How graphic would our traffic managers want it to be?
Picture after picture in newspapers and video after video in TV news programs have been shown regarding accidents involving road barriers, mostly in U-turn slots in the metro.
Many of these accidents have claimed lives, the loss of limb and of course damage to property of motorists and pedestrians.
Many would not go through the long debate of whether these U-turn slots indeed help in effecting a smoother flow of traffic. They would concede, that the “uninterrupted flow of water theory”, which is the platform of the concept of U-turn slots, may indeed be applied to ensure traffic flow. However, this can be true only in some parts of the metro where the street is unusually wide.
Have you tried making a U-turn in that slot located in C-5 before the Pasig overpass coming from Libis just by the Green Valley Country Club? If you were driving a large SUV (worse, a big van), you would have to stop midway as you make your u-turn and drive back a little before proceeding forward again, or else you’ll hit the concrete barrier. And that’s already a four-lane portion of the C-5.
Let me say it again; let’s not beat a dead horse.
“If it doesn’t work, it surely needs fixing.”
Petron’s “sino ba talaga”
After three grand stagings of the Petron Xtra Mile Challenge and establishing henceforth that you can indeed get the most out of every liter of Petron Xtra Unleaded as a given, Petron Corporation, the country’s largest oil company now wants to establish who’s really the champion among the champions.
If you remember, when Petron first started this marketing campaign to prove the efficiency of Petron Xtra Unleaded’s fuel performance in May 2005, my friend and long-time co-host of the TV show Motoring Today and the country’s “racing living legend”, Pocholo Ramirez set the first record of 1,114 kilometers run on a full tank of fuel.
The second edition of the “Challenge” done in mid 2006, which had consumers venturing to break Pocholo’s record, had brothers Emilio and Emmanuel Zayco registering a record-breaking 1,400 kilometers.
This was immediately followed by the 2007 Xtra Mile Challenge Media Edition with assistant business editors Roman Floresca of The Philippine STAR and Delfin Perez of the Manila Bulletin romping off with the Championship title.
The Champion’s Edition of the Petron Xtra Mile Challenge, which includes the second and third placers in the past two stagings aside from two more teams from the Ramirez racing clan composed of first record-setter Pocholo who’ll partner with son George and the other team with another son, Louis wife Sheila, started from Petron NLEX (Marilao) last Monday January 14 as they set out for Vigan, Ilocos Sur and on to Ilocos Norte on the second day, Tuesday for their transport stages.
Running on the trusty super fuel-efficient Honda Jazz 1300 with automatic transmission, the competition official flags off today from Petron Bangui, which is located near Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte with the first pit stop at Tarlac City. The second official leg crosses the North Luzon and South Luzon Expressways, through the winding highways of the Bicol region, stopping at Naga, Camarines Sur for the second pit stop. The final run out leg is expected to reach all the way from Naga City to the port town of Matnog, Sorsogon the southernmost tip of Luzon before returning back. Many are expecting that with the level of expertise of the present competitors and with luck, the possibility of another record run is big with the convoy possibly ending up back all the way to Camarines Sur or even Quezon province.
Of course I wish all the participants the best of luck and a very safe and incident-free competition. Although I’m really most concerned about my friend, Pocholo, who’s sacrificing a lot just to be part of the event and be in his element – in his world, competing in motor sports events. As many of his friends know he just recently licked the Big C but must still go through all his daily rituals, some of which he may have to forego during the event – a real trooper, if I may say so. That makes him indeed the country’s “racing living legend” and I pray he stays such for a long, long time.
On the side, did you know that this marketing campaign for Petron Xtra Unleaded, which was built on the Xtra Mile Challenge has earned for Petron Corporation international accolades?
According to Joey Campos, Petron’s vice president for marketing, ”Last year, it was chosen as one of the top finalists in the marketing campaign category of the Platts Global Energy Awards, the only Filipino finalist in the most prestigious award in the oil industry worldwide”.
Another feather in the cap of Petron’s marketing group, which is also composed of Lito de Jesus, Mon del Rosario and the indefatigable ad & promo top honcho Charmaine Canillas and her super-efficient staff.
Let the “Road Heroes” be known
Goodyear Philippines’ continuing laudable project of giving tribute to people from all walks of life who have done an exemplary deed for their fellow men while on the road would soon name the “Bayani ng Kalsada for 2007”.
According to Goodyear Philippines president Dave Morin, “the physical buffs’ buff”, the list of finalists has been narrowed down and very soon this year’s winners will be known.
The final judging is scheduled this Friday, January 18 and Dave has invited me, representing SPMJ (Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists), to be a part of the panel of judges.
This worthy project and the advocacy of SPMJ are one in promoting safety of people in our roads and we at SPMJ would be very happy to be involved in one way or another with Goodyear’s “Bayani ng Kalsada”.
Motoring Tip of the Week
HID or “high intensity discharge” bulbs that are being used for headlights or fog lamps, which is currently the craze among motor vehicle owners, not only because of its novelty but more so because they really emit brighter illumination making travel at night a lot safer can be unsafe for other motorists when not installed properly.
Make sure you have them installed by qualified distributors who have the complete facility to measure the height of your vehicle’s headlight beam. Otherwise, the light emitted by your headlight that’s been installed erroneously high, can blind drivers of on coming vehicles, which can make it unsafe for both of you.
Happy Motoring!!!
For Comments: (E-Mail) motoringtoday-star@stv.com.ph.