A lady lawmaker from the second district of Tarlac is urging Congress to expedite the passage of the bill imposing stiffer penalties against motorists who are caught using cellular phones while driving.
Rep. Susan Yap, who authored House Bill No. 318, said the proposed law would declare the dangerous habit of using cellular phone while driving a criminal act.
Under the bill, drivers could be pulled over by traffic policemen if caught talking or texting while driving, Yap said.
"While cellular phones have become an integral part of both business and personal lives, the alarming figures on cell phone-related accidents has transformed this technological gadget into a dangerous device," she said.
"The danger is not only to the lives and limbs of the general driving public but also to the innocent pedestrians," she said.
The bill imposes a fine ranging from P3,000 to P10,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year.
Yap cited the report of the Philippines Global Road Safety Partnership (PGRSP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) showing that cellular phone-related accidents significantly increased from 70 cases in 2008 to 491 in 2009.
"The early passage of the bill can save a lot of lives and properties and everyone shall benefit from the safety of our roads again," Yap said. = PNA
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Topic: Using Cellphone While Driving Will Be A Crime (Read 497 times)