/ News

MCPF: 7 out of 9,000 riders pass motorcycle safety exam

That’s an alarmingly low number of actual skilled and educated motorcyclists, making them an extreme minority.

Nico Ylanan Nico Ylanan on Dec 10, 2018
MCPF: 7 out of 9,000 riders pass motorcycle safety exam

Anyone who has spent any amount of time driving in the Philippines will find it to be a little tricky. The road networks aren’t properly marked at times, the roads aren’t completely smooth, and lanes will be blocked by parked vehicles. Add unpredictable traffic and a huge volume of cars together with aggressive and undisciplined drivers and motorcyclists, and you get a very challenging driving situation.

Related:
Motorcycling 101: How to choose a helmet

Unfortunately, for our two-wheeled users on the road, the number of motorcycle-related accidents and fatalities has been on the rise. Motorcycles sales have been steadily increasing over the years, and the support for some actual proper rider training has also been gaining ground.

According to Motorcycle Philippines Federation (MCPF) director for administration Atoy Sta. Cruz, the idea of mandatory motorcycle training is something that has been in the works for quite some time now. Senate Bill 1822, filed by Senator JV Ejercito, tasks motorcycle riders to complete the training as a requirement for registering their vehicles at the Land Transportation Office. Once in effect, before you can even register your new motorcycle, or even renew your existing motorcycle’s paperwork, one must present the certification that they have undergone the mandatory rider training program.

Speaking to ABS-CBN News, Atoy Santa Cruz also said that only seven out of 9,000 riders who took his agency’s traffic rules exam over the past two years managed to pass; that’s an extremely low percentage (less than 0.10%). The bill hopes to properly educate and train motorcycle riders in proper and safe riding techniques when out on the road. This is a step in the right direction, and we hope that proper driver and rider training is implemented for all types of motor vehicles very soon. Whether you drive a car or motorcycle, you're responsible for your actions on our shared roads, so any learning opportunity is a chance to be a better road user.

Source: ABS-CBN News

Tagged Under

Related Articles