Motorcycle Helmet Act

Republic Act No. 10054, also known as the “Motorcycle Helmet Act” was signed into law on 23 March 2010. Under this new law –

All motorcycle riders, including drivers and back riders, are required to wear standard protective motorcycle helmets at all times while driving, whether long or short drives, in any type of road and highway. Standard protective motorcycle helmets are appropriate types of helmets for motorcycle riders that comply with the specifications issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Any person caught not wearing the standard protective motorcycle helmet will be punished with a fine of P1,500.00 for the first offense, P3,000.00 for the second offense, P5,000.00 for the third offense, and P10,000.00 plus confiscation of the driver’s license for the fourth and succeeding offenses.

Tricycle drivers are exempted from complying with the mandatory wearing of motorcycle helmets.

Every seller and/or dealer should make available, every time a new motorcycle unit is purchased, a new motorcycle helmet that bears the Philippine Standard (PS) mark or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) of the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) and complies with the standards set by the BPS, which the purchaser may buy at his option. Any seller and/or dealer who violates this requirement will be punished with a fine of not less than P10,000.00 but not more than P20,000.00.

All manufacturers and importers of standard protective motorcycle helmets are required to secure a PS license or ICC prior to the sale and distribution of their products. Upon the effectivity of R.A. 10054, only those standard protective motorcycle helmets bearing the PS or ICC mark shall be sold in the market.

The DTI, through the BPS, shall conduct a mandatory testing of all manufactured and imported motorcycle helmets in the Philippines. The BPS shall periodically issue a list of motorcycle helmet manufacturers and importers and the brands which pass the standards of the BPS, to be published in a newspaper of general circulation or in its website.

Any person who uses, sells and distributes substandard motorcycle helmets or those which do not bear the PS mark or the ICC certificate will be punished with a fine of not less than P3,000.00 for the first offense, and P5,000.00 for the second offense, without prejudice to other penalties under Republic Act No. 7394 or the “Consumer Act of the Philippines.”

Tampering, alteration, forgery and imitation of the PS mark and the ICC certificates in the helmets will be punished with a fine of not less than P10,000.00 but not more than P20,000.00, without prejudice to other penalties imposed in Republic Act No. 7394 or the “Consumer Act of the Philippines.”

Personal comment:
I'm sure the Government is looking for the safety of all motorists, and that's a good thing - but many of us find this "law" unreasonable / unnecessary. Like, why they need to force such law, and if they are really that "concern" why NOT include protective gears (elbow, knees & body armor) with these you can certainly make sure that damages from accident may LESS compared to just by wearing a helmet, don't you think?

And, you CAN'T just buy just any helmets, it has to be PS and ICC standard. Why is that? Are they concern of the quality or something else?

Bottom line, please drive safely.

Here's a copy ready you can download and print.
http://www.mdppa-inc.org/wp-content/uploads/RA-10054.pdf