Get tested

Just because a person has a driver’s license, that does not mean that he or she is really qualified, informed and competent to operate a vehicle, drive on public roads or is familiar with vehicles and the equipment on board.

In fact many company owners and executives are making unverified or unsafe assumptions that their drivers or employees can drive, simply based on a license and their employees’ say-so. Ironically many “Driving School” graduates and license holders don’t have enough driving hours, not enough competency or proper technical orientation on vehicles and on-board equipment. Sadly, the authorities concerned don’t rack up statistics on accidents and breakdowns involving “company cars” or official vehicles. So nobody has a clear idea of the damage, losses and deaths associated with company drivers and driving personnel.

But now you can have your people, even your family members tested especially drivers applying for the job or that elderly relative who insist on renewing his or her license. The test is an on-line based program developed by the Tuason Racing and Road Safety School. For one thousand pesos you simply open up your computer or smart phone or other gadget which can access the internet, go on-line to register, pay up, then get your encrypted access code, just like the many similar tests such as “Strength Finders 2.0” that issues you your own access code in order to take a test. Of course, one access code is dedicated to one person.

The test I’m talking about is a driver-vehicle competency training and testing program that has been developed by the Tuason Racing School as part of their Driving Academy, and their school oriented Road Safety Campaigns. The program consists of 3 courses x 4 modules each consisting of 10-minute videos that the enrollees watch and then they take an on-line exam to determine their knowledge and awareness. According to the main proponent of the program, JP Tuason, the On-Line program is a spin-off on their Corporate/Executive Defensive Driving training programs. But unlike the executive program, this one is more affordable, does not require vehicles and drivers to be at a remote location or training grounds. You simply use your laptop, sign up and go.

The courses covers: “Road Rules: Simplified” – “Driving Basics” – “Know Your Car” – “Parking.” If an enrollee tries to cheat by skipping lessons they will discover themselves getting “recycled” and rebooted, having to start from the beginning automatically, just like in the movie “Ground Hog Day.” On the other hand, those who pass and graduate from the program will be granted a physical certificate instead of a “virtual diploma” to avoid forgery. Considering the cheapest cars now start at almost half a million while SUV go from 900K upward, a thousand bucks is certainly small change for peace of mind. The test will also help you know about the person you are putting behind the wheel and trusting with your company vehicle and/or your loved ones!

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It was around this time of the year when I heard of a businessman who was told by his personal physician to buy a 35,000 peso machine that would help him breathe easier and sleep better. The guy begged off and said that he would buy it a week after he enjoyed a long drive in his brand new SUV that he was expecting delivery anytime soon. A week later he was dead from a heart attack.

In the last month two professional “associates” have suffered heart attacks. One has been in the ICU for weeks and the other guy thought nothing off it and insisted on going back to the field where he had one of the most hectic travelling schedules I’ve ever seen. Although I was an outsider, I decided to talk to his employers and then talked to him to “Stand Down” and take a rest because you might survive the first heart attack but many people I know croaked on the second. Anyone was welcomed to call me a meddler and that was just fine, rather than shake my head attending what could have been an untimely funeral. As it turns out the company physician put his foot down and had the guy grounded. Maybe now his wife can look forward to a longer marriage instead of impending widowhood.

Yes, people are killing themselves either through denial or simply not placing greater value to watching their health and paying attention to physical signs of fatigue, stress as well as “clear and present dangers” in our bodies. Vomiting, fainting, and falling as well as a change in disposition have all been associated with strokes and heart attacks but people won’t go to the hospital for fear of wasting their time over nothing or being labeled a “worry wart.” How much of an expense and of time would you lose just to get a quick check up and a blood check or profile?  If you live by the clock, drive a lot, have sales quotas, work crazy hours that combine late nights, alcohol, eating a lot as well as smoking, please don’t tell me you’re OK because you are not.

Even people who exercise and do triathlons have dropped dead because all they ever saw was the outside shell but not the defective ticker or a clogged artery. I was in relatively good shape doing core exercise training when I suddenly had shortness of breath leading to the discovery that I had two major arteries that were blocked and required immediate angioplasty. Given that we are just weeks away from the season of gluttony, boozing, late nights and various types of stress, it might be wise to do a Pre-Christmas Check-up because as the saying goes: The life you save might be yours!”

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