Duty to procure license.
SEC. 21. Duty to procure license.—Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Act, no person shall operate any motor vehicle on the public highways without having procured a license for the current year, nor while such license is delinquent, invalid, suspended or revoked.
The license or its duplicate in case of its loss shall be carried by the chauffeur at all times when operating a motor vehicle, and shall be shown to any peace officer or surrendered to any deputy of the Director of Public Works of request.
Licenses for enlisted men operating Government motor vehicles.
SEC. 22. Licenses for enlisted men operating Government motor vehicles.—Every enlisted man operating a motor vehicle owned by the Government of the United States, or the Government of the Philippine Islands shall be licensed in accord with the provisions of this Act with the exception that no license or delinquent fees shall be collected therefor. All licenses so issued shall bear the words "For Government Vehicles Only" plainly marked or stamped in red ink across the face thereof.
A license so marked or stamped shall not authorize the holder thereof to operate a privately owned motor vehicle.
Operation, of motor vehicles by tourists.
SEC. 23. Operation, of motor vehicles by tourists.—(a) Subject to the conditions and restriction in this section provided, bona fide tourists and similar transients may be allowed to operate motor vehicles without a license, during but not after the first ninety days of their sojourn in the Islands.
If any accident or incident occurs, which upon investigation by the Director of Public Works indicates that the said tourist or transient is an improper or incompetent person to operate motor vehicles, the Director of Public Works shall immediately inform the said tourist or transient in writing that operate without a license.
After the first ninety-day period mentioned, tourists and similar transients desiring to operate motor vehicles shall pay the fees and obtain and carry a license as provided under section twenty-four of this Act.
(b) Tourists will not be required to present a personal cedula to register their motor vehicle or to obtain a license, but are required, in lieu of a cedula, to make a written statement on applications, to the effect that they are tourists and also as to the probable time they expect to remain in the Islands.
Driver's license, fees, examination.
SEC. 24. Driver's license, fees, examination.—Every person who desires personally to operate any motor vehicle shall make annual application on or before the last working day of February, to the Director of Public Works or his deputies for a license to drive motor vehicles.
Each such annual application except in the case of enlisted men operating government owned vehicles shall be accompanied by a fee of two pesos, and shall contain such information respecting the applicant and his ability to operate motor vehicles, as may be required by the Director of Public Works.
The Director of Public Works or his deputies shall also ascertain that the applicant's sight and hearing are normal, and may, in their discretion, require a certificate to that effect, signed by a reputable physician.
An examination or demonstration to show any applicant's ability to operate motor vehicles may also be required in the discretion of the Director of Public Works or his deputies.
Professional chauffeur's photograph.
SEC. 25. Professional chauffeur's photograph.—Each applicant for a professional chauffeur's license shall, upon notice that his qualifications have been found satisfactory, and prior to the issuance of said license, furnish three copies of a recent and readily recognizable photograph of said applicant, one copy of which shall be securely attached to the license, and two copies shall be filed and kept as provided under this Act.
Issuance and authority of chauffeur's license; professional chauffeur's badge.
SEC. 26. Issuance and authority of chauffeur's license; professional chauffeur's badge.—If after examination, or without the same, the Director of Public Works or his deputies believe the applicant to possess the necessary qualifications and knowledge, they shall issue to such applicant a license to operate as chauffeur, motor vehicles of the kind, style, type, or power described in the applications, until the last working day of February of the year following the issue, or until such license is otherwise suspended or revoked.
If the Director of Public Works or his deputies do not believe the applicant to be a person qualified to operate motor vehicles, they shall not issue a license to such applicant, in which event, the applicant's fee shall be returned to him.
Every license issued under the provisions of this Act to any chauffeur shall entitle the person to whom issued, while the same is valid and effective and not suspended or revoked. to operate the motor vehicles described in such license in any province, city or municipality of the Philippine Islands: Provided, however, That every licensed professional chauffeur, before operating a public service motor vehicles registered under classifications (d) to (i) inclusive of section seven hereof, shall apply for and receive from the Director of Public Works, upon payment of the sum of fifty centavos, a chauffeur's badge which he shall at all times while so operating a motor vehicle display in plain sight upon the band of his cap or upon the lapel of his outer coat. Such chauffeur's badge shall be of metal with a plainly readable distinguishing number assigned to the licensee stamped thereon.
