OVERLOADING of public
utility vehicles (PUVs) may soon be a crime.
Sen. Joseph
Victor Ejercito has sought to criminalize overloading to prevent road
accidents, which are the fourth leading cause of death in the country.
Ejercito,
vice chairman of the Senate committee on public services, filed Senate Bill
1446 or the Anti-Overloading Act in line with the celebration of the
4th United Nations Global Road Safety Week.
He said the
measure imposes stiff penalties, including imprisonment for drivers and
operators of PUVs.
“We have to
update and strictly implement the law... Drivers of public utility vehicles
have a habit of overloading at the expense of the comfort and safety of
passengers,” Ejercito said.
He said in
Metro Manila alone, a person is killed in road accidents every 17 hours.
Ejercito
also pushed for the passage of Senate Bill 1447 or the Child Safety in Motor
Vehicles Act. The bill seeks the use of a child restraint system
to protect infants and children during accidents.
He said the
Seatbelt Law only protects adults.
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