According to data from the Land Transportation Authority (LTO), the most frequently committed traffic violation in the Philippines in the years 2013, 2014 and 2016 is non-compliance with the Seat belt Use Act.
This law, enacted in 1999, requires drivers and front seat passengers of private and public utility vehicles to use seat belts. Back seat passengers of private vehicles are also required, but not that of jeepneys, vans, and buses.
A signage with instructions on the use of seat belts should be present inside a PUV. Drivers are required to make sure front seat passengers wear their seat belts. Any passenger who refuses should be asked to get off the vehicle.
Road Safety Journalism Fellow Jerald Uy goes around Metro Manila to find out why UV Express passengers don’t wear seatbelts.
Watch his video blog here:
This story was produced under the Bloomberg Initiative Global Road Safety Media Fellowship implemented by the World Health Organization, Department of Transportation and VERA Files.
