Reading and typing text messages, making and answering phone calls and even checking Facebook profiles via mobile phones are now strictly prohibited among the motorists in the city of Caloocan.
According to Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri, the city council have submitted an ordinance imposing a fine of Php 5,000 to those motorists who will be caught using “any mobile communication device” while driving.
Councilor Marjorie Barreto has proposed the said ordinance according to Echiverri’s statement Sunday.
It was approved to become law last week and it will immediately be implemented. With this, motorists are being warned about their actions while heading their way on the road.
“ The ordinance covers any person…driving or operating any type of vehicle [on] the streets, roads [and] highways in the city [and] simultaneously using any mobile communication device to send, view or read any messages either text, MMS or e-mail,” were the significant words uttered by the Mayor.
Sites like Facebook and Twitter are also discouraged since those social networking sites might be a distraction to the driving motorists.
Exemptions to the rule are drivers who manipulate ambulances, fire trucks and the police that along their proper application of the trainings gained, the professions they have oftentimes require them to respond using such mode to communicate in their offices.
In charged of enforcing the said ordinance will be the members of the Department of Public Safety and Traffic Management of Caloocan City based on Echeverri’s statement.
Most of the road accidents that are happening nowadays are often caused by drivers who are somewhat interrupted by mobile communications leading to injuries and even death even leading to the loss of property.
In general, Echeverri asks the public to cooperate in observing the said ordinance because he knows that following such will save many lives as well as properties.
With the rapid flow of communication brought about by modernization, motorists must learn to control their actions while on the road as they must commit themselves to obey the rules set by the authorities for safety purposes in order to avoid unwanted accidents in the future.