Graffiti on our roads?

Is there a standard set of guidelines for street and road traffic markings in the Metro and all over the country?

Do the traffic markings on our streets follow internationally-accepted standards or are they all "bara-bara" and whimsical just like some of those street signs in Metro Manila that come atrociously in varied colors of the rainbow?

One of our readers, Mr. Romeo Ybanez says, "We have a "chopsuey" of lane markings I don’t know which one is legal or not. Do we follow US rules? In the US the yellow line in the center of the roadway means two-way traffic. Why is it white in most of our roads? White lines dividing lanes always mean traffic on the same direction. It seems our traffic officials are confused of the real traffic regulations."

I have dedicated a lot of inches in this column and a lot of airtime in my TV show on this issue of our traffic managers not following the internationally accepted standards when it comes to street traffic signs and so far the only answer we got from the MMDA (and this is on camera and on tape) is that the international signs are "corny", that’s why we have signs (graffiti?) in rainbow colors and in odd shapes. Pity the traveler that does not understand English, coz he’ll surely go around in circles and spend all his time just trying to decipher our confusing street signs.

Now it seems that the graffiti has moved to the roads – only in the Philippines?

Who’s really in charge of our street and road traffic signs and markings? Is it the DPWH, the MMDA, the LTO or those thugs that put up ‘Do Not Enter’ signs on the roads whenever they want to play basketball on the street?

The most affordable compact

Suzuki Philippines launched the Suzuki Alto at the Le Pavilion in Roxas Blvd. last Friday, March 16 and has proudly bannered it as "a car that has made a name for itself around the world for stability, fuel efficiency and affordability."

In its 18-year existence since it was introduced in Japan in 1979, the Alto has reportedly sold more than 10 million units worldwide.

With introductory prizes of P359,000 for the Standard variant and P398,000 for the De Luxe model (With the Standard model not having Electronic power steering and power windows and door locks), this compact must arguably be the most affordable automobile in the local market today.

The technical specs may pale a little in a feature-to-feature comparison with other compacts to account for the big disparity in price – 800 cc, 3-cylinder, 12 valve engine with a maximum output of 47 hp @6,200 rpm and a max torque of 62 Nm @ 3,000 rpm, with 5-speed manual transmission – but its initial cost, low maintenance (3-year warranty or 100,000 kilometers) and vaunted fuel efficiency may just tip the balance for those who are in badly need of a vehicle with a limited budget or those who may just want a second "go around" automobile.

"Suzuki Philippines found it imperative to bring in the Alto out of the company’s strong desire to address the current transportation needs of the common "tao". First, with the unpredictable fuel prices and the ballooning cost of bigger cars, the Alto is the perfect transportation solution – it is fuel efficient, with low maintenance cost and is affordable," said two-time Suzuki president, Mr. Kiyoshi Kawahara in his welcome speech during the launching, which also offered the motoring journalists test drives of the new market offering.

Congratulations to Suzuki Philippines. Way to go!

Pit Lane Notes

The 2007 World Formula One Series have started traditionally in Melbourne, Australia with Kimi Raikkonen taking the year’s maiden top podium finish on his virgin run with the Prancing Horse stable. Two-time World F1 Champion Fernando Alonzo, now running with McLaren Mercedes had to settle for second and only after he was able (made to?) pass teammate Lewis Hamilton – the first black F1 driver in history.

I shall be updating you weekly on whatever "pit lane talk" I get to gather about this most popular race in the world. However, let me start by giving you the year’s team line up and race schedule.

Team Drivers

Renault Giancarlo Fisichella / Heikki Kovalainen

Ferrari Marlboro Kimi Raikkonen / Felipe Massa

McLaren Mercedes Fernando Alonzo / Lewis Hamilton

Honda F1 Rubens Barichello / Jenson Button

BMW Sauber F1 Nick Heidfeld / Robert Kubica

Toyota Racing Jarno Trulli / Ralf Schumacher

Red Bull Racing David Coulthard / Mark Webber

Williams F1 Alexander Wurz / Nico Rosberg

2007 World Formula One Series Schedule

March 18 Melbourne, Australia

April 8 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

April 15 Sakhir, Bahrain

April 29 Imola, Italy (to be confirmed)

May 13 Barcelona, Spain

May 27 Monaco

June 10 Montreal, Canada

June 17 Indianapolis, USA

July 1 Magny Cours, France

July 8 Silverstone, Great Britain

July 22 Nurburgring, Germany

August 5 Budapest, Hungary

August 26 Istanbul, Turkey

September 9 Monza, Italy

September 16 Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium

September 30 Fuji, Japan

October 7 Shanghai, China

October 21 Sao Paulo, Brazil

How exciting will this year’s series turn out to be? Abangan!

World supplier of OE and OEM products in RP

ZF Friedrichshafen AG of Germany is reputedly the world’s leading service company in the international replacement and OE parts market and the leading supplier for power train and suspension technology for European, American, Japanese and Korean automotive companies. It has recently appointed ATI Group, one of the country’s oldest engine rebuilding and automatic transmission companies as the sole distributor of ZF Trading parts and accessories.

"With ZF Trading’s vast array of OEM spec parts, motor sports fans can retrofit their cars with racing technology. Having original OE spec parts and components keep you driving on the safe side," states Marty Diaz Rivera, managing director of ATI Group.

With the appointment, ATI Group shall be the authorized distributor of aftermarket OEM products brands like Sach’s, Boge, Lemforder and ZF parts.

SPMJ completes Toyota-sponsored road safety seminars

Fifty-four Ateneo High School students recently attended the SPMJ (Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists) ‘Early Warning’ road safety seminars to complete their pre-graduation CAT activities. This completes the twenty schools that Toyota Motor Philippines has agreed to sponsor as part of its global concern for road safety.

Var de Leon of Ateneo de Manila University’s HS Department, who requested for the seminar, said there are many traffic accidents occurring along Katipunan Road involving students from the school as well as other schools in the vicinity. After the workshop he said the he will endorse this seminar in the coming school year and to include members of the faculty staff.

The theme of the ‘Early Warning’ seminar is captured in the phrase "Be a Safe Driver" – someone who consistently possesses good driving habits that protect him and riders of the vehicle and is courteous and respectful of traffic rules, road users and enforcers. By far the leading cause of many accidents is bad driving behavior and developing good habits may lessen serious road crashes.

The ‘Early Warning’ road safety seminar and workshop is a joint project of SPMJ, Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. and Ford Group Philippines.

Happy Motoring!!!

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