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Motorcycle manufacturers say pillion shield could compromise safety of passengers
Motorcycle manufacturers say pillion shield could compromise safety of passengers
By Noreen Jazul
A group of motorcycle manufacturers in the country said putting a pillion shield in motorcycles could compromise the safety of its passengers.
In a statement, the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association, Inc. (MDPPA) said all motorcycle models from its member brands Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha "undergo years of careful planning, design, and development carried out by teams of engineers to ensure the utmost safety of each unit.”
The MDPPA said installing “any additional fixture” on motorcycles such as a separator or shield “will negatively affect stability and handling of a motorcycle, thus, inevitably compromising the safety of its occupants.”
The group said the proposed pillion shield, particularly the one designed by Bohol Provincial Governor Arthur Yap. Gov. Yap, “will create significant wind resistance when the motorcycle is in motion.”
“Not only does it drastically reduce aerodynamic efficiency, it also makes it easier for crosswinds to throw the motorcycle off-balance even when running at low speeds,” the group said.
The MDPPA said a barrier will also make it difficult for a rider to break free from the motorcycle “in the event of a crash.”
“It could keep him pinned on his seat as the motorcycle slides out of control. Moreover, portions of the steel frame of the pillion shield could accidentally break-off and cause additional, possibly fatal injury to both rider and passenger,” the group said.
The MDPPA also warned that installing a pillion shield in any type of motorcycle is a possible violation of the Land Transportation Office’s (LTO) modification regulations.
It is likewise a “breach of the warranty agreement between the motorcycle owner and the manufacturer,” the group added.
The group underscored that there’s also no “scientific data” proving that installing a barrier in motorcycles can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 between the rider and the passenger.
“This being the case, the risks outweigh the perceived benefits,” the MDPPA said.
“It is, therefore, the position of the MDPPA that in the interest of safety, no additional fixtures or modifications should be done on the motorcycle without the approval of the LTO and the manufacturer. It is also the organization’s opinion that the wearing of at least half face helmet with closed face shield, more so together with face mask or balaclava, is already an excellent measure in preventing infection,” they added.
Current members of the MDPPA include Honda Philippines, Inc., Kawasaki Motors (Phils.), Corp., Suzuki Philippines, Inc., Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., and Kwang Yang Motor Co, Ltd.