THE absence of streetlights at nighttime is being noticed by thousands of commuters these days.

Majority of these streets lights are switched off by around seven or eight in the evening to the detriment of the motorists who often have to brighten their headlights in order to negotiate tricky and unlighted roads.

I understand those street lights are under the administration of the local government. Paying for their electrical consumption is also the basic responsibility of the local government and the rising cost is probably the reason why these streetlights are being switched off at night.

I don’t want to argue with the local government officials concerned but lighting up those streets at night is necessary in maintaining safety in their jurisdiction. Those dark and unlighted streets are dangerous at night and accidents are just waiting to happen.

Many fatal road accidents almost always happen at night. When streets are dark and unlighted, motorists are unable to see any danger ahead.  Thus, having well-lighted streets at night is very important.       

There are many motorists who ignore the traffic lights especially at night. And one of the classic and grim examples of that was the vehicular accident that involved former Sen. Rene Saguisag and his wife Dulce (bless her soul!) on the corner of Arnaiz Avenue and the South Superhighway in Makati City. Reports have it that the dump truck simply whizzed through a red light and slammed into the crossing van that bore the senator and three companions. 

I have driven through that corner many times in the past and still do so up to now.  If you are a faint-hearted driver, you wouldn’t want to be in the company of those heavy trucks and trailers that thunder down the lane and steamroll toward Manila or Makati.

At night, those heavy trucks and trailers shoot out of the Slex toll area at 80 to 100 kph and continue to accelerate as they negotiate the long, unlighted stretch of road that opens up to the Manila and Pasay areas.

Yes, sometimes they have lights at night but they are switched off before 10 or 11 p.m., which makes it even more dangerous for vehicles crossing the area. With the Skyway above, it’s like entering a dark tunnel.

I think this particular issue on streetlights must be given priority by our government road managers so we can all have truly safe and navigable roads.

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I AM no know-it-all driver, which is why I still hone my driving techniques every now and then, especially if I have the time and the means.

One opportunity came last week when Mercedes-Benz invited mediamen to its “C-For Yourself Driving Experience,” an exciting eight-day program involving the new and elegant C-Class at the Diosdado Macapagal Tarmac Civil Aviation Complex in Clark, Pampanga.

No, we didn’t attend the whole eights days of the event but we were given a half-day slot on November 8. I surely didn’t pass up on the opportunity since the instructors were from the Mercedes-Benz’s Active Safety School in Germany led by chief instructor Wim Daems (yes, he was also our chief instructor when we test-drove the incredible C-Guard here in Manila several months ago). This time, Wim was with Sven Schroder, Jochen Hees and Florian Franz—all incredible performance drivers back in Europe.

12 C-Class Mercedes-Benzes were prepared for the three major exercises that were devised for the event—the slalom, emergency braking on a slippery surface and simulated lane change.

“We are proud to bring this C-For Yourself Driving event to the Philippines in order for our valuable customers to experience the prowess of the new C-Class. We believe that this will reinforce the new C-Class with the introduction of the new safety features like early accident response, occupant protection systems and driving ergonomics as the new benchmark of dynamic performance, design, comfort and superior safety in its segment,” said CATS Motor Inc. president Felix Ang, who sponsored the event.

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THERE’S one Filipina at the top hierarchy of the Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. in Japan who is making us proud.

Her name is Gina Pasco, who is the senior manager of the General Overseas Market Public Relations Communications CSR Department under the Nissan Global Communications and CSR Division.

Gina was so attentive to the needs of all the Filipino motoring journalists, who went to the 40th Tokyo Motor Show (aside from our kabise, Raymund Tribdino-san of the Nissan motor Philippines Inc.) and was one of the very busy bodies from the Nissan head office during the our visit to the Nissan Imagination Factory and the Technical Center as well as during the exclusive prelaunch media showing of the all-new GT-R.

THERE’S no stopping Nissan Motor Philippines Inc. (NMPI) in its quest to give the best to its clients as it re-established its presence in the high-end van segment and inaugurated its newly refurbished dealership in the south.

DO you know that the body of the first ever Toyota vehicle was made of wood?

Did anybody tell you that the founder of Toyota never thought of becoming a carmaker?

Driving fun-healthy Earth

OF all the automobile manufacturers who participated in the 40th Tokyo Motor Show at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, Honda Motors Corp. can be said to be the epitome of mobility design.

Eyes on the Road: Beware of the unlighted streets of Metro Manila

THE absence of streetlights at nighttime is being noticed by thousands of commuters these days.

Majority of these streets lights are switched off by around seven or eight in the evening to the detriment of the motorists who often have to brighten their headlights in order to negotiate tricky and unlighted roads.

Full Tank: Speaking of spa

NO play and all work make the mind dull.

I guess everybody believes that or God doesn’t make rainbows and rainy days anymore.

CintillatingCivilized aggression

THE Mercedes-Benz C-Class has always positioned itself as direct competition to the BMW 3-Series or 3er, the Audi A4 and the Volvo S40. Its combination of civility and controlled aggression has always put itself on a par or even better than the aforementioned vehicles.

BusinessMirror takes close second in Honda Media Challenge

THE 2007 edition of the Honda Media Challenge got off to a fiery start with a new autokhana format, which combined the autocross and gymkhana disciplines, requiring both speed and precision driving from media participants, last weekend at the FTI Complex in Taguig City.

Promoting the after-market industry

THE growth of the motoring industry has already given birth to a lot of business opportunities in the local market, and one of these is the so-called after-market parts.