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IT is as
rare as rain in summer when we see a company on home
shores doing something for humankind à la Warren Buffett,
Bill Gates or even John Gokongwei and Lucio Tan. It
assumes an even more monumental dimension when that
company is as big as Honda.
Thus,
when the Honda Safety Driving Center (HSDC) finally
opened its doors to the public on April 9, the event did
not only take historic proportions but also a
significant phase in the motoring world as well.
For one,
the HSDC is the first of its kind in the country to
address the perennial problem of discourteous driving,
as well as reckless and unsafe driving techniques. It
envisions as the most modern and, therefore, scientific
approach in road driving and safety consciousness among
motorists young and old, male or female, alike.
 For
another, the establishment of the HSDC should serve as
an impetus for others to take heed, not only from among
the major players in the industry but also from all
sectors of society to include the government first and
foremost.
The
signs of handsome acceptance from significant segments
of society have been seen this early.
‘Worst
in the world’
In his
speech during the inaugurals of the HSDC, Transportation
Secretary Leandro Mendoza said, “This center is a
gigantic step toward the right direction. It has long
been established that driving habits in this part of the
globe are among the worst in the world. With the
establishment of the HSDC, I can see not only a brighter
future for our road-safety program, but also the
production of an endless batch of future generations
steeped in road courtesies and safety of the public as
foremost in their minds once they finally hit the road
while seated behind the wheels.”
Mendoza,
the guest of honor and speaker, also put emphasis on the
government’s robust role to support and push for the
center’s success by batting for schools to partner with
HSDC in the early education for would-be drivers on the
nuances of vehicle handling and the peculiarities of
road signs and courtesies.
“My
department will extend its full and unconditional
support for the Department of Education to link up with
this noble project of Honda,” said Mendoza. “Even the
Land Transportation Office is mandated to extend
assistance in whatever capacity to ensure the success of
this Honda endeavor.”
Nonstock,
nonprofit
A
nonstock and a nonprofit foundation, the HSDC was set up
from a seed fund donated by Asian Honda Motor Co. of
Thailand, Honda Philippines Inc. (motorcycle arm) and
Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (automobile arm).
Located
at Km. 17,
East Service Road, South
Superhighway, in Parañaque City, the HSDC sits on a
2.4-hectare prime land that houses a circuit and course
for students learning how to drive a motorcycle and a
car. It has a complete road complex, to include traffic
lights, bridges, humps, pylons and even hairpin curves
to simulate actual driving conditions and techniques.
“The
HSDC is more than just a maze of roads and courses
meshed together [and] intended to serve as venue for
drivers and riders to learn basic vehicle operations,”
said Arnel D. Doria, the HSDC general manager and HCPI
vice president for marketing. “Everything about HSDC—from
the track to course modules, to training
methodologies—was developed based on the most basic
principle of driving safety, which states: ‘No matter
how advanced vehicle technology may become in protecting
drivers and passengers, ultimately humans hold the key
to traffic safety.”
Cost:
P225 million
Built at
a staggering cost of P225 million, almost everything at
the HSDC is state-of-the-art. Trainers and teachers
were sent to
Japan
to study world-class techniques in handling a motorcycle
and an automobile in the most complex conditions of
either a road or a highway.
Hideo
Chiba, the general manager of the Driving Safety
Promotion Center of Honda Motor Co. Ltd. in Japan, was
invited primarily for the occasion.
“The
driving safety initiatives of Honda Motor Japan began in
1970, when the number of traffic accident fatalities
increased to 16,765—an alarming level by Japan
standards,” said Chiba. “We have promoted safe driving
with a fundamental belief of respect for the
individual. We have enhanced road-safety partnerships
with the traffic police, as well as Honda dealers,
business partners and fleet companies.”
Fatalities decreased
In 2007
the number of traffic accident fatalities in Japan
decreased to 6,000.
“But of
course, we believe this improvement was the result of
the entire nation’s efforts,” said
Chiba.
Kazuhiko
Ikezoe, the president of HSDC and the president and GM
of Honda Philippines Inc., stressed the importance of
the battle cry of Honda in advancing the cause of the
Center.
“Mr.
Soichiro Honda, our founder, once said, ‘Where there is
no safety, there is no production.’ Safety and
environment is topmost priority. This is an extension
of how the company takes care of its customers. A
vehicle with the most advanced safety technology, if not
properly used, can still cause an accident. Therefore,
hardware is not enough if the software is not
established, which is safety.”
Minimal
fees
The HSDC
charges minimal fees “for its maintenance and expenses
for salaries of instructors and staff,” said Doria.
For a
20-hour, basic motorcycle riding safety course: P2,000.
For a 22-hour, automobile learners safety course,
P10,000. For an eight-hour, fleet safety riding clinic
(P1,350) and an eight-hour fleet safety driving clinic
(P3,500). For a six-hour motorcycle skills certification
(P900) and a six-hour automobile skills certification
(P1,500).
Hiroshi
Shimizu, the HSDC vice president and HCPI president and
general manager, issued a call to his colleagues in the
industry to join Honda “toward a healthier and more
robust motor-vehicle industry by furthering our efforts
in educating users on how to use our products properly.”
Shimizu
added: “To our esteemed dealers, let us impart
road-safety consciousness among our valued customers.
Our responsibility must not end within the walls of our
show rooms and service centers. We also have to look
after their well-being on the road as they have placed
their trust in us by buying our products.”
Giant
step
Indeed,
with the establishment of the HSDC, the future looks
bright insofar as our road-driving safety program is
concerned. It’s a long journey, considering the bad
driving habits obtaining in the country.
But
doesn’t a journey of a thousand miles begin with the
first step?
The HSDC
is the first step—and it’s a giant step for humankind. |
