How Safe is Your Child on Four Wheels?

MANILA: Children, Probably who teach parents the meaning of unconditional love, become the source of their happiness and the only hope to take the generation to next leap. When the bonding is incomparable then why the safety of them is compromised, while traveling in cars? Yes, this is a grave issue which calls for every parent attention as death of little saplings in road accidents are reading on large numbers. For this, the auto brands are doing their best to build the intact safety shield on four wheels, but the government of Philippines is also ensuring that certain safety laws for children are followed while moving in personal or private vehicles. This shows safety is the priority of an hour.

What’s there in these Bills?
A recent bill numbered 2871 has been filled in Senate which states that the passengers who are six years old and below must be restrained by either the driver or the adult occupants using booster seats or other products which integrate the shoulder and lap belts and must have passed through safety tests or standards. All kind of vehicles are subject to this bill and the owners will be given one year after the issuance of this rule to implement it, which means installing child restraint devices in vehicles.

This reminds us of another bill 5815 or the 'Child Restraint Act' which states that children who are passengers in a private moving vehicle must either sit on an age appropriate crash-tested seat or use a device which is specially designed to provide child crash protection.

Attached Penalty
Noncompliance calls for penalty and the bill  2871 is attached with penalty of PhP 100 to PhP 1000 for first offense, PhP 200 to PhP 2000 for second offense and PhP 500 to PhP 5000 and driver's license suspension for one week for the third and subsequent offense. For the bill  5815, adults in violation of this law will be fined PhP 5000 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days, or both.

Thus, these policies will ensure safe driving practices and would emphasize on proper use of safety devices because this is the best way to protect your children from serious injuries and harms caused during vehicle accidents. Remember, “Children close their ears to advice but open their eyes to example,” and they have a right to be treated in a special way!