The badge which shall be issued in accordance with the provision of this section shall be surrendered by the chauffeur to the Director of Public Works whenever his license or expires or shall have been suspended or revoked.
Persons under eighteen years of age.
SEC. 27. Persons under eighteen years of age.—No license, whether to owners of motor vehicles or to professional chauffeurs, shall be issued to any person under eighteen years of age, and no person under eighteen years of age shall be permitted to operate a motor vehicle upon any highway of the Philippine Islands.
Employment of chauffeurs.
SEC. 28. Employment of chauffeurs.—No owner, dealer, proprietor of garage, chief of bureau, head of office or other person or entity shall engage, employ, or hire any person to operate a motor vehicle, unless the person whose employment is contemplated is a professional chauffeur, licensed as such for the current year.
Chauffeur's records.
SEC. 29. Chauffeur's records.—Whenever any professional chauffeur, employed as such, or operating a motor vehicle for hire, changes his address, or leaves the service of one employer, or begins service for a new employer, he shall within fifteen days of such change, notify the Director of Public Works in writing, giving his own name, old and new address, chauffeur's license number, and badge number, if any, the new employer's name and address, the registration numbers of the motor vehicles he is employed to operate, and such other information as the Director of Works may require.
Signing of license.
SEC. 30. Signing of license.—Every license or duplicate thereof issued to operate a motor vehicle shall bear the signature of the licensee and without such signature, shall be invalid.
Renewal of license.
SEC. 31. Renewal of license.—Any license not renewed on or before the last working day of February of each year shall become delinquent and invalid.
The fee for renewal of a delinquent license shall be five pesos.
Every applicant for renewal of license to operate a motor vehicle, shall present to the Director of Public Works, either in person or by mail or messenger, the license issued to the applicant for the previous year, together with the proper fee and, in the case of professional chauffeurs, three copies of a readily recognized photograph of the applicant which photograph shall have been taken not exceeding six years prior to the date of application for renewal.
Lost license.—In case the license for the previous year has been lost or cannot be produced, the applicant shall obtain a duplicate in accord with section ten of this Act, on penalty of refusal, by the Director of Public Works or his deputies to renew the license: Provided, however, That the Director of Public Works or his deputies may, in their discretion, accept in lieu of the previous year's license, the duly signed and sworn statement of an operator to the effect that he has not operated any motor vehicle in the Philippine Islands during the year or years for which no license was issued in his name.
The Director of Public Works and his deputies are hereby authorized to administer the oath in connection with such an affidavit.
Suspension, and revocation of chauffeur's license.
SEC. 32. Suspension, and revocation of chauffeur's license.—(a) The Director of Public Works may suspend, for a period not exceeding three months, or, after hearing, revoke any chauffeur's license or permit issued under the provision of this Act, and may order any such license or permit to be delivered to him whenever he has reason to believe that the holder thereof is an improper person to operate motor vehicles, or is operating or using a motor vehicle, in or as an accessory to, the practice or commission of any unlawful act, or so as to endanger the public. Any deputy of the Director of Public Works may also, under the circumstances stated herein, suspend, for a period not exceeding three months, any chauffeur's license or permit issued under the provisions of this Act provided that such suspension shall be subject to the approval of the Director of Public Works who may, after reviewing the papers of the case, confirm, reverse or modify the action taken by such deputy.
(b) Whenever any licensed operator or chauffeur has been three times in twelve months convicted of the violation of any one or more provisions of this Act and of the Public Service Acts or of any regulation lawfully issued or prescribed by the Director of Public Works, or any municipal or city ordinance relating to motor vehicle traffic not in conflict with any of the provisions of this Act, the Director of Public Works may, in his discretion, suspend or revoke the license of the person convicted for a period not to exceed two years.
(c) The license or permit suspended or revoked under the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not be reissued unless the operator or chauffeur owning the license has furnished a bond in accordance with section thirty-three of this Act and only after the Director of Public Works has satisfied himself that such operator or chauffeur may again safely be permitted to operate.
(d) Appeals from the decision of the Director of Public Works on the revocation of or his refusal to renew, licenses under the provisions of this section may be taken to the Secretary of Commerce and Communications.
Chauffeur's bond.
