Suspend drunk drivers who figure in accidents

Sometime in July 2001, an L-300 van traveling along Shaw Blvd. was hit on its left side by an AUV vehicle coming from Sheridan St., Mandaluyong City. The impact was so hard that it hurled the van to the street corner signpost and caused it to fall on its side. Luckily the accident did not cause any death. It however broke the arm of one of the women passengers, which needed an orthopedic operation. The other passengers were brought to the hospital for treatment of bruises and contusions.

Well, an accident is an accident and nobody wants it to happen. But when you look deeper into the incident, like looking into its police report, you would find out that it was not merely an accident where no one really was to blame — it was caused by drunk driving.

The driver of the AUV (or what appeared to be a locally assembled vehicle) was reported by the police officer that investigated the accident as "suspected to be under the influence of alcohol".

The driver identified in the police report as Maximo Reyes, was reported to have failed to go to the police headquarters right after the accident despite the strict instructions of the investigating officer to the two involved drivers.

Well, the reason was obvious as the police report further stated that during the interview at the scene, the driver of the van appeared normal while this certain Maximo Reyes, the driver of the vehicle that hit the van, "showed signs of incoherence and was reeking of alcohol."

Now, here’s the rub, this Maximo Reyes, who was referred in the police report as being "suspected to be under the influence of alcohol" and also further described by the investigating officer that during the interview at the scene of the accident as the one who "showed signs of incoherence and reeking with alcohol" now has the gall to file a damage suit against the driver of the van.

Wow, as they say, "only in the Philippines", but I would really be interested to know how the fiscal in the Courts of Antipolo, where the damage suit was filed, would react to this atrocious case. It would indeed be very puzzling if he acts to elevate it further for the court to decide.

But above all this, I would really support any measure that would mean a suspension of the licenses of drivers who figure in accidents while under the influence of alcohol or prohibited drugs.

Let’s get them out of the road — they have already caused so much anguish and even death. Suspend them or better still ban them from driving — ever.

Ad billboards guidelines from MMDA

It is indeed very laudable for our metro government to finally come up with some guidelines or rationale for the teeming advertising billboards that we now see in almost every nook and cranny of the metropolis.

I hope I would not be taken wrongly here, I am not against advertising and promotional billboards per se, as they spur business and commerce and the economy but there should be some order in putting them up. As of now their number and placement sometimes can be deemed as traffic hazards — blocking driver’s sights or causing their distraction. Some are just lain eyesores.

But, before, after or while addressing the concerns of these ad billboards, can the MMDA also spend some time rationalizing our traffic signs as we have suggested before?

Boy, are we off specs! And way off the international standards.

No more cars coming in through Subic

This was the assurance given by SBMA chairman Felicito "Tong" Payumo, on camera on the TV show Breaking Barriers (Wednesday 11 pm, IBC TV-13) and off camera while my brother Rey and I were taping the show. But he admits that second-hand SUVs are still allowed. He also explained that the SBMA management could only abide by what the courts have instructed them to do by way of the latest TRO allowing the importation of second hand vehicles and machineries through the Subic Free Port.

Tong admits though that despite the presence of an industry within the Free Port, currently employing a substantial number of workers that convert all these imported second-hand vehicles to left-hand drive, the SBMA shall abide by whatever decision the Supreme Court may finally reached on the issue.

The local automotive industry together with its labor front of plant workers have been rallying for the implementation of the ban on the importation of second-hand vehicles as its continued wanton practice has a debilitating effect on the sector and has been traced as a major cause for the industry’s stunted growth.

The government has ruled for the implementation of the ban, however a local judge has ruled against it by issuing a TRO in favor of the importers.

Although the ceasing of the importation of cars has somehow helped the industry, the thorn on its side remains, considering that almost all local automotive companies carry SUVs in their inventories and their continued importation would still undeniably produce a considerable dent in its sales and overall business viability.

Only a month for Mitsubishi’s Auto Madness

You actually only have less than a month — up to September 30, to take advantage of this financing promo tie up between Mitsubishi Motors Philippines and BPI Family Savings Bank, which for the first time shall be on a nationwide basis.

According to our friends from Mitsubishi, Froy Dytianquin and Arlan Reyes, the Mitsubishi-BPI Auto Madness offers the most attractive and affordable auto financing, what with variable offers like 72 months to pay, zero interest, low down payment or low monthly installments.

There are quite a number of combinations to choose from and I guess the best thing to do is just to drop by any of the Mitsubishi Showroom that’s located all over the country.

Marked interest on "Automobile of the Year" polls

Since we made the announcements, both on this column and on our TV shows, about the "Auto Focus Automobile of the Year — People’s Choice" polls we have been receiving a lot of inquiries about its mechanics. There were even comments like, "It’s about time we get to know what the people really fancy among the many vehicles that we have in the market" to observations like, "This is great because you won’t be saying that it’s the best vehicle in the country but the most popular among the best."

The polls would actually involve anybody who would want to cast their vote on their favorite vehicle, which may be a SUV, an AUV, a pick-up, a compact sedan, etc., and the vehicle that gets the most number of text votes comes out to be the "Automobile of the Year" with the most voted in each category winning the award of the "SUV of the Year" or "Pick-up of the Year" — People’s Choice.

Other details like to what number to text your votes and from when to its deadline shall be announced as these are firmed up.

Pit lane Notes

As you all probably already know, BAR-Honda and BMW-Williams are currently having a tug-of-war over who will get to "claim" Jenson Button in the 2005 season. BAR claims that the young Briton has a standing contract with them until next season, but then Jenson himself said that he signed with Williams.

While that is still being disputed, ex BAR driver and one time Formula 1 champ Jacques Villeneuve has been reportedly in close contact with his former team. He was actually unceremoniously axed from the lineup when BAR signed Takuma Sato, and it was reported that the 1997 World Champion did not take the news well. However, BAR technical director Geoff Willis said that Villeneuve is willing to put the past behind him, and actually wants to drive for BAR-Honda again. BAR is reportedly still waiting for the verdict on the Button case, but if it falls through, then we can probably expect Jacques and his colorful personality back on the track next year.

Still on BAR, they said that they aim to be the #2 team at the end of the 2004 season. That spot is still being closely contested between them and Renault, with the latter having the slight edge. With just 4 races remaining in the Formula 1 calendar, expect both teams to go all out. With next season’s BAR seat still up for grabs, Takuma Sato will definitely give it everything he’s got.

Uncharacteristically, Michael Schumacher crashed his Ferrari in practice session in Monza. The Tifosi shouldn’t worry however, because the 7-time World Champion escaped unscathed. He gave his team quite a scare though, because the impact of the crash was pretty heavy.

Meanwhile, the other Schumacher brother Ralf, who also survived a recent crash, will reportedly be ready to go back to duty next month in the first ever Chinese Grand Prix.

A family now officially owns Team Jordan from Dubai, and it was sold to the tune of 90 MILLION DOLLARS. Eddie Jordan, however, will still be getting 15% from the Al-Maktoum family. Jordan will now be known as the official team of Dubai.

Motoring Tip of the Week

Although some local governments in Metro Manila, like Makati and Mandaluyong, do not honor the 10 am to 4 pm "relief window" offered by the MMDA, when the "number coding" for motor vehicles are suspended. However, they have however agreed not to impose the vehicle ban on National Roads like EDSA, C-5 and others.

We suggest that you identify all the National Roads in your route to avoid being hustled by some unscrupulous traffic enforcers who would insist on the ban despite its exemptions.

Happy Motoring!!!

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