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Chiz wants stiffer penalties vs ‘criminally negligent’ drivers


Drivers of public utility vehicles whose criminal negligence results in death will be thrown into prison for as long as 20 years, if Senator Francis Escudero's bill is passed into law. “Recent road tragedies show how drivers have become reckless and irresponsible in the conduct of their duties. They seem to disregard the statutory policy to bring their passengers safely as far as human care and foresight can provide, using utmost diligence and caution," Escudero said in a statement released Wednesday. Senate Bill 2095 authored by Escudero seeks to amend Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code and increase the current criminal liability of negligent drivers. Currently under RPC’s Article 365, erring public transport drivers are penalized by arresto mayor to prision correccional in its medium period, or imprisonment from one month to four years and two months. If SB 2095 is passed into law, criminal negligence by common carriers will be punishable by imprisonment ranging from four months to twelve years in case of injury and depending on the extent. In case of death, Escudero said penalty shall range from 12 years to 20 years of imprisonment. Data from the Philippine National Police indicate that over 20,000 road accidents were recorded in 2009 — a dramatic increase of 35.24 percent from 2008 figures. According to the Department of Transportation and Communications, 85 percent of road accidents are "driver-related." On Monday, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) said it is willing to give free training to 50,000 drivers of public utility vehicles in a bid to ensure the safety of their future passengers and improve road safety. Tragic deaths in a number of road accidents during the recent holidays have underscored the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic safety rules. On Sunday, a three-way collision along STAR Tollway in Batangas killed seven members of a family who were on their way to Manila. Last week, a road accident in Sta. Rosa, Laguna killed six people in a jeepney, and the week before that, a bus collided with a car along Commonwealth Avenue, killing a retired Makati City Regional Trial Court judge and his wife who were on their way to midnight Mass.—Kimberly Jane T. Tan/JV, GMANews.TV

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