Silly Rules from Bayani Fernando and MMDA

[mannyamador]

---

Making Roads Unsafe: Stupidity from the MMDA
Manny Amador
http://mamador.wordpress.com/2007/06...from-the-mmda/

It looks like the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and its Chairman, Bayani Fernando, now want to join in our national leaders’ pastime of creating unbelievably stupid laws and regulations.

As reported by GMANews.TV and Sunstar, the MMDA wants to impose impractical and dangerous new rules on motorcycle owners and riders:


Under the “Dual Motorcycle and Helmet License Plate Numbers
Policy,” the license plate numbers on the helmet should be on a
water-proof sticker permanently placed on both sides of the
headgear and should be large enough to be seen by the public

. . .

The resolution adopted MMDA Resolution No. 07-07 passed in
February implementing the “No Face Shield” policy for back
riders of motorcycles plying main roads and secondary streets.

Let’s see what these rules will mean to the motorcycle-riding public.

First, it seems that Fernando has forgotten that full-face helmets are much safer for riders — whether they be passengers or drivers. A study in the January 2003 issue of “Annals of Emergency Medicine” found that motorcyclists with facial injuries are 3.5 times more likely to have a brain injury. Those that receive facial fractures are 6.5 times more likely to have brain injuries than those without any facial damage.

Helmets with face shields, while not as good as full face helmets, can also provide some protection against insects and other flying objects. That’s important when riding at high speed.

The bottom line: a full face helmet covers the face and can prevent facial damage, while a face shield also provides a bit of protection. The new MMDA rules, however, would deny motorcycle passengers a chance to use better protection since they require that a passenger’s face be exposed.

Has Fernando ever wondered what it would be like to hit one’s chin on the ground in a motorcycle accident? Has he ever been hit in the face by a flying insect at 60 kph? Perhaps he should try these and see how they can “improve” his looks.

There’s more to consider. What if a person has two or more motorcycles? Will two sets of numbers large enough to be seen at a distance fit on both sides of a single helmet? Or does Fernando expect riders to buy more helmets and have one helmet assigned to each motorcycle?

What if one sells a motorcycle and purchases another one? How will a “permanently placed” sticker be removed without damaging the helmet? Does he realize how expensive a properly-certified helmet can be?

This resolution obviously suffers from a near-total lack of rational thinking and appreciation of real-life evidence. One wonders if Fernando and the ignoramuses in the MMDA even know anything at all about motorcycle safety.

Fernando should take his mindless resolution and stuff it up his rear end. It would probably do more good that way.

Helmet safety studies and articles:

NHTSA Helmet Safety Study
http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcyc...lmet-Study.htm

Motorcycle Helmet Performance: Blowing the Lid Off
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/ge...helmet_review/

Visit my blog and comment on this issue:
http://mamador.wordpress.com

[eax]

I should be thankful na im at Cebu City.

Actually, for me I think dili man na nato i-blame si Bayani. I think we should the Manila residents. No offense, but I think some Metro Manila residents does not know road courtesy.

[marquee]

the issue why this policy has been made is not about road courtesy but to stop crimes done by motorcycle riding felons. it has good intentions but reality suggests it is at the MC driver's disadvantage - as stated in the first post. you should be an MC driver to understand their sentiments.IMHO

[FK]

it's really silly...

if you are a felon... would you care following these orders?

[LytSlpr]

First of all, I admire Fernando for what he did in MMDA and to the Traffic predicament in Manila but I do agree that this idea is very silly.

[mannyamador]

Below is the text of a "Letter tot he Editor" that I wrote on the Sun Star website. I only focused on one aspect of MMDA Resolution 07-07: the part about prohibiting backriders from wearing a face shield/full-face helmet. I hope they publish it.
_________________________________________________

I am writing to comment on the impending imposition of MMDA Resolution No. 07-07 which contains the "No Face Shield" policy for back riders of motorcycles on Manila's streets.

It seems that MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando has forgotten that full-face helmets and face shields are safety devices for riders -- whether they be passengers or drivers -- and not designed for concealment.

A study in the January 2003 issue of "Annals of Emergency Medicine" found that motorcyclists that incur facial injuries in an accident are 3.5 times more likely to have a brain injury. Those that receive facial fractures are 6.5 times more likely to have brain injuries than those without any facial damage. Full-face helmets, which also conceal the face, can prevent such injuries.

Helmets with face shields, while not as good as full-face helmets, still provide protection against glare, insects, debris, and other flying objects. Without such protection, motorcycle passengers can be directly injured by a flying object. Unprotected riders can also react violently to objects hitting them in the face. Such a reaction can cause them to fall off or set the motorcycle off balance, endangering both riders.

The bottom line: a full face helmet covers the face and can prevent facial damage, while a face shield also provides added protection. The new MMDA rules, however, would deny motorcycle passengers a chance to use better protection since they require that a passenger’s face be exposed.

Has Fernando ever wondered what it would be like to hit one’s chin on the ground in a motorcycle accident? Has he ever been hit in the face by a rock at 50kph? Perhaps he should try these and see how they can "improve" his looks.

The new MMDA rule is not only stupid, it is downright dangerous. Resolution 07-07 should be scrapped immediately. If otherwise imposed, Fernando and its enforcers will be endangering the riding public and should be charged accordingly.

[mannyamador]

It looks like even the police don't think Bayani Fernando's stupid helmet rules will be effective. Hey MMDA, are you listening??!!!

No need for plate numbers on helmets, says PNP-TMG

June 28, 2007 - Updated 22:24:15 (Mla time)
Alcuin Papa, Inquirer
http://services.inquirer.net/express...73786-xml.html

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday there was no need for motorcycle riders to wear the license plate numbers of their vehicles on their helmets.

Chief Superintendent Errol Pan, the PNP Traffic Management Group (TMG) director and a motorcycle rider, said the new regulation being studied by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) would not make catching motorcycle-riding criminals any easier.

"There’s no need to put the license plate numbers on the helmets. There is already a license plate on the vehicle. This will add confusion to law enforcement and the general public," Pan told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net.

He said criminals did not usually wear helmets because these could obstruct their vision. Also, the criminals can simply exchange helmets in a bid to elude police, Pan said.

He added that imposing the new helmet regulation would "add a burden" to motorcycle owners.

Instead, Pan said license plates on motorcycles should come with a seal similar to the ones used on electric meters to prevent tampering.

He said a no-nonsense enforcement of traffic laws by the MMDA would be a better alternative.

Pan also boasted that the PNP has been successful in curbing crimes involving motorcycle riders even without the new scheme.

The TMG is usually the first unit to be alerted on criminals because of their mobile deployment around Metro Manila.

On Wednesday, the Motorcycle Philippines Federation opposed the new MMDA measure.

The motorcycle riders threatened to stage a rally along EDSA against any ordinance imposing criminal liability on riders who fail to indicate their license plates on their helmets.

Jojo Medina of the MPF said the new measure was wrong and that police should beef up their crime fighting capability rather than “impose a new hard-line policy.”

But MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando said the new measure was good to go.

He said they would study the MPF’s concern but appealed to the group not to go on with their plan to block EDSA.

©2007 www.inquirer.net all rights reserved

_________________________________________________
My updated blog post on this issue is at the URL below. Leave comments at:

Making Roads Unsafe: Stupidity from the MMDA
http://mamador.wordpress.com/2007/06...from-the-mmda/

[eax]

It looks like even the police don't think Bayani Fernando's stupid helmet rules will be effective. Hey MMDA, are you listening??!!!

No need for plate numbers on helmets, says PNP-TMG

June 28, 2007 - Updated 22:24:15 (Mla time)
Alcuin Papa, Inquirer
http://services.inquirer.net/express...73786-xml.html

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Thursday there was no need for motorcycle riders to wear the license plate numbers of their vehicles on their helmets.

Chief Superintendent Errol Pan, the PNP Traffic Management Group (TMG) director and a motorcycle rider, said the new regulation being studied by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) would not make catching motorcycle-riding criminals any easier.

"There’s no need to put the license plate numbers on the helmets. There is already a license plate on the vehicle. This will add confusion to law enforcement and the general public," Pan told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net.

He said criminals did not usually wear helmets because these could obstruct their vision. Also, the criminals can simply exchange helmets in a bid to elude police, Pan said.

He added that imposing the new helmet regulation would "add a burden" to motorcycle owners.

Instead, Pan said license plates on motorcycles should come with a seal similar to the ones used on electric meters to prevent tampering.

He said a no-nonsense enforcement of traffic laws by the MMDA would be a better alternative.

Pan also boasted that the PNP has been successful in curbing crimes involving motorcycle riders even without the new scheme.

The TMG is usually the first unit to be alerted on criminals because of their mobile deployment around Metro Manila.

On Wednesday, the Motorcycle Philippines Federation opposed the new MMDA measure.

The motorcycle riders threatened to stage a rally along EDSA against any ordinance imposing criminal liability on riders who fail to indicate their license plates on their helmets.

Jojo Medina of the MPF said the new measure was wrong and that police should beef up their crime fighting capability rather than “impose a new hard-line policy.”

But MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando said the new measure was good to go.

He said they would study the MPF’s concern but appealed to the group not to go on with their plan to block EDSA.

©2007 www.inquirer.net all rights reserved

_________________________________________________
My updated blog post on this issue is at the URL below. Leave comments at:

Making Roads Unsafe: Stupidity from the MMDA
http://mamador.wordpress.com/2007/06...from-the-mmda/

I think, it is ok ra na kay ang Cebu City is not under sa MMDA. Why bothered?

[lestat1116]

naa man sad dri cebu dili pwede magfull face-face helmet. try kuno og full-face helmet naay LTO inspection sa road badlongon ka.

[eax]

naa man sad dri cebu dili pwede magfull face-face helmet. try kuno og full-face helmet naay LTO inspection sa road badlongon ka.

Kanang diri sa ato kay likay man na sa mga vigilantes and mga bad elements.