JUNE 4, 2016

NR # 4221

Bill seeks to ban driving of vehicles by persons w/o drivers license

A lawmaker is hopeful that a bill prohibiting a person from knowingly permitting a vehicle
he owns or controls to be driven by persons without drivers license will be enacted into law in
the 17th Congress.
Re-elected Rep. Alfredo D. Vargas III of the 5 th District of Quezon City said a proposed
Motor Vehicle Safety Act, when made a law, will keep irresponsible drivers out of our roads
and, in a way, ensure the safety of other drivers and pedestrians.
Vargas filed House Bill 6463, which seeks to prohibit a person from knowingly permitting
his/her motor vehicle to be driven by a person who does not have a valid drivers license issued
by the Land Transportation Office. The bill was referred to the Committee on Transportation.
Vargas vowed to re-file the bill and push for its approval saying road accident is one of the
leading causes of deaths in the country today.
Vargas said a report of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group revealed that
the number of road accidents in the country is going up every year.
The PNP-HPG attributed the increase to human errors and lack of road discipline.
These include over speeding, drunk driving, use of cellular phone while driving, bad overtaking,
bad turning, mechanical defects and poor maintenance of vehicles, Vargas said.
Citing a study conducted by the Institute of Advanced Motorists, Vargas also said
motorists aged 16 to 19 are most prone to fatal road accidents. This, he said, may be due to their
lack of knowledge and experience in driving.
Vargas proposed Motor Vehicle Safety Act imposes the penalty of a fine from P1,000 to
P10,000 or imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than six months or both on any
person who shall violate the said provision.
The bill further provides that any director, officer or agent of a corporation who shall
authorize, order or perform any of the acts or practices constituting in whole or in part a violation
of the said provision shall be subject to penalties to which that corporation may be subject.
In case the violation is committed by, or in the interest of a foreign juridical person duly
licensed to engage in business in the Philippines, such license to engage in business in the
Philippines shall immediately be revoked.
The prohibition shall not apply to a person or corporation duly licensed to engage in a
driving school business. (30) mvip