Prohibiting Lane Splitting Lane splitting shall mean using or sharing a lane already occupied by one vehicle by another vehicle such as a motorcycle or scooter in a road or highway. Another term for this is filtering through traffic which on international standards, can be done as long as the speeds are kept below 40 KPH. Anything above 40 KPH is considered as high speed weaving which is considered a traffic violation in most countries. Lane splitting should be allowed, but to a certain extent only. Regulating lane splitting will prevent riders from defending themselves on the road. Regulating Protective Devices The awareness in protecting on-self from personal injury has to be addressed. We understand the need for helmets and we acknowledge the need to promote and enforce the rule of wearing a helmet and having sufficient eye protection while riding a motorcycle. However, regulating everything from the jackets down to the pants can have adverse effects on the rider itself. We have to consider the fact that we live in a humid and tropical country. The wrong type of apparel can affect the judgment and reaction of the riders when heat exhaustion sets in. We also need to consider the socio economic status of every motorcycle rider. Regulating modifications and Accessories The difference between OEM and after market parts. This presentation will define the basic parts of a motorcycle and how modifications and accessories affect them. Are modifications and accessories the cause for road accidents? Do we regulate modifications and accessories? How does this affect the industry? What are alternative solutions? What is allowed? By law, we already have the basic requirements and regulations governing all vehicles including motorcycles... These laws are found inside Republic Act 4136 and is also discussed in the Vienna Convention for Road Traffic... We should concentrate on the enforcement of these laws... What are they?
Tires Motorcycle tires meant for road use No competition tires (Slicks) Brakes Horns As per RA 4136, Article IV, Section 34, Letter (A): Tires of motor vehicles. - No motor vehicle with metallic tires shall be operated upon any public highway, and solid tires whenever used shall be of sufficient thickness to prevent the metal rims thereof from coming in direct contact with the road. Brake Rotors Caliper Drum Brakes Hydraulic brake hose Every component must work properly and must be free from leaks, loss of pressure and all the cables should be properly installed and be free from damage. Should not be sirens or make equivalent tones used by emergency vehicles As per RA 4136, Article IV, Section 34, Letter (B-1): Every motor vehicle shall be provided with a horn or signaling devise in good working order: Provided, however, That no horn or signaling device emitting an exceptionally loud, startling, or disagreeable sound shall be installed or used on any motor vehicle. All authorized emergency vehicles, such as ambulance and police cars and fire wagons used for emergency calls shall be equipped with a bell, siren, or exhaust whistle of a type approved by the Commissioner, and no such device shall be installed or used in any other vehicle. Lights or Lamps Lights (head, brake, license plate light, auxiliary lights, signal lights) Headlights Front lights can only be white or yellowish in color Low beam should be adjusted so that it doesn t create glare when following other vehicles or oncoming road traffic Front lights should be angled properly
Brake lights Tail and brake lights should be red Should be clearly visible from 50 meters or 164 feet away Taillights or license plate lights Should illuminate the plates at night Auxiliary lights Signal lights As long as it does not create glare to other road users As long as the color of the bulb or lens is amber or yellowish in color and can be seen from 50 meters away when flashing. As per Vienna Convention for Road Traffic, Chapter II, Section 39: Every motor vehicle, except a cycle, motorcycle, moped, and every trailer shall be equipped with fixed direction-indicators with flashing amber lights, fitted on the vehicle in even numbers and visible by day and by night to road-users affected by the vehicle's movements. As per RA 4136, Article IV, Section 34, Letter (F): Motorcycle and other vehicle lights. - Every motor vehicle of less than one meter of projected width shall be subject to the preceding provisions of this section, except that one headlight and one taillight shall be required. No signal light shall be necessary. Additional lamps may be carried provided they comply with the preceding provisions of this section. Every motor vehicle, or whatever style, kind, make, character, or nature, when upon a highway during the hours above-mentioned, whether in motion or not, shall have one or more lights so arranged that the same shall be visible at least fifty meters from the front and the rear of such vehicle. Mufflers We should establish an acceptable limit to the sound emitted by the mufflers. This requires further study and must be taken up with the DENR. As per RA 4136, Article IV, Section (J): Mufflers. - Every motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine shall be equipped with a muffler, and whenever said motor vehicle passes through a street of any city, municipality, or thickly populated district or barrio, the muffler shall not be cut out or disconnected. No motor vehicle shall be operated in such a manner as to cause it to emit or make any unnecessary or disagreeable odour, smoke or noise. Other components being questioned Licence plates
Should be mounted at the back of the motorcycle. Should be illuminated at night. As per RA 4136, Article III, Section 18: Section 18. Use of number plates. - At all times, every motor vehicle shall display in conspicuous places, one in front and one in the rear thereof, the said number plates. The number plates shall be kept clean and cared for, and shall be firmly affixed to the motor vehicle in such a manner as will make it entirely visible and always legible. Freight, cargo, carriages and saddles Should be unregulated as long as the cargo weight, location, stability and dimension complies with the carrying capacity of the motorcycle As per the Vienna Convention for Road Traffic, Article 30, Section 1: If a permissible maximum mass is laid down for a vehicle, the laden mass of the vehicle shall never exceed the permissible maximum mass. As per RA 4136, Article III, Section 32: Exceeding registered capacity. - No person operating any vehicle shall allow more passenger or more freight or cargo in his vehicle than its registered carrying capacity. As per RA 4136, Article II, Section 10, Letter B: To operate a motor vehicle with any part of the load extending beyond the projected width of the vehicle. Side view mirrors Two mirrors are required that is mounted on each handlebar and must be effective in providing the rider with a view of the vehicles behind him. Head light/tail light assembly Rear sets Color issues. Must follow the set standards for head and rear lights. Should be angled properly. We know of no adverse effects to handling and safety. Suspension (front fork/rear shocks) A common reason why suspension is changed or modified is to improve the handling and maneuverability of the motorcycle. It helps the rider in terms of comfort and stability on the road. It also gives certain bikes the look that the rider is after. And there are cases that suspension is changed to fit the use of the bike. Fender eliminators Clip ons/handlebars
Seats and seat covers Instrument panel Rims/mags Air box/filter Charging system Stereo Swing arm Should be present on vehicles using an internal combustion engine. Should be operated at an acceptable level/volume only. What do we regulate? We believe that the current laws are sufficient and effective. Everything talked about in RA 4136 and the Vienna Convention for Road Traffic should be exercised and enforced. How does regulation affect the industry? Sales and interest in motorcycles will drop. Aftermarket suppliers and stores will loose business. Small shops including the motorcycle mechanics will have less clients and will loose their livelihood. It is a known fact the improvement of motorcycles is done in private and small shops therefore, research and development for the industry will be greatly compromised. Overall, the motorcycle industry will be affected negatively and will eventually topple over. What are the alternative solutions? Other components should primarily be brought up in rider and motorcycle education through the proposed compulsory riding school prior to licensing. A secondary program that aims to facilitate educational seminars and symposiums as to how modifications affect riders and their motorcycles shall be introduced. The said programs will also be made available online through downloads and discussion boards where a vast populous derives information from. Other programs from the manufacturers and dealers to certify mechanics can also be introduced. The programs will be open to support from all the manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers in the motorcycle industry.
Our Stand To deliver Re-Education for the riding community and other road users. The goal is to provide the community with a better understanding about riding and their motorcycles. Promote awareness of motorcycles to other road users. By educating current and future riders, we will reduce road injuries and deaths thus promoting safety all together.