Sixteenth Congress
Republic of the Philippines
2™ Regular Session

introduced by
HON, SAMUEL D. PAGDILAO, JR.

HOUSE BILL NO. _527 1
EXPLANATORY NOTE

It was recently reported that a parked police car was
wrecked by a bus driver who allegedly fell asleep while in transit
along EDSA Balintawak, Quezon City. The bus driver claims that
he was extremely tired and exhausted for driving 24 hours when
the accident occurred. Unfortunately, four policemen were injured
in this incident.

Driver fatigue is among the leading causes of potentially fatal
road accidents in the Philippines. In other countries, daily driving
hours are specifically limited as a safety measure against fatigue-
related accidents. For instance, the United States Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration mandates a maximum daily driving
limit of 10 to 11 hours. Also, the European Commission requires
drivers to observe a daily driving limit of 9 to 10 hours only. Upon
implementation of these driving limits, these countries saw reduced
numbers of fatigue-related road accidents.

Similarly, our Country should also address these fatigue-
related road accidents. By requiring daily driving limits, we will
teduce the likelihood of driver fatigue and consequently, fatigue-
related crashes. This would mean significantly safer roads and
hiways in the Philippines.

Hence, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

-


Sixteenth Congress
and Regular Session

5271

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by
HON. SAMUEL D, PAGDILAO, JR.

AN ACT
PROVIDING DAILY DRIVING LIMITS FOR TRUCKS, BUSES
AND OTHER PUBLIC UTILITY VEHICLES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in the Congress assembled.

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Daily Driving Limit
Act of 2014”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of
the State to promote road safety and to protect its citizens by reducing the
likelihood of road accidents caused by driver fatigue. Towards this end, the
State shall provide measures that will enforce a uniform daily driving limit for
Trucks, Buses, and Other Public Utility Vehicles.

Section 3. Vehicles covered. - Trucks, Buses and Other Motorized
Vehicles classified as Public Utility Vehicles covered by Certificates of Public
Convenience issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory
Board shall be required to observe the daily driving limit under this
Act.

Section 4. Daily Driving Limit. - The driving limit shall be nine (9) hours
for each 24-hour period. However, the daily driving time may be extended to
at most ten (10) hours not more than twice during a week.

Section 5. Mandatory Rest Period. - After driving a continuous period
of four and a half (4 & 1/2) hours a driver shall take an uninterrupted break of
not less than thirty (30) minutes. This mandatory rest period shall not be
included in the computation of the daily driving limit.

Section 6. Duty of driver to Record Duty Status - Every driver who
operates a motor vehicle covered under this Act shall record his duty status, in
writing, for each 24-hour period. The duty status shall provide the following.
information:

v


(a) Date;

(b.) Name of Driver;

(c.) Motor Vehicle License Plate;

(d.)__ Name of Operator/Owner/Company, if any;
(e.) 24-hour period starting time;

(f.) Total kilometers driving today;

(g.) Total Hours Driving;

(h.) Signature of Driver.

While on duty, the driver shall retain a copy of each record of duty
status for the previous 7 consecutive days which shall be in his possession
and available for inspection by traffic enforcers. The owner or operator of the
motor vehicle, if any, shall likewise keep a copy of each record of duty status
for the previous 7 consecutive days available for inspection.

Section 7. Exceptions. - In case of any emergency, such as but not
limited to adverse weather conditions or riots where the life or health of the
driver or any other natural person is in danger, the driver is permitted to
continue driving in excess of the daily driving limit until he reaches a safe
location.

Section 7. Prohibited Acts; Penalties. -

(a.) The penalty of imprisonment from one (1) month to six (6) months
or a fine amounting of one hundred thousand pesos (Php 100,000.00) or both
shall be imposed upon a driver of a motor vehicle covered under this Act who
fails to observe the daily driving limit and mandatory rest period, fails to
complete the record of duty status, fails to preserve a record of such duty
status for inspection, or makes false statements in such duty status.

The same penalty shall be imposed upon the operator or owner of a
motor vehicle covered under this Act who fails to preserve a record of such
duty status for inspection.

(b.) The penalty of imprisonment from six (6) months to one (1) year or
a fine amounting to two hundred thousand pesos (Php200,000.00) or both
shall be imposed upon the operator or owner of a motor vehicle covered
under this Act who orders or requires his driver to drive in excess of the daily
driving limit.

Section 8. Rules and Regulations. — The Department of
Transportation and Communication together with its attached agencies, the
Land Transportation Office, and the Land Transportation Franchising
Regulatory Board, shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the
implementation of this Act

Section 9. Separability Clause. - if any provision or part hereof is held
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or the provisions not
otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.


Section 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

Section 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation