The proposed Anti-Road Rage Act of 2019 or Bill No. 5759 aims to impose a fine of P250,000 and up to six years’ imprisonment on drivers prone to exhibiting road rage.
According to Inquirer, the bill was filed by San Jose del Monte City Rep. Florida Robes who saw the alarming rise of road rage incidents and in response wants to discipline drivers with “aggressive, hostile or violent behavior” on the road by imposing stricter penalties.
Robes cited statistics pointing out that nine out of 10 drivers “think of aggressive driving as a threat to personal safety while eight out of 10 “admit to exhibiting aggressive behavior” on the road.
This is also not to mention a handful of gruesome road rage cases like Eldon Maguan and Mark Vincent Garalde’s murders.
Further acts of road rage according to the bill include “mild to moderate screaming, wild gesturing at others, cursing or using bad language, physical attack at another or an attempt thereof, reckless driving, any kind of threat or intimidation, and any use of force against another person.”
Aside from six months to six years of imprisonment and a fine of not less than P250,000, the offender’s driver’s license will also be suspended for five years following the violation.
The bill is well on its way and has recently been referred to the House Transportation Committee Chair Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento.
Header photo courtesy of Inquirer.net
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Writer: JOY THERESE GOMEZ