SEC. 33. Chauffeur's bond.—The Director of Public Works before returning any operator's or chauffeur's license which has been suspended or revoked under the provisions of the preceding section or of any provision of this Act, may require such operator or chauffeur to file with him a satisfactory bond in the sum of one thousand pesos conditioned for the satisfaction and payment of any claim which may be filed or any execution which may be issued against such operator or chauffeur in any cause arising out of damage caused by the operator of a motor vehicle. The bond required in his section shall be in such form as to render sureties liable at least for a period not less than one year nor more than three years: Provided, however, That upon written application to the Director of Public Works, for release from such a bond, the Director of Public Works may after cancelling or suspending the chauffeur's license, authorize the release of the bondsmen from further responsibilities thereunder: And provided, further, That no such bondsmen shall be released from the bond of any chauffeur who is under arrest or for whom a summons or warrant of arrest has been issued or is about to be issued as the result of a motor vehicle accident or suspected violation of the Motor Vehicle Law, involving the said chauffeur: And provided, moreover, That should the Director of Public Works decide not to revoke permanently the license of a chauffeur of a motor vehicle who has been convicted in a court of justice for homicide through reckless imprudence, or after the third conviction of the said chauffeur for violation of the speed limit, or after the third conviction for reckless driving, he shall require the chauffeur to file a satisfactory bond in the sum of not less than two thousand which amount shall respond to any claim which may be filed, or any execution which may be issued against him in any cause arising out of damage caused by the operation of a motor vehicle.
Temporary operator's permit.
SEC. 34. Temporary operator's permit.—The Director of Public Works and his deputies are hereby authorized, in their discretion, to issue without charge temporary operator's permits covering a specified period not to exceed thirty clays, to persons who have surrendered their operators licenses to the Director of Public Works or his deputies for purposes of renewal, or for minor offenses, and where circumstances prevent the immediate issuance of the renewal license.
Such temporary permits shall become invalid upon the termination of the thirty-day period therein specified, unless renewed in writing by the Director of Public Works or his deputies for an additional period.
Student's permit.
SEC. 35. Student's permit.—Upon receipt of a fee of one peso the Director of Public Works or his deputies are further authorized to issue student's permits, good for six months, to persons not under eighteen years of age, who desire to learn to operate motor vehicles. The Director of Public Works may in his discretion require six months operation as a student, as a prerequisite to the acceptance of an application for a chauffeur's license.
In the discretion of the Director of Public Works or his deputies, persons claiming to have learned to operate motor vehicles in other countries or states, may be allowed to apply for a regular license without the previous requirement of a student's permit.
A student operator who applies for a regular license, but fails to prove competent in the examination, shall continue as a student for at least six additional months. No student's permit shall authorize the person to whom the same is issued to operate a motor vehicle in any public highway, unless accompanied by some person carrying a regular license for the current year, issued under this Act to operate such motor vehicle.
The licensed chauffeur acting as instructor shall be responsible and liable for any violation of the provisions of this Act and for any injury or damage done by a motor vehicle, on account or as a result of its operation by a student under his direction.
ARTICLE II.—Illegal uses of licenses, number plates, etc.
Transfer and other disposal of number plates license, etc.
SEC. 36. Transfer and other disposal of number plates license, etc.—Except in the case of dealers' plates which may be used successively on various motor vehicles in stock no owner or other person shall transfer any number plate from one vehicle to another vehicle nor lend, give, sell or otherwise dispose of any chauffeurs license, badge, certificate of registration, number plate, tag or permit issued hereunder. No person not lawfully entitled thereto shall receive or use such license, badge, certificate, number plate, tag or permit from another person.
Taking license, etc., without licensee's consent.
SEC. 37. Taking license, etc., without licensee's consent.—No person other than a police or Constabulary officer or a deputy of the Director of Public Works shall take or carry any chauffeur's license, badge, certificate, number plate, tag or permit issued under this Act without the knowledge or against the wiI1 of the person lawfully entitled thereto.
Imitation and false representations.
SEC. 38. Imitation and false representations.—No person snail make or use or attempt to make or use a chauffeur's license, badge, certificate of registration, number plate, tag, permit in imitation or similitude of those issued under Act, or intended to be used as or for a legal license, badge, certificate, plate, tag or permit, or with intent or otherwise dispose of the same to another. No person shall falsely or fraudulently represent as valid and in force any chauffeur's license, badge, certificate, plate, tag or permit issued under this Act which is delinquent or which Has been revoked or suspended.
