Are we really doing what we’re supposed to do?

Oftentimes many of us get to wonder if things that the government and traffic rules enforcers were supposed to do and are being touted to being done are really being done.

Are the MMDA, the LTO, the LTFRB, PNP and other mandated government agencies really going after colorum vehicles—impounding and penalizing them?

Are public utility vehicles that are older than their allowed age to be on the road really being phased out?

Are public utility vehicles like buses, jeepneys, taxis, shuttle vans, etc. really going through the required motor vehicle inspection before they are allowed registration?

Are buses really running within their 80 kph speed limit while traveling in the SLEX?

These questions are being asked simply because things that should cease to happen because of the above measures still seem to happen.

There seems to be the same number of buses in EDSA and it even looks that they are even increasing. If the LTFRB or the Land Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board has been prudent in approving new franchises, as it claims it has been, then the colorums are still very much alive considering that the number of buses in EDSA does not seem to decrease.

There are still quite a number of visibly old buses and jeepneys running in our roads. Buses that are more than 15 years old and shuttle vans that are 13 years old should not be allowed to ply their routes but it seems many of them still do. 

There are still public utility vehicles that are spewing toxic fumes especially when they accelerate. Are they passing the tests that the LTO’s Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) is conducting without appearing? 

And there are still buses running in the SLEX side by side with other vehicles running at 100 kph. Just try running with them and glance at your speedometer and you’ll see they are running as fast as you at100 kph and in some cases even faster. 

So, are we really doing what we’re supposed to do? If not, no wonder we don’t seem t move from where we have always been. And that’s sad.

People’s Choice Award winners soon to be announced

The 3-month online public polls to determine what automobile models are most preferred in each of their categories of sedans, SUVs, vans, sports cars, pickups, etc. and the most popular, the 2013-2014 Automobile of the Year—People’s Choice, which started last July 1 have been concluded midnight of September 30. While the final sales report covering the period January 1 to September 30 this year is still being collated by Stradcom, the LTO’s official IT provider.

The winners shall be announced on November 7, to coincide with the official opening of the 2013 Auto Focus Motor Show & Auto Expo, the country’s biggest outdoor display and test drive of brand new automobiles slated from November 7 to 10 at the SM Mall of Asia.

Now on its 9th staging, the Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards are determined by combining votes cast by the motoring public online and the actual sales of the participating vehicles. Actual sales and votes cast carry their own assigned vote factors, which for the past 2 years have been 60% for actual sales and 40% for online votes.

Sunshine TV, the creators and organizers of the awards have always been working closely and in constant consultation with the local auto industry leaders in determining the most appropriate equation to truthfully and accurately come close to what can really be considered as the country’s most preferred and most popular vehicles for each given year—and the learning curve continues.

Although many agree that an actual purchase of a vehicle is the “ultimate manifestation” of choice, others are also of the firm belief that there are many times when an automobile is purchased not because it is what the buyer really “likes” but because it is what the buyer can only “afford”—then that’s not an ultimate manifestation of choice. And that argument also makes a lot of sense.

Having said that, perhaps I can safely say that it is most possible that next year’s polling exercise would put added weight to the public’s “aspiration”. And that can make another very exciting staging of the Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards.   

Automobiles galore and test drives no end

Major players of the local automotive industry are all gearing up for the 2013 Auto Focus Motor Show & Auto Expo, a 4-day grand display and test drive of brand new automobile models.

Industry leaders like Toyota Motor Philippines, Lexus Manila, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI), Cats Motors (Jeep), Honda Cars Philippines, Isuzu Philippines Corporation, Automobile Central (Volkswagen), Universal Motors (Nissan), Ford Philippines, Car Covenant Company (Chevrolet), Eurobrands Distributor (Peugeot), Columbian Autocar (Kia) and Berjaya Motors (Mazda) are busy with their drawing boards for the appropriate design to best project their brands and showcase their current-year automobile models for the public to appreciate and possibly purchase on the spot during the 9th staging of “the country’s biggest outdoor motor show and test drive”.

The event can very well be a family affair as aside from seeing and test driving a wide array of brand new vehicles, all throughout the 4-day automobile extravaganza there’ll be daily marching band exhibitions and live band performances. There will also be regular (every 30 minutes) raffles with valuable prizes to be given away by the participating car companies to lucky visitors.   

If you’re contemplating on buying an automobile, whether an SUV, a sedan, a pickup, even a sports car, etc., you don’t have to go through the very tedious task of going from one auto dealership to another. Just come to the motor show and take a very close look at your choices and test drive all of them—then make your vey educated choice. 

The Auto Focus Motor Show & Auto Expo happens on November 7 to 10 at the SM Mall of Asia at that huge parking lot right beside IMax.

Happy Motoring!!!

For comments email motoringtoday-star@stv.com.ph.