Not speed but driving style
Tuesday
Jun 21, 2011
The MMDA has been hell bent on arresting each and every speedster driving along Commonwealth Avenue and I don’t fully agree with them on how to make the “killer highway” safer. Speeding, they say, is a textbook case of reckless driving. Again, I don’t agree.
Sure, almost all of the collisions on Commonwealth involves idiotic and reckless drivers but to focus solely on speeding as a manifestation of recklessness is unfair to drivers who can speed up responsibly.
If you can stay within your lane and allow for the proper stopping distance needed between you and the vehicle up front, you can definitely safely drive even at speeds in excess of 100 kph. If every driver out there can do this, then there’s really no real problem upping the speed limit.
Besides, modern cars can safely go beyond that speed and have way better stopping power and shorter stopping distances since the old highway codes and manuals were written.
The real problem is that most of the other drivers with whom you share the load are idiots with kamikaze driving styles. The MMDA should just focus their attention on these idiots.
I say that the MMDA should focus their efforts not (solely) on speeding but on jerks who have erratic or truly reckless driving styles. Drivers who do not yield for right of way. Drivers who change lanes abruptly and not using signal lights. Motorcyclists who weave through traffic. PUV drivers who can’t stay within their designated lanes.
Thing is, given their equipment and capability, catching speeding vehicles through their speed guns is probably the MMDA’s most profitable venture to date. At Php 1,200 per pop, they are bound to make millions in a week at their claimed rate of apprehension.
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MMDA goes back on Commonwealth Road
Monday
May 16, 2011
The MMDA has decided to get into the trenches again as they have lifted their no-contact policy and decided to go on the road and become a presence again.
This means traffic enforcers may now order speed limit violators to stop and personally issue traffic tickets to them, instead of just recording their information from CCTV cameras and then sending them notices.
Violators face a fine of P1,200.
This follows after the death of renowned journalist and professor Chit Estella-Simbulan a few nights ago after the taxi was riding in was smashed by a speeding bus.
The MMDA will be present again starting Monday, and will continue monitoring even from night to dawn.
Article via ABS CBN News | Image By Mike Gonzalez (TheCoffee) (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons
What makes a good driver?
Friday
May 13, 2011
Although this is Pinoy Auto Blog, being a good driver encompasses the whole world.
Gaby Dela Merced, just one of the PH best drivers
This infograph shows what a good driver should be (that is, according to the insurance world that is)
A good driver should be:
- Licensed
- Without more than one violation point
- Without more than one dismissal of charges for incidents that would have resulted in one violation point
- Without DUIs during the past seven years
Is there such a driver in the Philippines? Are you one? If you have yet to drive, then it would be best to make this your goal. If you are already driving then maintain your pristine record. If you are missing one or a few of the qualities above, don’t give up being a good driver.
How good is your driving? by Car Insurance Comparison
Image By SpoonerTuner (Spooner Tuner) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Mayor Bistek tests e-Trikes
Wednesday
May 11, 2011
With the interest of his constituency in Quezon City, Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista is trying out e-tricycles, or better known as e-Trikes, and is thinking of replacing its current roster of gas-guzzling, smoke pollution emitting tricycles.
Here are some details on the e-Trikes:
- It costs PHP 117,000 per unit.
- It can travel 100 to 130 kms on a single charge
- It can carry up to four persons
- It takes eight hours to charge
- The charger is solar-powered, using 2,500-watt tiles
Transportation fares should be similar to how much the operators charge with four or two-stroke engines.
The e-trikes were developed by the Kasangga Party-list and Netherlands-based Technostrat Design and Research Corporation it also includes Winace Holdings Philippines as project partner.
Article via: Manila Bulletin | Image via Philippine Star
Sen. Trillanes Wants Speed Limiters on PUVs
Monday
May 2, 2011
Senator Trillanes wants to even further limit the speed of Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) with his Senate Bill No. 2790 or the proposed “Speed Limiters Act of 2011.”
“It is hoped that by enforcing strict compliance with the mandated speed limits in various streets, highways and thoroughfares, vehicular accidents caused by speeding is reduced and that lives will be saved,” said Trillanes.
The proposal suggests that PUV operators/owners will shoulder the cost of buying/installing speed limiter and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) will observe the installation. The proposal also says that the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will not register PUVs without any speed limiting device.