No person shall knowingly and with intent to deceive make one or more false or fraudulent statements in an application for the registration of vehicles, or for a chauffeur's license.
ARTICLE III.—Passengers and freight
Trip card.
SEC. 39. Trip card.—Every operator of a motor vehicle carrying passengers for hire, shall at all times when on the Public highways, carry a "Motor Vehicle Trip Card" to be furnished by the owner and having headings, blank columns and spaces to be prescribed by the Director of Public Works, on which the owner shall enter or cause to be entered by the operator or other agent, a correct, indelible and legible record of the trip on which the motor vehicle is being used or operated, including the registration number, names of operator and owner, date and time of leaving garage or place of business, destination, number of passengers, and such other information as may be required by the Director of Public Works.
In the case of Public Service motor vehicles, the records required by the Public Service Commission may, in the discretion of the Director of Public Works, be accepted in lieu of the requirements of this and the next succeeding section.
Persistent laxity or carelessness in keeping those records; repeated apprehensions of the vehicle in localities out of line with the time and destination noted; or dissimilarity between the garage record and the trip card, shall be considered evidence of violation of this section.
Duty of garage owner.
SEC. 40. Duty of garage owner.—Every garage owner maintaining passenger motor vehicles for hire shall enter in a book to be kept in the garage for that purpose, a copy of the information required in the next preceding section hereof, prior to sending any motor vehicle out of the garage.
(a) Exceeding registered capacity.
SEC. 41. (a) Exceeding registered capacity.—No person operating a motor vehicle shall allow more passengers or more freight or cargo in his motor vehicle than its registered carrying capacity. In the case of Public Utility trucks or buses the conductor shall be exclusively responsible for violation of this section and of section forty-two hereof; passenger cars may be allowed to construct any device for carrying cargo at the rear or at the sides of the car subject to the approval of the Director of Public Works: Provided, That, the total weight of the device including cargo shall not exceed one hundred kilos.
(b) Carrying of passengers and freight on top of trucks.—No truck will be allowed to carry passengers on the cover or top of same: Provided, however, That if permits are granted by the Director of Public Works or his deputies baggage or freight may be so carried not to exceed twenty kilos per square meter distributed so that it will not endanger the passengers or stability of the truck.
Riding on running boards.
SEC. 42. Riding on running boards.—No operator shall permit any person or persons to ride on the running boards, step boards, or mudguards of his motor vehicle for any purpose, except for necessary adjustment of the motor or mechanism, or for collection of fares by the conductor of a public passenger motor vehicle. In no case shall such conductors remain on the running boards while not actually making collections.
Passenger capacity marked on vehicle.
SEC. 43. Passenger capacity marked on vehicle.—All passenger automobiles for hire shall have the registered passenger capacity plainly marked in a conspicuous place, preferably on the glass windshield thereof.
Capacity marked on trucks.
SEC. 44. Capacity marked on trucks.—All motor trucks, whether for passenger or freight, private, or for hire shall have the registered passenger and gross weight capacities plainly marked in a conspicuous place, preferably on the side thereof.
ARTICLE IV.—Accessories of motor vehicles
Dogs, flanges, grooves, etc.
SEC. 45. Dogs, flanges, grooves, etc.—No metal tire of a motor vehicle shall be provided with dogs, flanges, grooves, corrugations, ribs, strips, or present other than a smooth surface in contact with the road. Solid rubber tires shall be of sufficient thickness to prevent the metal rims from touching the road.
Brakes and horns.
SEC. 46. Brakes and horns.—(a) Every motor vehicle shall be provided with brakes adequate and efficient at all times.
(b) Every motor vehicle shall be provided with a horn or signaling device in good working order.
(c) No horn or signaling device of an exceptionally loud or startling or disagreeable nature shall be installed or used on any motor vehicle.
(d) All authorized emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, police and fire wagons, etc., used for emergency calls shall be equipped with a bell, siren, or exhaust whistle of a type approved by the Director of Public Works, but no such device shall be installed or used upon any other vehicle.
(e) No vehicle not classified as a motor vehicle under this Act shall be equipped with a horn or signaling device similar to the horn customarily used on motor vehicles.
