Melo Villareal
Smart Communications To Filipino Drivers: Use Mobile Devices Responsibly
In the 2015 World Health Organization (WHO) Global Status Report, one has a bigger chance of getting involved in an accident when driving while talking on the phone. This is just one of the mobile phone related-accidents addressed by the Anti Distracted Driving Act or Republic Act No. 10914.
Because of this, Smart Communications, known as one of the leading telecommunication companies in the Philippines, shares a number of reminders to help mobile phone users avoid getting penalized and/or avoid vehicular accidents.
In this new R.A. law, distracted driving is defined as being preoccupied with other things while driving, even though the car is stopped temporarily. These particular activities include sending or reading SMS on a cellphone, making or taking calls, play games, watching videos, using the Internet (using social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram), e-book reading, and calculating using a mobile device.
It was stated that people who are “using mobile phones for emergencies, including calls to a law enforcement agency, healthcare provider, fire department, or other emergency services, agency or entity,” and those who use their cellphones when driving for vehicles used during emergency assistance, like fire trucks and ambulances, are exempted from this law.
According to the law, it is only allowed for drivers to use their mobile phones only when they use earphones, speaker phones, or other hands-free tools that they can attach to their phones.
If caught, violators are fined 5,000 pesos for first timers, and 10,000 pesos for their second offense. For those who are caught for the third time, they will have to pay a total of 15,000 pesos and a three-month driver’s license suspension. If caught for the fourth time, not only they are fined with 20,000 pesos, they will also get their driver’s license dismissed.
There are over 3,000 citizens in the United States who were killed and roughly 431,000 were wounded in 2015 due to vehicular accidents that involved unfocused drivers. One research group from the United States did a study showing that individuals who are constantly texting while driving are taking their eyes for a minimum of five seconds off the road per SMS. This is equal to driving through a total of 7 basketball courts blindfolded.
Smart Driving
Smart is reminding every mobile phone users to be responsible users. This is not just to ensure their safety but also for their friends, family members, and other motorist’s safety as well.
For more information, please visit Smart’s statement from the newsroom here: http://smart.com.ph/About/newsroom/press-releases/2016/08/01/driveresponsibly
