MMDA Should Catch Drivers Who Use Their Phones the "British Way"

Using your cellphone while driving is now illegal in the Philippines, but many Filipinos are still doing it in less conspicuous ways.

And chances are, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) officers are finding it challenging to apprehend those sneaky mobile users as well.

If that's the case, then they should take some advice from the Devon police. Located in the southwestern part of England, these officers have come up with an ingenious way of catching mobile texters and callers by using an age old vehicle: the humble bus.

What they did was hire a double-decker bus that the police can use to look right down into vehicles. This offers them a good view of drivers who are discreetly using their mobile phones while driving. In fact, they can even see if  drivers are wearing their seatbelts -- or not.

PC Andy Llewellyn of Devon and Cornwall Police said: "The double-decker bus is great to catch people looking down on their laps using phones.

"This is a great example of how we can maximize policing resources by working closely with partner organisations in the community," he added.

The cops working on the bus actually work in tandem with their colleagues on the road. What they do is use hand-held radios and call the land-based officers if they find drivers breaking the law.

Many offenders have been caught using this resourceful method, and its success has encouraged the Devon police to continue on with this work.

According to Citybus spokesman Mark Horide:""It's been very successful - we will be doing it again. We support any police initiative that addresses personal safety."

Driving while using the phone has always been a constant problem not just in Devon or the entire U.K., but also in other countries like the Philippines. In fact, the Republic Act 10913 or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act has been in effect for around nine months already, yet many Filipinos are still texting and/or calling their mobile phones while driving.

“I am used to it. It’s really hard to stop. It’s an instinct that when I hear my phone, I have to check it," said Josell Segismundo, 25 years old. "Maybe it’s important, or there’s an emergency or I need to update someone,” she said. “I know it’s wrong. I know it’s very risky, but I still feel the urge to really check my phone,” she added.

In fact, using the mobile phone to text is almost an addiction among some Filipinos.

“It’s like saying a gambler constantly checks his cards or does slots if he has money. And whatever happens, if he wins or not, he will still do gambling,” says Clinical Psychologist Camille Garcia.

And while the law is currently in its infancy stages, the Philippines still has a lot of room for improvement when it comes to its implementation.