The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates the Philippines as President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act or Republic Act 11229. The initiative makes Philippines among the few countries in Asia to pass child restraint legislation.
The Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act is a landmark legislation that requires mandatory use of child restraints when transporting children. The new law also restricts children from sitting in the front seat of motor vehicles.
In the Philippines, more than 600 children die from road crashes each year. The legislation is a significant step towards prioritizing the safety and welfare of infants and children on Philippine roads, and preventing traffic-related deaths and injuries.
Child restraints keep a child firmly secured in the seat so that in the event of sudden braking or collision, the child is not thrown against the car interior or ejected from the vehicle. Evidence has shown that child restraints reduce the likelihood of a fatal crash by approximately 70% among infants and between 54-80% among young children.
We congratulate the legislators and road safety advocates who together have worked hard during the past years to push the passage of this child restraint legislation. WHO is here to continue providing technical support to the Philippine Government, especially as they draft the Implementing Rules and Regulations for RA 11229. With proper implementation and enforcement, this law will save the lives of many children over the next years.