Sen. Revilla Appeal on NTF Regarding in Installing Makeshift Motorcycle Barriers
Senator Bong Revilla Jr. appealed to National Task Force (NTF) for COVID-19 regarding the installation of a makeshift barrier on every motorcycle.
The lawmaker, Thursday, appealed to Sec. Delfin N. Lorenzana, NTF Chairman that the DIY (Do-it-yourself) installation of makeshift barriers on motorcycles is “fundamentally unsafe”. He also added in his letter that there’s a possibility to interfere with the engineering and balance of a motorcycle.
As a rider himself, Revilla said that balance is the single most crucial aspect in designing, engineering, and riding a motorcycle. He stresses that the divider between the rider and the back rider will make balance very difficult.
“When you have a back rider, the weight has to be synchronized. As the rider weighs left, the back rider has to do the same, or else there’s a high chance of crashing. A divider between both riders will make this and balance very difficult as there will be no tactile feedback between them. That barrier will also impact aerodynamics greatly, also interfering will balance,” Revilla said.
READ ALSO: Ride-Hailing App Proposed Plastic Shield Between Rider & Passenger
Base on the article of the Senate of the Philippines, he further added that aside from the high probability that the makeshift barrier could lead the rider and the passenger to more motorcycle crashes, they can also obtain greater injuries.
Revilla, however, suggested that the NTF should require riders and back riders to wear protective gear such as gloves, face masks, and full-face helmets. As such, the face shield can also be an alternative, in which it could not interfere with the required dexterity and balance of riders.
“After all, both riders live in the same house where they interact in the same space without masks, share utensils, and at the end of the day, sleep on the same bed. The installation of a barrier on motorcycles for the purpose of protecting them from each other seems unnecessary,” Revilla said.
Earlier, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año announced July 9, back ride in motorcycles is now allowed for married couples. The driver and the rider are both required to wear face masks and should carry identification cars to prove that they are married.
The local government previously proposed their different makeshift motorcycle shields to allow residents to ride in tandem as the physical distancing is strictly implemented due to the threat of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and back riding in motorcycles has been prohibited.
READ ALSO: Traffic Cops Drew Flak Online After Spotted Back riding, Not Wearing Helmet
What can you say about this article? Just feel free to leave your reactions in the comment section.
For more news and updates, follow us on Twitter:@philnews_ph Facebook:@PhilNews and; YouTube channel Philnews Ph