Road safety evaluation

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The implementation of the Helmet Law in Dumaguete is going on smoothly because of an agreement with the local Land Transportation Office to allow non-wearing of helmets in the city streets.

The removal of the LTO chief in Dumaguete City early this year gave the motorists breathing space in addressing the sentiments of motorist on a standard motorcycle helmet and the option of the drivers and the passengers not to wear it. Some motorists have not been wearing helmets in city streets to this day.

Recently, another LTO chief in Dumaguete City was relieved due to a complaint about alleged corruption and abuse of authority filed by the Commission on Human Rights officer in Negros Oriental. The case was submitted to the office of the Ombudsman and to the LTO central office. This prompted the LTO regional office to re-evaluate and re-examine the road safety conditions of coverage areas of the agency’s district and extension offices.

Was this what led too the “exemption”?

We believe, however, in the policy of the state in of taking a more proactive and preventive approach to secure the safety of motorists, their passengers and pedestrians at all times, through the mandatory use of standard protective motorcycle helmets.

It is also the policy of the state to secure and safeguard its citizenry, particularly the motorcycle drivers and back riders from life threatening accidents and crashes.

Without the proper guidelines, however, implementation will be inconsistent, raises the issue of due process and protection by the law, and subjects the people to the discretion of the implementing agency.

The yearly traffic law enforcement operation is part of the agency’s road safety program that the United Nations is encouraging and implementing during the decade of action for road safety from 2011 to 2020.

We should therefore support the agency’s yearly evaluation and examination of the safety conditions of our roads in the countryside, and that nobody dares to tamper with the implementation of the law.*