GIVEN the dire road safety situation in the country of late, automotive companies have recently taken the cudgels in handling the issue as a corporate social responsibility. It is nice if the car company toots its own horn about its road safety programs; it is an entirely new scenario if the automaker devotes and develops a whole traffic education center to aggressively promote (and if necessary, indoctrinate) the gospel of road safety to Filipinos.

One example of the latter is the recently launched Honda Safety Driving Center (HSDC). A non-stock, nonprofit entity put together by Asian Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Honda Philippines Inc. (HPI) and Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI), HSDC combines both four-wheeled and two-wheeled courses developed to serve the Philippines’ specific road safety training requirements and develops (in a controlled manner) a road safety mindset and driver/rider proficiencies. “This special project has roots in our safety philosophy, in which the promotion of safety and the environment protection will always take top priority. We believe that if there is no safety, there is no production. And we believe that it is also our job to provide the right software—like teaching users the correct driving knowhow and proper vehicle maintenance—because motor vehicles, if not used properly, may cost lives or significant damage to property,” said HSDC president and HPI president and general manager Kazuhiko Ikezoe.

The soon-to-be-opened (October 2007, to be specific), 2.3-hectare facility sits on Parañaque’s East Service Road, around 30 minutes from Makati or five minutes from the Bicutan Interchange of the South Luzon Expressway. HSDC features an expansive training circuit where vehicles and pedestrians have the opportunity to interact, allowing learners to experience actual traffic and road conditions with nominal risk while developing confidence. On tap for HSDC is a low-friction braking course where trainees will learn the correct handling of automobiles and motorbikes on various slippery road conditions, and a motorcycle dirt track designed to teach riders how to properly and safely negotiate unpaved terrain or debris-filled roads common to the country. And to regularly uphold the high level of competence and professionalism expected of HSDC, its instructors always participate in the annual Safety-Japan Instructors’ Competition, an event where Honda instructors are gathered from around the world to compete, share expertise and learn new road safety training methodologies. “To ensure that teaching standards are maintained, a resident technical instructor from Japan will be joining the HSDC team. He will also extend help in the design of training modules best suited for Filipino drivers/riders,” added Ikezoe.

In bringing about the first traffic education center to host the aforementioned features in Asia outside Japan, around P170 million was invested to complete its resources. “HSDC is projected to employ a total of 100 associates by 2010, and when fully operational, can accommodate movement of 75 motorcycles and 40 automobiles at any given time. That gives HSDC an annual rated training capacity of 11,800 riders and 8,600 drivers by 2011 while employing a total of 70 well-trained instructors,” said Ikezoe.

Although the use of HSDC at the moment is still on a voluntary basis, Asian Honda Motor Co. Ltd., HPI and HCPI are looking into various options that will make the use of HSDC mandatory for the acquisition of a driver’s license. “We want to convey the proper skills and techniques for local motorists to continuously appreciate our presence in the country,” said HCPI president and general manager and HCPI trustee Takashi Sekiguchi.

THE Mercedes-Benz E-Class connotes images of a classy and powerful Teutonic four-door saloon, coming hand-in-hand with choice comforts for the controlling conglomerate chief, albeit in manageable dimensions for local roads (read: a smaller alternative for the S-Class). Whether it can impress buyers looking past what the Audi A6, Volvo S60 and BMW 5-Series offer is the reason for this test drive.

A BOLD addition to the growing number of compact cars in the country today is this Suzuki Alto, which was launched last week at the Le Pavilion in Pasay City.

GIVEN the dire road safety situation in the country of late, automotive companies have recently taken the cudgels in handling the issue as a corporate social responsibility.

GOODBYE, Philippine karting! Hello to the international racing circuit!

This is what Michelle Bumgarner uttered recently as she bade the local racing circuit goodbye before her departure for the United States.

IN 1989 Andy Cheng’s love for automobiles opened his eyes to an opportunity that no one else had thought about before—the production of Original Equipment of Manufacturer (OEM) quality body kits and spoilers.