Five lawmakers including Deputy Majority Leader of the Philippine House of Representatives Erwin Tulfo filed House Bill (HB) 8991 which seeks to put stiffer fines and sanctions on motorists who engage in road rage.
Road rage is never a good idea
HB 8991 or “An Act Penalizing Acts of Road Rage and for Other Purposes” or simply “Anti-Road Rage Act of 2023” aims to protect all road users from all forms of road rage that “not only cause unwarranted road obstruction but physical harm and even death in extreme cases.”
The bill defines road rage as “aggressive, hostile, or violent behavior in traffic or on the road.” It includes cursing or any form of verbal abuse, reckless driving, and use of force against another person, among others.
The Anti-Road Rage Act of 2023, should it be passed into law, gives authorization to the government to prosecute suspects of road rage and act as the complainant on behalf of victims who do not or are unwilling to pursue legal action due to fear and intimidation.
The viral road rage incident involving an ex-cop and a cyclist
Lawmakers proposed the said bill in response to the viral road rage incident involving an ex-cop who pulled a gun on a cyclist. No charges were imposed on the ex-cop since it was reported that the two persons involved had already settled. It was also reported that the cyclist did not want to press charges out of fear.
The bill when passed into law can penalize motorists who engage in road rage with an imprisonment of six months to one year and Php 100,000, given that there’s no injury or death involved.
It's best to always keep your cool when you're out on the road
Road-raging motorists can also face up to four years imprisonment and Php 250,000 in cases resulting in physical injury regardless of the degree.
However, in cases resulting in the death of a party, a penalty of up to 12 years imprisonment and Php 500,000 will be slapped on the road-raging motorist.
The driver’s license of a person who engages in road rage will also be revoked and will not be eligible for renewal for the next five years.
Whether there’s a law or not, it’s best if we always do our best to stay calm while we’re out on the road. Let’s practice common courtesy, which can be as simple as giving way or religiously using your vehicle’s indicator light when changing lanes.
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