Once passed and implemented, violators will be fined PHP 30,000 and a jail term of up to 3 years.
[Article via: Top Gear PH | Image via: 9shaun at the English language Wikipedia [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0, GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], from Wikimedia Commons
Beware of buying cars with an 8 license plate
Wednesday
Apr 27, 2011
If someone offers you a car with an 8 plate number, don’t buy it, instead go to the police and report what happened immediately.
The car being sold maybe one of the vehicles stolen from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Quezon City a few days ago. According to LTO officer-in-charge (OIC) Raquel Desiderio:
“The intruders reportedly looted the desk of Leda Jose, head of the Plates Unit in the adjoining Property Office, who said she lost about P136,000 in cash, at least two ‘8’ protocol car plates, and a still undetermined number of unused plate stickers,”
Remember that buying stolen goods is illegal.
[Article via: Inquirer | Image via: Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)]
Pantawid Pasada begins on May 2
Tuesday
Apr 26, 2011
Pantawid Pasada, a Public Transport Assistance Program that will provide PHP 1,050/month to qualified PUV drivers, will start on May 2.
The Pantawid Pasada cards will be used as a fuel card to buy diesel from participating gas stations. Read on to know how to get the card:
To get the card, claimants must present an original franchise certificate, copy of the official receipt and certificate of registration of motor vehicle and two valid identification cards such as driver’s license, passport, Government Service Insurance System or Social Security System Identification Card ID, Philhealth Identification Card, Voter’s ID, Professional Regulation Commission Identification Card, Firearms’s license or Seaman’s book.
The Department of Energy is expecting that all cards will be distributed to NCR within 5 days.
[Article via: Philippine Information Agency |Image via: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)]
Iligan Mayor creates anti-colorum/extortion task force
Saturday
Apr 23, 2011
Iligan Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz, has signed an Executive Order to create a task force that will be going against colorums and extortion groups in their area: The Anti-Colorum/Anti-Extortion Task Force or ACTAF.
Cruz designated P/Sr. Supt. Celso Regencia, Director of the Iligan City Police Office (ICPO) as head and members are the heads of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Philippine National Police-Traffic Division (PNP-TD) and the Iligan City Traffic Management Office (ICTMO).
The purpose for this group is to prevent groups from using illegal PUVs and protect the legal operators. The EO allows the ACTAF to make arrests and investigate suspected individuals who are operating a colorum PUV or conducting extortion activities.
[Article via: Philippine Information Agency | Image via : Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)]
LTO and LTFRB checks for defective buses
Tuesday
Apr 19, 2011
To ensure the safety of all the bus passengers going to the provinces this Holy Week, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) have joined forces with Hino Philippines Engineers to check up on buses in the terminals:
At the Araneta Bus Terminal, a team led by LTO Director for Law Enforcement Services Edgar Cabase, Sr. are keeping an eye against worn out tires, defective lights, cracked windshields, and other internal and external vehicular defect that may lead to malfunctioning of the bus unit and may eventually lead to accidents that can claim the lives of both the bus driver and his passengers.
Wouldn’t it be nice if they do a surprise inspection rather an announced one? We hope this move will reduce the bus accidents this Holy Week.
[Article via: Tempo | Image via: Wikimedia Commons (CC by-SA 3.0)]
No Number Coding from April 19 until 22
Wednesday
Apr 13, 2011
The MMDA has lifted the number coding scheme starting April 19 to 22 to allow motorists and commuters to go to and from the provinces during the Holy Week.
As such it is expected that EDSA will have heavy traffic, therefore the MMDA suggests other motorists to go through the Mabuhay Lanes:
- To North of Luzon:
- Take C-5 Road to QMC then right to Visayas Avenue, then left to Congressional Ave., then right to Mindanao Avenue, then take Mindanao-NLEX link to destination, or vice versa;
- Take C-5 to QMC then right to North Avenue, right to Mindanao Avenue, then the Mindanao-NLEX link to destination south of Luzon
- Rizal province:
from Bicutan interchange take DR A. Santos Avenue then straight ahead to C-6 to destination, or vice versa - Cavite:
from South Superhighway take South Station Exit then straight ahead and take Daang Hari to destination - Tagaytay:
From South Superhighway take Sta. Rosa Exit or Greenfield Exit
[Article via: GMA News | Image via: Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)]
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