Life and Limb

Clichés are a dime a dozen. But there’s a reason for their profusion. Most of the time, they are undeniable truths — facts of life you just can’t deny. Take for example the notion that whenever one gets inside a vehicle — any vehicle — he is literally risking life and limb. Whichever way you look at it, there is truth in that statement. Automobiles, motorbikes, trains, boats, planes, any form of transportation literally puts passengers at risk. The business of transportation is serious stuff, after all.

It would be prudent, then, to consider the kind of vehicle one chooses to use before embarking on any journey — no matter how long or short. For the purposes of our discussion, let’s stick with those kinds of vehicles that matter to motorists — those intended for land travel. Any responsible individual can’t just stop with choosing the right mode of transportation. If, for example, you have already chosen a vehicle and made a purchase, the next responsible thing to do is to keep that vehicle roadworthy — at least for the duration of its intended use. It is in this aspect of the vehicle ownership experience, sadly, that many Filipinos fall short.

There’s a simple way of addressing this problem, actually. What I do, personally, is approach it with a sense of urgency and paranoia. The way I see it, any person who steps into my car is putting his or her life in my hands. The moment anyone takes his or her seat in my car, I become responsible for his or her life. At that moment, I tell myself that it is my responsibility to bring these people to their destinations in the same state in which they entered my car. The very thought drives me nuts. But it also keeps me perennially on my toes. Best of all, it keeps my car in tip-top shape — ten years after it made its way out of the showroom.

The truth is that car care ought to go beyond the customary. One has to be extra careful and vigilant — in fact one should be vigilant to the point of embracing uneasy-ness. There’s a method to the madness, really. Periodic maintenance is an absolute necessity, of course. But one has to be a wee bit more sensitive than that. Paranoia dictates that one needs to be totally attuned to one’s vehicle and its little quirks. For example, a little shift shock could mean trouble brewing in the fuel line. A slightly shakier response from your steering wheel might indicate tire thread deterioration. A grinding sound when you step on the brakes could mean you’ve already got worn brake pads. The list is almost endless. Consequently, your sensitivity ought to be just as boundless.

If you are car-sensitive and you feel the need to change one essential part of your vehicle or another, it’s probably because you ought to. Sustaining your vehicles’ parts longevity, of course, still counts as the smarter (and more financially sound) alternative. What to do? Check your oil and coolant level on a weekly basis. Rotate your tires on a quarterly basis (half a year is also ideal, depending on the amount of usage). Change those wipers on a yearly basis (after a particularly nasty rainy season, there are no ifs or buts). Replace those no maintenance batteries after their prescribed warranty has expired (before you even have trouble starting your car). In other words, feed your car with the right stuff at the right time — don’t wait for the pangs of hunger to show. Preventive maintenance is the name of the game.

The moment your vehicle breaks down on you, it would be best to re-think your car care habits. If and when that time comes, you will have to be more than just upset with yourself for letting such a thing happen. Remember, it’s easy to pin the blame on others, but the truly responsible know that the buck stops with one’s self. Introspection — even in the realm of car care — can bring about the best from any individual.

Now, if you complain that preventive maintenance is too expensive, then I’ve got only one thing to tell you. You have no business owning a car. The car ownership experience does not begin and end with the ability to drive. Like I said at the beginning of this column, there’s a certain amount of responsibility involved — and it extends to the persons who will be counted as among the passengers of the car whose roadworthiness you can or cannot maintain. Think about it. If your negligence caused horrendous traffic, an accident, or worse, an injury, could you live with the guilt?

In life, there are some purchases you can scrimp on. Safety is not one of those things. So the next time you think about buying a car — or even a motorcycle — think about how the cost of keeping it roadworthy will weigh on you in the long run. If you can’t even imagine how it’ll fit into the budget, then forget it. You’d have become a more responsible road user if you kept yourself from indulging in that which you can’t sustain. Cliché as it may sound, you’re going to come out a better person for it.

Here are some of your comments, questions and reactions from last week…

I’m an owner of a gas fed 93 Toyota Corona. I’m thinking of converting to LPG to cut fuel cost. Comments please — advantages, disadvantages. — 09205155480 (Advantages: depending on driving practices and car condition, up to at least 40% savings on fuel consumption. Disadvantages: initial P26k-P35k outlay; relatively low number of service stations available for refilling.)

I always PUVs and cargo trucks with bald tires. Very dangerous. Dapat hulihin! — 09175296677 (Amen. Are you psychic? See column above.)

Smokebelchers are being apprehended only in Metro Manila, but not in the province. — 09165885780

I agree with "public utility drivers, private motorists, it doesn’t matter" in Andy Leuterio’s "Courtesy" column. Stupid road antics are shared by both. — 09176228517

Why can they not limit tricycle and pedicabs in side streets? They should be prohibited in busy streets like Roosevelt, West Avenue, Minadanao Avenue, UN Avenue, etc. — 09178531454

People! Use head, park or fog lights when it rains. Don’t use your hazard lights! You need those lights to indicate where you are going. We’re not telepathic. — 09179447751 (That is a very sound suggestion, one that is undeniably correct, too.)

Majority of stupid drivers do not understand English. It would be better if your messages are in Filipino and printed in tabloids. — 09218019277

I am avid reader of motoring, I hope that you would do more articles comparing cars available in the market with the prices to guide new buyers, thank you. — 09284262837

Most oil depots are there in Manila, but fuel here in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija, I guess, is the cheapest. Diesel is at 36.56/liter. — 09198544351

Correct me if I am wrong but on any intersection, the vehicle on the main road always has the right of way unless a through stop street. — 09275871143 (You are correct.)

Speak out, be heard and keep those text messages coming in. To say your piece and become a "Backseat Driver", text PHILSTAR<space>FB<space>MOTORING<space>YOUR MESSAGE and send to 2840 if you’re a Globe or Touch Mobile subscriber or 334 if you’re a Smart or Talk ’n Text subscriber or 2840 if you’re a Sun Cellular subscriber. Please keep your messages down to a manageable 160 characters. You may send a series of comments using the same parameters.