Republic Act No. 10913 - Anti-Distracted Driving Law

Texting while driving banned under new law. Drivers of cars face a fine, or worse, revocation of their licenses, if they use navigation apps or send text messages while their vehicles are moving.

They should pull over when checking the map or smart-phone so as not to be penalized under the Anti-Distracted Driving Acts as defined below:

Republic Act No. 10913

Republic Act No. 10913 or the Anti-Distracted Driving Law, which takes effect on May 18, defines the distracted driving as the driver's use of mobile communication, electronic entertainment and computing devices or gadgets while the vehicle is in motion or stopped momentarily at a red light or an intersection.

Coverage

• Public and Private vehicles
• Wheeled agricultural machinery
• Construction equipment
• Other forms of transportation, human-powered or pulled by an animal, operated or driven in public thoroughfares, highways or streets, such as bicycles, pedicabs, trolleys, habal-habal, kuliglig, wagons, carriages and carts.

Prohibited acts

• Make or receive calls
• Write, send, read text-based communications
• Play games
• Watch movies
• Perform calculations
• Read e-books
• Composing message
• Surfing or browsing the internet

Exemptions

• Motorist using devices to make or take an emergency calls to authorities in case of crime, accidents, bomb or terrorist threat, fires or explosion, instances needing immediate medical attention or if personal safety and security is compromised. 

Allowed acts

• Use of hands-free function and application as long as gadgets do not interfere with the driver's line of sight.
• Use of navigational apps that should be set to the preferred destination before the driver's departure. Such gadgets should be installed in parts of a vehicle that will not obstruct driver's view. 

Penalties

•  P5,000 fine for the first offense
• P10,000 fine for the second  offense
• P15,000 fine with three months suspension of driver's license for the third offense
• P20,000 and revocation of driver's license for violations beyond third offense.

The LTO, as the lead implementing agency, can deputize enforcers, the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board and the Philippine National Police.

For inner streets, traffic enforcers of local government units will be authorized to carry out arrests.