(a) Headlights.
SEC. 47. (a) Headlights.—Every motor vehicle of more than one meter of projected width, while in use on any public highway, whether in motion or not, shall bear two lamps one on each side, with white or yellowish light visible from the front, which not later than one-half hour after sunset and until at least one-half hour before sunrise, shall both be lighted.
Additional lamps and lights may be carried, but no red, green or other colored lights shall be visible forward or ahead of the vehicle.
(b) Glaring headlights.—The headlights of motor vehicles shall be so arranged and adjusted that, except as otherwise provided herein, they will at all times when lighted produce a sufficient driving light, but shall not project a glaring or dazzling light to persons in front of such headlight.
Headlights shall be dimmed to comply with the foregoing provisions prohibiting glaring and dazzling lights if none of the main bright portion of the headlight beams rises above a horizontal plane passing through the lamp centers parallel to the level road upon which the loaded vehicle stands, and in no case higher than one meter at a distance of twenty-five meters ahead of the vehicle.
Operators of motor vehicles equipped with devices for varying the intensity of light may dim the headlights or tilt the beam downward, or substitute therefor the light from one or a pair of non-glaring auxiliary driving lights, whenever the vehicle is being operated on well-lighted streets within the limits of cities, municipalities, and thickly populated barrios or districts, or whenever such vehicle meets another motor vehicle on any public highway.
(c) Tail lights.—Every motor vehicle and trailer shall further, during the hours aforesaid, bear in the rear a lamp showing a red light visible at least one hundred meters from the rear of the vehicle and throwing a white light upon the number plate issued for such vehicle.
(d) Conditions requiring lights.—The hours herein fixed within which such lamps shall burn shall not exempt operators from the obligation of lighting such lamps at earlier or later hours or times, when on account of atmospheric or weather conditions or other phenomena, the use of such motor vehicles upon public highways might otherwise be dangerous or unsafe.
(e) Motorcycle other vehicle lights.—Every motor vehicle of less than one meter of projected width shall be subject to the preceding provisions of this section, except that but one head lamp and one tail lamp will be required thereon.
Additional lamps may be carried provided they comply with the preceding provisions of this section.
Every other vehicle, of whatever style, kind, make, character, or nature, whether motor or animal driven, when upon a highway during the hours aforesaid, whether in motion or not, shall bear one or more lights so arranged that same shall be visible from the front and the rear of such vehicle.
(f) Lights when parked.—The provisions of this section shall not apply to vehicles parked or standing on well-lighted streets of cities and municipalities, nor to vehicles parked entirely off from and clear of the surfaced portion of any highway, in such a position as to constitute no danger to any passing traffic.
(g) Every windshield on a motor vehicle shall be equipped with a device for cleaning rain or other moisture from such portion thereof as comes within the driver's view, which device shall be capable of being controlled or operated by the driver of the vehicle.
(h) Whenever the load on any vehicle extends more than one and one-half meters beyond the rear of the bed or body thereof, there shall be displayed at the end of such load a red flag not less than thirty centimeters both in length and width, except that during the hours fixed under subsections (a) and (d) hereof, there shall be displayed at the end of any such load a red light visible at least fifty meters from the rear of such vehicle.
ARTICLE V.—Use of motor vehicles
(a) Tampering and joy riding.
SEC. 48. (a) Tampering and joy riding.—No chauffeur or any other person shall operate, use, play, tamper, or interfere with a motor vehicle without the permission or proper authority of the owner.
(b) Permitting unlicensed person to drive, etc.—No professional chauffeur shall permit any unlicensed person to drive the motor vehicle under his control, or permit a person, sitting beside him or in any other part of the car, to interfere with him in the operation of the motor vehicle, or allowing said person to take hold of the steering wheel, or in any other manner take part in the manipulation or control of the car.
Malicious damage to motor vehicle.
SEC. 49. Malicious damage to motor vehicle.—(a) No person shall maliciously puncture or cut or otherwise injure the tires, mar the finish, or purposely damage, disconnect or take away any part of a motor vehicle without the permission and consent of the owner.
(b) No person shall knowingly drop, place, scatter, or throw, or cause to be dropped, placed, scattered, or thrown upon any highway, any tacks, nails, wire, scrap metal, glass, crockery or any other substances or thing injurious to the feet of persons or animals, or to the tires or wheels of vehicles.
