Reactions to HID headlights issue

In our column last week one of the items (“They’re again shooting from the hip”) centered on the pronouncement of the MMDA that “henceforth MMDA traffic enforcers would be pulling over vehicles that use HID (High Intensity Discharge) bulbs for their headlights and would be issued Traffic Violation Receipts.” Their new ruling was in reaction to a complaint lodged by a listener in a radio program of the MMDA against its use by some motorists.

In reaction to the pronouncement, I mentioned that many high-end vehicles have HID bulbs in their headlights as part of their standard safety equipment considering the bulb’s high illumination property that makes it safer to drive at night. A ruling like this without the benefit of research and study can get the MMDA in deep legal tussles with motorists who have bought the said vehicles that have such standard equipment.

Further reactions from viewers regarding the issue came by way of letters sent in to this column and one of them is from Mr. Virgil Gerard Saldajeno. And allow me to quote some of the most relevant parts of his letter.

“Its actually regarding the ‘knee-jerk reaction’ of the MMDA on apprehending vehicles with very bright lights, or commonly known as High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights. You are correct in stating that current vehicles are now equipped with these safety devices (and not vanity gadgets as some would think). If I am not mistaken, these are now standard equipment in European (and some American) automobiles. Primary reason is to provide the driver of the vehicle more illumination during night time driving. And this device was not invented and incorporated in the design of the vehicles without careful research by the manufacturers of the said autos. Of course (I suppose), this was also in collaboration with different motor vehicle regulatory agencies/boards across Europe as these vehicle wouldn’t have been allowed to be manufactured, sold, registered and ply their streets if these would pose serious danger to the motoring public Okay, lets say that this ordinance is already final and would be implemented regardless of what we think. How would the traffic enforcers determine if the vehicles are violating the rule? Kung nasisilaw ba sila, huli na? If the wavelength of the light is on the ‘white’-side, huli na ba? Pag HID lights (to narrow down the scope) lang, huli na? Such subjective limitations are quite too biased if no guidelines are set much more if the enforcers are not properly oriented of the differences. The angle of the beam must also be exclusively set for both low and high so as not to endanger incoming motorists and still ensure the driver of the vehicle enough luminescence to safely drive our streets.”

Thank you for your very kind and encouraging words about our column Virgil, however modesty dictates that I need not print them.

In contrast we have a letter sent in by Mr. Felicisimo Saldana III, who regularly drives from Marikina via Libis, C-5, Villamor and the West Service Road of the SLEX at early mornings between 1 and 3 am. He describes encountering face-to-face HID equipped vehicles as “like driving with a camera flashbulb constantly lit in front of your eyes.”

Here are some parts of his letter that pertains specifically to the issue.

“I’m not taking sides and prefer to stay objective but I know you know that many countries have laws governing such use and alterations to OEM vehicle parts, particularly the use of aftermarket bulbs (we have some too but are too lazy or ignorant to abide by them). Most states in the US don’t allow tampering or altering of headlamps and Britain has laws that prevent they’re use without the proper aftermarket parts. Consider this, (as based on an article of AUTO EXPRESS magazine) most OEM headlamp assemblies were designed specifically for halogen bulbs. Fitting them with aftermarket HID kits produce highly distracting levels of glare. The difference is in the way the HID kit is used. When installing an HID kit you also have to install the proper headlamp housing (specially designed lens unit with self- leveling device, and/or washer assembly system). These ensure that the bulbs prevent “incorrect beam patterns” that cause glare to road users like me who don’t use them. In addition, according to them ‘An HID gas discharge bulb produces an electrical arc that has a very different shape and dimensions to that of halogen bulbs which emit a defined beam pattern from the filament wire and is tightly controlled by regulations. When used without the proper equipment these HID bulbs only produce scattered beams that in effect wouldn’t effectively illuminate the road. The light emitted is much more dull.’ This means that the light is not performing at 100%.”

First of all I’m not always being hard on the MMDA. As a matter of fact I’m one of the fans of Chairman Bayani Fernando for his constant display of political will and his unending innovation in the Metro’s traffic management. But despite this I find the columnist’s role of a “fiscalizer” paramount and call it as I see it.

