TODAY, the car world’s accent is on the three main ingredients of a car’s safety features: Seat belts, air bags and head injury protection.

On average, seat belts save more than 10,000 lives each year, according to statistics in America.

When used with seat belts, air bags increase safety for most adult passengers as well as infants strapped to their seats.

Head injury protection helps lighten the blow should your head strike the interior roof of the vehicle and has become standard protection in recent model years. Likewise, headrests minimize neck trauma in an accident.

Me? I make it a habit to “lean” my head on the headrest when I’m driving, especially during long-distance trips. Not only very relaxing but it also gives me an assured feeling of safety.

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AMONG all cars in the world, Volvo takes the lead in safety.

“Safety is a beautiful thing,” goes one slogan of Volvo.

Many celebrities, both here and abroad, drive Volvos.  The wealthy in this country hanker to own a Volvo.  Status symbol, I say.

Volvo’s credibility as a safety leader is legend. This commitment goes far beyond crash tests and ratings. It is a genuine care for people—their lives and well-being—that keeps Volvo an all-time favorite.

The invention that has saved most lives ever—the three-point safety belt—has become a breakthrough technology that Volvo had become extra charitable of sorts to the world that it had let the patent free.

“That’s why today, you find a little bit of Volvo in every car,” said Albert Arcilla, the lawyer-boss of Viking Cars, the sole distributor of Volvos in the country.

Ever since I took to motoring journalism seriously in 1991, Volvo has not stopped fascinating me. In 1995 I was fetched by a chauffeur driving a Volvo at the Bangkok Airport, transporting me to my hotel. The next morning, another Volvo model picked me up to take me back to the airport, where I boarded a plane for Phuket to cover the Johnnie Walker Golf Classic.  Another Volvo took me to my hotel-by-the-beach in Phuket.

“Form and function work together but we also believe in the power of beauty,” said Arcilla. “Our designs are inspired by nature. The clear, defined seasons of Scandinavia inspire our approach to color and light. And the demands of our environment make our cars robust and versatile. Design can reinforce the feeling of being safe and secure. It can also make your environmental choice beautiful and visible.”

Who said car execs can’t wax poetic once in a while?

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AM I glad Ford Motor Co. of America will formally notify next month (June) the recall of more than 655,000 Ford F-150 Mark LT pickup trucks worldwide to fix a hose that could affect the vehicles’ braking power.

The recall is expected to begin in July.

The affected vehicles are the 2005-2006 versions of the trucks with 5.4-liter three-valve engines, according to the web site of the USA’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood said more than 600,000 of the trucks are in the US and about 50,000 are in Canada. About 1,500 are in other countries around the world.

Ford said there have been 11 minor accidents and no injuries tied to the issue.

Dealers will replace the hose at no charge to consumers, who can call (800) 392-3673 or visit www.ford.com for more details.

That’s one thing I like in America.  Car manufacturers are never afraid to admit making a mistake.

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LATE is never late and so, my heartfelt congratulations to Dave Macasadia for his recent appointment as managing director of Mazda Philippines, concurrent with his position as vice president of Ford and Mazda Customer Service Operations.

Dave, a very unassuming fellow who Ray Butch “Elvis” Gamboa of Motoring Today says he loves “so dearly,” is not a newcomer in Mazda. He was the managing director of Mazda during the successful launch of the brand in the Philippines back in 2004.

In a statement, Mazda said, “This leadership appointment is consistent with the Mazda brand’s overall strategy to ensure and sustain the growth of the business both locally and in the region. As managing director, Macasadia will focus on sustaining the growth of the Mazda brand in the Philippines.”

Oh, well, congratulations again and more power to you, Dave.

Of Dave, Ray Butch “Elvis” Gamboa, said, “Si Dave, kasangga natin all the way. Isang bituka lang tayo niyan, Sir Paul. And you know what? Dave has the best rendition of ‘My Way’ this side of the globe.”

That, I’d like to hear.

THE success of Iron Man at the tills prompted many a viewer to recall images of the blindingly fast Audi R8 sports car driven by protagonist Tony Stark. Inspired by this—and the rapid worldwide success of the car before its film cameo—PGA Cars will soon bring the R8 to local shores.    

BRAKE pads are often one of the most underestimated vehicle parts, as they are normally purchased at a shop, installed quickly, driven and forgotten. But when it comes to aftermarket pads, they present a bit of a challenge because they require a lot of bedding-in time and higher operating temperatures.

Isuzu continues to dominate Q1 truck, pickup sales

ISUZU Philippines Corp. (IPC) was still the leader in trucks and pickup sales during the first quarter of the year, according to official reports released by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA).

Eyes on the Road: Come to think of it…

TRAFFIC conditions in Metro Manila are really getting worse these days. And schools have not opened yet.

When they do, crawling traffic could possibly come to a virtual stop. Many have been asking if the government, predominantly led by the MMDA, is really keen on solving the horrendous traffic situation in the metropolis.

Full Tank: Safety first, aesthetics second

TODAY, the car world’s accent is on the three main ingredients of a car’s safety features: Seat belts, air bags and head injury protection.