Stop motor when parked.
SEC. 50. Stop motor when parked.—All motor power shall be stopped in every motor vehicle whenever the same is unattended on any highway.
Mufflers and smoke.
SEC. 51. Mufflers and smoke.—Every motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine shall be equipped with a muffler, and whenever said motor vehicle passes through the street of any city, municipality, or thickly populated district or barrio, the muffler shall not be cut out or disconnected. No unnecessary or disagreeable odor, smoke or noise of any kind shall be given off, emitted, caused or made by any motor vehicle in the places mentioned in this section.
Reckless or fast driving.
SEC. 52. Reckless or fast driving.—No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any highway in these Islands recklessly or without reasonable caution traffic, grades, crossings, curvatures, visibility and other conditions of the highway and to the conditions of the atmosphere and weather, or so as to endanger the property or the safety or rights of any person or so as to cause excessive or unreasonable damage to the highway.
Rates of speed.
SEC. 53. Rates of speed.—Except as otherwise herein provided, the rate of speed of any motor vehicle shall, under no circumstances, exceed the respective values given in the following tabulation:
Passenger cars and motorcycles
Motor trucks and buses
1. On open country roads, with no "blind corners", not closely bordered by habitations
70 km. per hour
50 km. per hour.
2. On "through streets" or boulevards, clear of traffic, with no "blind corners", when so designated
40 km. per hour
30 km. per hour.
3. On city and municipal streets, with light traffic, when not designated "through streets"
30 km. per hour
30 km. per hour.
4. Thru crowded streets, approaching intersections at "blind corners" passing school zones, passing other vehicles which are stationary, or for similar dangerous circumstances
20 km. per hour
20 km. per hour.
SEC. 54. Municipal boards or municipal councils are hereby authorized, subject to the recommendation of the Director of Public Works, to designate certain streets within their municipalities as "through streets", and to place land maintain or cause to be placed and maintain appropriate signs notifying divers of vehicles that such streets have been so designated.
The Director of Public Works, with the approval of the Department of Commerce and Communications is also hereby authorized to designate as "through streets" such municipal or city streets as form a part of insular and provincial roads, and to place and maintain or cause to be placed and maintained appropriate signs notifying drivers of vehicles that such streets have been so designated.
It is hereby made the duty of every city and municipal secretary to certify to the Director of Public Works the names, locations, and limits of all "through streets" designated as such by the municipal board or council.
Speed and weight limits uniform throughout the Philippines.
SEC. 55. Speed and weight limits uniform throughout the Philippines.—No provincial, city, or municipal authority shall enact or enforce any ordinance or resolution specifying allowable speeds either lower or higher than those provided in the preceding section, and no such authority shall in any way regulate the allowable gross weight of any motor vehicle.
ARTICLE VI.—Rules of traffic
(a) Traversing "through streets" and railroad crossing, etc.
SEC. 56. (a) Traversing "through streets" and railroad crossing, etc.—All vehicles moving on the public highways shall be brought to a full stop before traversing any "through street" or railroad crossing. Whenever any such "through street" or crossing is so designated and signposted, it shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to fail to stop within twenty meters but not less than two and one-half meters from such "through street" or railroad crossing; Provided, however, That the driver of a passenger automobile or motorcycle may, instead of coming to a full stop, slow down to not more than ten kilometers per hour whenever it is apparent that no hazard exists.
(b) The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking any street car stopped or about to stop for the purpose of receiving or discharging any passenger shall stop such vehicle to the rear of the nearest running board or door of such street car and keep it stationary until any such passenger has boarded such ear or reached a place of safety, except that whore a safety zone has been established, a vehicle need not be stopped before passing any such street car, but may proceed past such car at a speed not greater than is reasonable and proper, and with due caution for the safety of pedestrians. This provision shall not apply to passing upon the right any street car on a one-way street.
Passing frightened animals; signal to stop.
SEC. 57. Passing frightened animals; signal to stop.—Every person operating a motor vehicle upon a public stop. highway shall, on signal by any police officer, and by raising the hand, or on request, or call, or cry from any Person, riding, driving, or loading a horse or other animal thereon, bring such motor vehicle immediately to a stop, and, if traveling in an opposite direction, remain stationary as long as may be reasonably necessary to allow such horse or animal to pass.
