Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILLNo.__ 4978

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

While mobile devices are getting smarter and smarter, some motorists nowadays are becoming
less. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in its 2015 report, indicated that using cellular
phones while driving was one of the top causes of traffic accidents. The report revealed that
from 2010 to 2012, a total of 1,290 incidents of cell phone use while driving were reported."

Studies show that drivers using phones are four times as likely to cause a crash as other
drivers, and the likelihood that they will crash is equal to that of someone with a 0.8 percent
blood alcohol level, the point at which drivers are generally considered intoxicated.”

‘A 2003 Harvard study estimated that cell phone distractions caused 2,600 traffic deaths and
330,000 accidents that resulted in moderate or severe injuries, every year, in the United States.
In the Philippines, records from the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB) show that in
2006, cell phone use while driving ranked as the 12" most common caus€ of traffic accidents.
From 2001 to 2006, traffic accidents caused by cell phone use while friving increased nore
than five times in the Philippines, the highest increase among causes offraffic accidents.°

* hupi/deanphilinpines.com/ifestyle/2015/07/22/ariving-and-coll-phone-use-a-recipe-for-accident.hkrnl

*hutos//wwwn.nchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/library-health-news/1173-message-sent-cell-phone-distractions-can-kill

bid.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS:
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 49'78

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE USE OF CELLULAR PHONES WHILE DRIVING AND PRESCRIBING
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Anti-Driving and Texting/Calling Act.”

SEC 2. The State shall uphold road safety and protect the people from vehicular
accidents so that it adopts a zero-tolerance policy on the use of cellular phones while driving,

SEC. 3. The use of cellular phones while driving is hereby declared prohibited or
banned.

SEC 4, Any person found guilty of violating the provisions of this Act shall pay a fine of
Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00) for the first offense; a fine of Fifteen Thousand Pesos
(P15,000.00) for the second offense; and a fine of Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) and
revocation of driver's license for the third offense.

SEC. 5. The Department of Transportation (DOT?), in consultation with the Land
Transportation Office (LTO), shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 6. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed accordingly

SEC 7. This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days upon publication in the Official Gazette
and in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,