​The House Committee on Transportation has approved a measure seeking to mandate mechanisms for motorcycles that will automatically turn the headlight on when the engine is started.

The panel approved House Bill 1318, or the proposed "Mandatory Automatic Headlights On for Motorcycles Act," which also requires motorists to maintain their headlights on at any time of the day as long as they are on the road.

​Under the measure, motorcycle manufacturers, assemblers and distributors must make sure that an "automatic headlights on" system, mechanism or device is installed properly before a motorcycle unit is distributed and sold.

Importation of motorcycles without this system, mechanism or device, will be unlawful.

The bill also mandates that every motorcycle should be equipped with one to two working headlights.

Regardless if the motorcycle has a single beam or multiple beam headlights, the headlights' intensity must be sufficient enough to reveal a person or a vehicle at any distance of not less than 30.5 meters when the motorcycle is operated at any speed less than 40.225 kilometers per hour, and at any distance of not less than 61 meters when operated at a speed of 40.225 to 56.315 kilometers per hour,and a distance of 91.5 meters when operated at a speed greater than 56.315 kilometers per hour.

If the motorcycle has a multi-beam headlight, the upper beam must meet the said minimum requirements.

The Land Transportation Office is mandated to impose fines against drivers, operators and owners of motorcycles, as well as the manufacturers, assemblers, importers and/or distributors who violate the provisions of the proposed act.

For drivers, operators and owners, the fines would be:

P1,000 to P2,000 for the first offense;
P2,500 to P3,000 for the second offense; and
P3,500 to P5,000 and suspension of driver's license for a period of one month for the third and succeeding offenses.
For manufacturers, assemblers, importers and/or distributors, the fines would be:

P5,000 to P10,000 and suspension of license to operate for a period of one year for the first offense;
P10,000 to P20,000 and suspension of license to operate for a period of two years for the second offense; and
P50,000 and suspension of license to operate for a period of five years for the third offense.

Good News: Meron po tayong batas na nagsaad na bawal na po ang mga asong pakalat kalat sa kalye. Alagaan at huwag po nating pabayaang nakakalat lang ang ating mga aso sa kalsada.