Why is this mom publishing a post about motorcycles when she doesn’t even know how to ride a bicycle? 😛 Well, my hubby rides one so this information is pertinent to him and to his friends. Hubby though has always bought helmets that are of high-quality and never rides without wearing his motorcycle helmet so he doesn’t need to make any adjustment once this law is fully implemented at the end of the month. I know there are many who will need to make adjustments though. You might be put off wearing a helmet because you don’t want to have to carry it around once you reach your destination – lucky for you then that there are plenty of solutions available for locking your helmet to your bike so you don’t have to carry it. And now there’s no excuse for you not to wear one. Wearing a helmet provides people with better safety. There is less chance of a horrible accident happening. Having an accident is not something that people want anyway. However, if this is something that has happened to you then you could take a look at using someone like these Motorcycle accident lawyers in Sacramento. But let’s hope you never have to take it to that stage.

What exactly is the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009? RA 10054 mandates all motorcycle riders to wear standard protective motorcycle helmets while driving. AT ALL TIMES! Police officers have heard “I’ll be riding just one block away and don’t need a helmet” and “This is not a busy street so it’s safe not to wear a helmet” too many times already. They’ve been campaigning and disseminating information about this law for six months now. So come July 31, it shall be mandatorily enforced.

What’s also interesting is that motorbike riders may not be entitled to use the top Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyers if they have an accident while not wearing a helmet. After all, who is there to file a lawsuit against if you weren’t protective of your own life?

Here are some of the most important provisions of this law:

Section 3 – Mandatory Use of Motorcycle Helmets. All motorcycle riders, including drivers and back riders, shall at all times wear standard protective motorcycle helmets while driving, whether long or short drives, in any type of road and highway. Standard protective motorcycle helmets are appropriate types of helmets for motorcycle riders that comply with the specifications issued by the DTI.

Section 5 – Provision of Motorcycle Helmets. A new motorcycle helmet that bears the Philippine Standard (PS) mark or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) of the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) and complies with the standards set by the BPS shall be made available by every seller and/or dealer every time a new motorcycle unit is purchased and which the purchaser may buy at his option. Failure to comply with the requirements provided under this section shall constitute a violation of this act.

Section 6 – Implementation. The DOTC, with its attached agency, the LTO, is mandated by this act to issue guidelines necessary to implement the provisions of this act. The DTI, through the BPS, is mandated to utilize the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Protocols with regard to the standards that will be applicable to the approval or disapproval of motorcycle helmets that will be sold in the Philippines. The DTI, through the BPS, shall conduct a mandatory testing of all manufactured and imported motorcycle helmets in the Philippines. All manufacturers and importers of standard protective motorcycle helmets are required to secure a PS license or ICC prior to the sale and distribution of their products. The BPS shall issue periodically a list of motorcycle helmet, manufacturers and importers and the brands that pass the standards of the BPS to be published in a newspaper of general circulation or in its website.

Upon the effectivity of this act, only those standard protective motorcycle helmets bearing the PS or ICC mark shall be sold in the market.

Section 7 – Penalties. (a) Any person caught not wearing the standard protective motorcycle helmet in violation of this act shall be punished with a fine ofP1,500 for the first offense; P3,000 for the second offense; P5,000 for the third offense; and P10,000 plus confiscation of the driver’s license for the fourth and succeeding offenses.

More than the penalties you stand to face if you fail to comply with this law while riding your motorcycle, you must realize that the Motorcycle Helmet Act seeks to safeguard them from fatal injuries and secure their and their passengers’ safety.

When hubby came home with a new motorcycle a couple of years ago, I was furious. Aside from the fact that he made a major purchase without even giving me a hint about it, I thought he was rash, insensitive and irresponsible for wanting to ride a motorcycle and putting his life at risk. That reaction just masked my fear of his getting into an accident like the many motorcycle accidents I hear on the news each week. Thankfully, hubby has stayed accident-free for the two years he’s had his motorcycle. However, this isn’t the case for other motorcycle owners, some of whom have found themselves in terrible accidents through no fault of their own and are waiting to see if they can access their accident settlement from motorcycle insurance claims.

Though I know he is a responsible rider, I still can’t help worrying about his safety when he is out riding his bike. He constantly reassures me though that he takes utmost care and even briefs me through the safety precautions he takes. Among his tips on riding safely:

1. Wear proper riding gear. This includes sturdy, reliable, and proper-fitting motorcycle helmets and protective gear. You might even want to invest in some motorcycle helmet cameras so you can record your journey.
2. Be a defensive driver. Being on two wheels doesn’t exempt you from certain traffic rules. You are using the very same road that other vehicles are using so be a responsible driver and follow the traffic rules.
3. Know what do after a crash. This means making sure you know what to do if someone is injured so you can deal with it while the emergency services arrive. It also means that you could know where to go if you need to sort out any Motorcycle Accident Settlements so you can get any compensation if you’re entitled to it.

4. Check your bike before riding. Just like any other vehicle, hubby checks his motorcycle before riding it. He makes sure that the engine is in good condition and all the other parts are working and in order. If you are noticing that it might be time for an upgrade then you may want to find out how much your motorbike is worth? There are numerous places where you can do this online.

I’m certain that hubby is a safe and responsible rider; nonetheless, I still worry that some irresponsible rider or driver would cause him harm. However he insists that he’ll be safe, I always say a quiet prayer that angels would keep him safe every single time he rides his motorcycle.