Motoring Today Column

Mar 22, 2017

We got wind of recent achievements of the MMDA with regard to clearing many streets of the metro of illegally parked vehicles.

Word has it that almost 300 vehicles were towed and impounded during the agency's recent intensified anti-illegal parking operations.

Having seen the complete turnaround of the C5 service road between the Market, Market area and the Kalayaan intersection from being so previously clogged with parked vehicles that motorists would have to snake around or do a slalom between cars parked on both sides just to traverse the short distance, to what it is now (I hope it stays though) being cleared clean, enough to almost tempt some motorists to speed through it, the MMDA must really be up to its mandated task.

The said operations also reported to have yielded a total of 21 tricycles in Quezon City found appropriating parts of the streets for their illegal terminals. Although I know for a fact these tricycles have no business running on main thoroughfares.

On another front in the battle to discipline motorists to follow traffic laws, more than 10 thousand erring drivers were cited for various traffic violations by way of the agency's No Contact Apprehension system in which traffic violations are recorded using CCTV cameras strategically placed along metro roads.

MMDA acting chairman Tim Orbos may have a lot on his plate and with his hands full even, but despite this he seems so far to be doing his best and doing well to mitigate the daily traffic nightmare. Kudos.

I said theoretically but not absolutely because through the years car owners have learned to make sure that their second vehicle does not have the same plate number ending as their first, precisely to go around the traffic reducing scheme. But I guess the odd-even scheme is yet a more effective vehicle reduction system considering that there are still more motorists that are single-vehicle owners.

And I say this without any self-interest on the issue, on the contrary as of my last inspection; all the vehicles we use in the house are all ending in odd numbers. This is due to my being partial to that numeric group (111, 333, 777, 999, etc.), which I stretched to the hilt every time I got a brand new car-moron.

But really and truly, the odd-even arrangement would be a lot better and less confusing that the first suggestion presented, which would allow certain numbers on certain time windows and time frames. And such complex scheme could be a lightning rod for driver and traffic enforcer confrontations or further corruption in the streets.

But at the end of the day, car owners need not have to surrender their rights to make use of what they legally own if only there were effective and reliable mass transport systems, in whatever mode that are in place in the metro-and that, Mr. Watson is the elementary solution.

I can dream, can't I?

Everybody's talking and asking about it-the looming automobile price increase due to the almost certain tax increase.

One does not have to be brilliant to surmise that car prices would definitely go up upon the implementation of the much talked-about increase in vehicle taxes. The speculation is now just limited to how much-the tax increase and the inevitable rise in vehicle price-with the latter dependent on the former.

Whatever, but if you are really planning on buying a new vehicle and you're advancing your schedule due to what we just mentioned, just remember the mantra, "Test drive it before you buy it."

The next scheduled 'multi-brand' test drive event is on April 20 to 23 at the SM Mall of Asia where one can find all the top-selling brand new models currently available in the market gathered all together conveniently in a literally 'one stop shop', where car buyers and auto enthusiasts can see them real up close and have a test drive.

The following brands, in no particular order shall have their best models for the public to test drive; Ford, Isuzu, Honda, Mazda, Jeep, Mahindra, Suzuki, Toyota, Mitsubishi, SsangYong, Volkswagen and first-timer, Tata.

The Auto Focus Summer Multi Brand Test Drive Festival , like its 'Pre-Christmas' sibling, which gets going in the month of November offers the most convenient alternative to going from one automobile dealership to another while enduring the metro's daily nightmarish traffic gridlocks just to make cursory comparisons of car models that a buyer has his or her sights on. Furthermore, the test drive course that can be found within the very accessible venue can undeniably give you a better feel of your vehicle of interest compared to driving in stop and go traffic in the metro.

So if you are thinking of buying a car, go save the date and remember, "Test drive it, before you buy it."

I'm referring to the TV show Motoring Today, the weekend viewing habit that'll be celebrating its30^th year of broadcast this June.

That's right, three decades and still counting. Every week of public service and information dissemination on all facets of motoring from transportation as well as traffic management concerns and issues, auto industry developments, vehicle maintenance, road safety, etc. Thanks to the continuing viewing patronage of motoring enthusiasts and automobile buffs plus the consistent support of most of those in the auto industry the show has survived and still has the fire in its belly to keep on.

But for those who have been missing watching the show on its longtime Sunday afternoon schedule, fret not because it's still very much "on the air" but this time on a more relaxed time of viewing, which is at 10 o'clock,Sunday evening on Solar Sports, Channel 70 of Sky Cable.

Now in the event that you still get to miss it sometime for one reason or another, there's still Motoring Today online (www.motoringtoday.ph) to go to, which you can log on at any time of the day for missed episodes or features you want to see all over again.

Happy Motoring!!!

For comments & inquiries (email) sunshine.television@yahoo.com