What are parents saying about the Child Car Seat Law?

The urgent need to protect children on the road initiated the advocacy that led to the signing of Republic Act No. 11229, otherwise known as the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Law.

Parents immediately showed their support for the passage of the law saying “[they] can rest easy knowing children in the Philippines are safer when they travel.”

“I am so glad that this is finally law. I am definitely in support of it. There are too many places to see in the Philippines, and our children travel to and fro, even just to go to school. The law puts in place safety for even these short travels for our children,” Ada Angela Cabrera, mother of a 5-year-old and road safety advocate expressed.

Ada also looks forward to promoting the policy, “being a car seat user from day one, I want to stress that it is not only your children’s safety that is at stake here, it is also your peace of mind.”

“As parents, what wouldn’t we do for our children? Is safety not our primary concern to ensure that they will be living long happy lives with us?” she asked.

Sigrid Yoingco-Garcia, a mother of 2 kids also shared her sentiments saying, “I’m happy and I fully support the law, we have been using car seats for 5 years now.”

“Even if I know that my husband is a safe driver, there are still a lot who aren’t. So it’s better to use a car seat, it gives us a sense of comfort that the kids will be safe, especially during long trips where we traverse highways,” she added.

The law mandates the use of child car seats in vehicles, prohibits children to be left in vehicles without an adult companion and putting children below 12 years old in the front seat, among others.

In line with accommodating public questions, concerns and gathering suggestions from parents, IDEALS organized a forum for parents to have space and discussion on children’s safety on the road.

Parents’ forum on Children Safety on the Road last June 2019 held at Tweedle Books Cafe

CRS law, part of a bigger road safety advocacy

The senate champion, senator JV Ejercito, noted that this law is part of a bigger picture to make Philippine roads safe for motorists and pedestrians, especially children.

“We all want our kids to be safe at all times. And since road crashes are unpredictable, it pays to be proactive. It is also my hope that this measure will bring attention to the bigger problem of road safety in our country: over-speeding, drunk and distracted driving, and lack of discipline,” Senator JV Ejercito explained.

The policy also mandates the Department of Transportation to conduct a study within one year and recommend to Congress the use of Child Restraint Systems in Public Utility Vehicles such as jeepneys, buses, taxis, vans, service vehicles of transportation network companies, and other PUVs for Children’s Safety in Public Vehicles.