Should dash cams be mandatory? Well, a House Bill aims to make vehicle dash cams mandatory in the Philippines. When you think of the benefits inherent in having a dash cam in your vehicle, it’s not difficult to support a move like this.
Among the numerous benefits of a dash cam, one is making you a more conscientious driver. So it’s not surprising that Congressman Frederick W. Siao has reportedly filed House Bill 4475. The Bill aims to make dash cams mandatory in vehicles in the Philippines.
Why should dash cams be mandatory?
Road accidents are preventable. It’s something that can be controlled, if we all made proper decisions while handling a vehicle. Believe it or not, road traffic accidents have become the leading killer of individuals between the ages 5 to 29. Making dash cams mandatory is an effort to reduce the rate of accidents. It’s also in an effort to identify the correct party or parties responsible for causing an accident, as well as prevent fraud. Fraud is one reason why dash cams are so popular in Russia.
Let’s face it. No one wants to record themselves causing a fender bender or a more serious accident. So knowing that the camera is recording your journey, it should cause you to think about how you are driving. Maybe you’ll even be a bit more conscientious while behind the wheel.
House Bill 4475 is titled as the Motor Vehicle Digital And Electronic Recording Systems For Road Safety And Security Act. If passed, the Bill would make the installation of digital video recorders (dash cams or dashboard cameras) mandatory in all vehicles in the Philippines.
That means owners of private, public utility, as well as other types of vehicles (i.e. trucks, container vans etc.) would be required to have dash cams installed in their vehicles.
Installation requirements
The Bill provides requirements regarding how the dash cam should be installed. In accordance with the Bill, dual dash cams should be installed in each vehicle. There must be one on-board camera facing forward. This dash cam should have a video resolution of at least 1080p as well as night vision capabilities. A second rear-facing camera with the same features is also required. Other requirements of the dash cam includes:
- A visual display
- Backup battery,
- Power adaptor,
- Data storage device, and
- Built-in GPS.
The Bill takes into consideration the following Acts:
- Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act 10173)
- Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012
- Revised Penal Code, and the
- Anti-Distracted Driving Act.
So to protect the privacy of others, the Bill prohibits the posting or sharing of recorded dash cam footage on any social media platform. Users also cannot record for personal use, or share footage with others without a proper reason.
Should Bill 4475 be passed into law, there is a three-year compliance period. According to Siao, “the longer period is needed because it would be impossible for all vehicles to comply within one year considering the millions of vehicles nationwide.”