Now going back to the issue on hand, I guess it now boils down to not outlawing the use of HID bulbs for headlights, as its prevalent use in the countries from where vehicles that have these for standard equipment come from, like those in Europe, have surely passed their stringent safety laws. The thing to do is probably to make sure that those that install retrofit are using international standards with the required attendant parts.

But then, are the MMDA traffic enforcers trained to tell the difference?

A novel change for the 9th Honda Media Challenge

An “autokhana” format, which combines the autocross and gymkhana disciplines, requiring both speed and precision driving is the new challenge that faced the veterans and the novices that make up this year’s staging of the now institutionalized “Honda Media Challenge”.

Running on tarmac surface at the FTI complex, the 9th edition of this motor sports event exclusively participated in by invitation by members of the media carries the tradition of giving the members of the “Fourth Estate” a hands-on feel of what they just use to cover and write about based solely on what they see.

Arnel Doria, vp for marketing of Honda Cars Philippines, benefactor of this always much-awaited annual event said, “Through the years of the Honda Media Challenge, many have seen and observed the progressive elevation of the level of proficiency among journalists who have joined in writing about motor sports. Having hand-on experience gives the members of the media deeper insights into the sport, which helps them come up with more vivid accounts in their writings.”

Round 1 last Saturday, November 10, saw chief editor Vernon Sarne’s Top Gear team on top of the podium with the team of motoring editor Popong Andolong’s BusinessMirror on 2nd and producer/host Ron delos Reyes’ Auto Review team on 3rd slot.

Did I hear somebody ask, “Was this because none of the three veterans mentioned were part of the team?”

The “best time of the day” honors went to Beeboy Bargas of Top Gear with former media challenge champion Anjo Perez of the Bulletin team a close second and The STAR’s Jeff Reyes on third.

The 2nd and 3rd rounds are scheduled on November 24 and December 8 also at the FTI complex in Taguig.

The harder, the better!

That’s exactly what Wim Daems, Mercedes-Benz chief instructor was consistently inculcating in the minds of invited members of the motoring media while going through the driving exercises designed for the event dubbed ‘C-For Yourself Driving Experience: See to Believe’ – drive the car harder so you can appreciate it better.

CATS Motors Inc., the Philippine general distributor of Mercedes-Benz cars, in cooperation with Daimler, the global manufacturer of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, brought the event to the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport Civil Aviation Complex, Clark Field, Pampanga from November 6 to 13, 2007.

This unique driving experience we all went through is based on the platform of the Mercedes-Benz Active Safety Experience programme wherein it aims to equip Mercedes-Benz drivers with the principles of safe driving to handle difficult situations that may be encountered on the road thus ensuring better protection for drivers, passengers and including the pedestrians.

Going through the carefully planned and executed exercises gave the motoring media a chance to experience for ourselves the new Mercedes-Benz safety technology in the new C-Class under the guidance of highly skilled and extensively trained driving instructors imported from Germany.

One of the driving exercises required us to drive at about 85 kilometers per hour and then let go of the accelerator pedal at a certain point where there are pylons that you should hit and therefore maneuver the C-Class quickly to the left and immediately correct the car and then stop on a dime just before another row of pylons.

Sounds easy? Guess again.

The driving instinct of a veteran driver is probably to slam on the brakes as he tries to avoid the first obstacle and hope the ABS works. But then you won’t be able to experience the advance technology of the C-Class which maintains the car’s stability in such an adverse situation when you failed to step on the break and just relied on your maneuvering of the car to avoid a collision.

“The modern safety technology is quite difficult to understand in theory. In the C-For Yourself driving event, we would want to give our guests the chance to understand this technology better while experience it in a realistic driving maneuver.” says the hard-working Wim who, as the chief instructor also oversees the total safety of the event.

CATS Motors president Felix Ang adds, “We are proud to bring this C-For Yourself Driving Event to the Philippines in order for the media and our valuable customers to experience the prowess of the new C-Class.”

This is one perk I like most where I am right now – to be able to drive your hosts’ vehicles as hard as you like and as you can and still see them smiling and asking you to drive harder.

Happy Motoring!!!

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