metro Manila Development Authority.
Most of the 547 violators caught by the agency’s closed-circuit television cameras from July 6 to Aug. 8 were car drivers.
Ronnie Rivera, chief of the MMDA’s no-contact apprehension policy, said as of Aug. 8, they were able to monitor 157 distracted car drivers; and riders of 157 motorcycles, 82 Asian Utility Vehicles, 29 Sports Utility Vehicles, 25 public utility buses, 25 public utility jeepneys, 21 pick-ups, 21 UV Express, 13 trucks and eight taxicabs.
So far, according to Rivera, only 15 from the total number of violators were able to pay fines, and 11 of those were owners of private vehicles.
“They are aware of the law but some didn’t know how much is the penalty,” he said.
On the first day of implementation, the MMDA caught more than 200 drivers.
Under the implementing rules and regulations of ADDA, drivers are prohibited from using electronic devices and mobile phones, except when the hands-free functions have been enabled. Gadgets should also be placed only on the car’s dashboard as long as these don’t exceed the four-inch height limit.
Among the prohibited acts under this law meant to make driving safer are: Holding the device to make or receive calls; composing, sending and reading text messages; performing calculations; playing games; watching videos, and browsing the internet.
The mobile gadgets couldn’t be used even if the driver was in a traffic jam.
The first offense has a fine of P5,000, the second offense goes up to P10,000 while P15,000 for the third offense including suspension of the driver’s license for three months and P20,000 for the fourth offense including revocation of the driver’s license.
Apart from the MMDA, enforcers of the Land Transportation Office, Local Government Units and National Police – Highway Patrol Group are also implementing the law.
ADDA was created in a bid to prevent or lessen the number of road accidents in the country.
MMDA records showed that there is an average of 262 crashes daily or 11 crashes per hour in the metropolis.
Last year, the agency recorded 109,322 road crashes in the metropolis but its database does not include statistics on distracted driving.
Most of these road accidents, however, also involves undisciplined riders of motorcycles.