No person shall unreasonably or maliciously call upon the operator of a motor vehicle to stop.
Overtaking.
SEC. 58. Overtaking.—(a) Upon signal by a faster vehicle desiring to overtake and pass another going in the same direction, the slower vehicle shall be conducted to the left of the center of the road at the earliest opportunity, to allow the overtaking vehicle to pass.
(b) A person, or driver, or operator of a vehicle, attempting to overtake and pass persons or vehicles going in the same direction, shall exercise due caution, and shall yield reasonable right of way to persons or vehicles simultaneously attempting to pass in the opposite direction.
Approaching a highway intersection.
SEC. 59. Approaching a highway intersection.—A person or vehicle, when approaching a highway intersection, shall have reasonable right of way over all persons or vehicles approaching from the right, but shall yield reasonable right of way to all persons or vehicles approaching from the left: Provided, however, That in the case of a vehicle entering a "through street" or "through highway", the driver of such vehicle shall yield the right of way to motor vehicles on such "through street" or highway.
Drive on left side of road.
SEC. 60. Drive on left side of road.—Unless a different cause of action is required in the interest of the safety and security of life, person, or property, or because of unreasonable difficulty of operation in compliance herewith, every person operating a motor vehicle or guiding an animal drawn vehicle on a highway shall pass to the left when meeting persons or vehicles coining toward him, and to the right when overtaking persons or vehicles going the same direction, and, when turning to the right in going from one highway into another, every vehicle shall be conducted to the left of the center of the intersection of the highways.
Sounding of horn.
SEC. 61. Sounding of horn.—When overtaking persons or vehicles, approaching a highway intersection where the view is obstructed, and at any other time necessary for the safety of the public, every operator shall sound his horn: Provided, however, That no operator of a motor vehicle shall blow or sound his horn unnecessarily or while the vehicle is not in motion; and that no person other than the one actually operating or having actual charge of a motor vehicle shall sound or blow the horn of the motor vehicle.
Drunken operators.
SEC. 62. Drunken operators.—No operator of any motor vehicle, which is for hire to the public, shall drink any intoxicating beverage while on duty, and no person shall operate a motor vehicle upon a highway while under the influence of liquor.
Obstruction of traffic.
SEC. 63. Obstruction of traffic.—No person shall obstruct or impede the passage or right of travel of any vehicle or operator or driver thereof, and no operator or driver shall, in discharging or taking on a waiting passenger or loading or unloading freight, obstruct the free passage of other vehicle on any highway.
Operating along sidewalk, etc.
SEC. 64. Operating along sidewalk, etc.—No person is permitted to operate a motor vehicle upon or along any sidewalk, walk, path, alley, or other parts or section of a highway or part not regularly laid out and intended for vehicles.
Duties in case of accident.
SEC. 65. Duties in case of accident.—In the event that any accident should occur as a result of the operation of a motor vehicle upon a highway, the operator shall stop immediately, and, if requested by any person present, shall show his chauffeur's license, give his true name and address and also the true name and address of the owner of the motor vehicle.
It shall be the duty of the owner or driver of a motor vehicle to notify at once the nearest peace officer, police station, or municipality when it comes to his knowledge that his vehicle has been concerned in an accident.
The driver of any other vehicle concerned in the accident shall also stop, show his chauffeur's license and give his true name and address and the name and address of the owner of the vehicle, if requested, and all other persons present or witnessing the accident shall give their names and add Losses if requested.
Ambulances, police and fire wagons, etc.
SEC. 66. Ambulances, police and fire wagons, etc.—The provisions of section forty-six (c), fifty-three, and fifty-six of this Act, shall not be applicable to ambulances, nor to police patrol-wagons, nor fire wagons and engines, nor to automobiles or motorcycles especially designated and assigned by the Director of Public Works, the Chief of Constabulary, and the Chief of Police of the City of Manila for the purpose of, and while being used for the enforcement of this Act.
This exemption is not, however, to be construed to authorize or condone uselessly or unnecessarily reckless or fast operation of any of the motor vehicles mentioned in this section, nor to exempt from liability under this Act, any operator of such motor vehicle for useless or unnecessarily fast or reckless operation.
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
