Seeing a small child in the backseat of a moving motorcycle is a common sight around Metro Manila. Heck, we’ve even seen kids propped up in the front seat with the rider. Thankfully, some of these children have appropriately sized helmets and riding gear, which is cute and all, but that doesn’t mean they are fully protected—especially when they are sandwiched between other passengers.
The Land Transportation Office has issued a show-cause order to a rider who was operating a motorcycle with a child and another adult on the backseat. From the images posted, the child had no helmet on, and their feet were not properly fixed on the rear footpegs.
The rider will face charges on the grounds of ‘Carrying more passengers other than the back rider,’ ‘Failure to require the back rider to wear a standard protective helmet,’ and ‘Being an improper person to operate a motor vehicle.’ And while it was not mentioned in the summons order, the rider may also be in violation of Republic Act No. 10666, or the Children’s Safety on Motorcycles Act of 2015.
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According to the act, there are three qualifiers to ensure a child’s safety on motorcycles:
Republic Act No. 10666: Children’s Safety on Motorcycles Act
- ‘The child passenger can comfortably reach his/her feet on the standard foot peg of the motorcycle
- ‘The child’s arms can reach around and grasp the waist of the motorcycle rider
- “The child is wearing a standard protective helmet referred to under Republic Act No. 10054, otherwise known the “Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009.”’
While the pictures did not confirm if the child was able to reach around the waist of the motorcycle rider, the first and third qualifiers were definitely not met.
The rider currently has a 90-day preventative suspension on his driver’s license, and the motorcycle unit involved has been placed under alarm. The full penalties will depend on whether the rider has any previous offenses.
However, no fine or license revocation can make up for the endangerment of a child. Hopefully, this incident prompts all motorists to reevaluate their family’s mobility and find safer ways to move their children.
