Arroyo and son want heavier penalties for drunk driving

Former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her son, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo, are seeking to impose heavier penalties against drunk driving. Citing a rise in the number of alcohol-related road accidents last year, the Arroyos said the present law, Republic Act (RA) 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, enacted in 1964, does not sufficiently define what constitutes drunk driving. Through House Bill 382, which will be known as the Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUIA) Act of 2010, a person can be charged of drunk driving when his or her mental and motor skills are impaired or when his or her blood alcohol concentration level is 0.06 or higher. In the country's existing law on drunk driving, those found driving while under the influence of liquor or narcotic drugs will be penalized with not less than P200 and not more than P500, or will be imprisoned for not more than three months, or both. In the Arroyo bill, violators will be penalized with P5,000 fine and two months suspension of driver's license for the first offense. For the second offense, the penalty shall be a P6,000 fine and three months suspension of their driver's licenses. For the third offense, the penalty shall be P7,000 and six months suspension of their driver's licenses. For the succeeding offenses, the penalty shall be P7,000 and the automatic revocation of their driver's licenses. All drivers involved in vehicular accidents resulting in death or serious physical injuries will be subjected to chemical tests to determine the presence and/or concentration of alcohol. The Arroyo bill also provides that all applicants for driver's licenses should complete a course on driving and safety matters, including the hazardous effects of alcoholic beverages on a person's ability to operate motor vehicles. The Arroyos cited studies showing that drivers under the influence of alcohol have a significantly higher risk of being involved in a road accident than those who have not consumed alcohol. According to the bill, "The World Health Organization (WHO) and various studies showed that alcohol intake, depending on the level of intoxication, results in impairment which increases the likelihood of a crash since it produces poor judgment, decreased reaction time, lower vigilance and decreased visual acuity." The Arroyos also noted that tragic road accidents said tragic road accidents remains one of the leading causes of mortality in the country. "While other countries have institutionalized their policy regarding driving under the influence of alcohol (DUIA), the Philippines has seemingly remained reserved and lenient in punishing drunk drivers," the Arroyos said. They added that “road accidents are often treated as a result of reckless imprudence and not viewed as irresponsible and deliberate acts, giving emphasis to drunk driving." In 2009, 735 alcohol-related accidents were reported. This was 6.2 percent higher than the 692 incidents reported in 2008. –VVP, GMANews.TV