Road safety and motorcycles

Jerome G. Neri
The Scrutineer

THE motorcycle is now staking its claim as heir to the title of “King of the Road.” As the motorcycle population has grown exponentially with the influx of cheap units and easy-to-own payment plans, these two-wheeled vehicles are becoming a menace on the streets.

At the stoplight, these motorcycles go to the front, and when the light turns green, they go and occupy the whole road. As a result, there is a motorcycle on every lane, holding up traffic.

With these motorcycles on city streets, defensive driving has been taken to a whole new level.

When making a right turn, it is imperative to be ultra careful and make sure that there is no motorcycle coming from your right side, as there are quite a number of motorcyclists who love to overtake on the right side.

When making a left turn and a car stops to give way, one too has to be extra careful as a motorcycle will just dart out from the right side of the car that is giving way.

When driving along the Transcentral Highway, there will always be a motorcycle taking a blind curve in the wrong lane.

Almost every day I see a motorcycle accident on the road.

Yes there is an effort coming from the big motorcycle companies such as Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki to promote road safety. They hold seminars and clinics on motorcycle use. But this is not enough as there are many other smaller motorcycle companies that do not have such programs, not to mention the used motorcycle market.

It is high time that our local government does something. We are at a point where an active road safety campaign should be part of our local government’s program.

DRIVE AGAINST NOISE. Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias is proposing an anti-muffler modification ordinance. According to the honorable councilor, “There is a need to revisit City Ordinance No. 465 to make it more attuned to the advances in technology and contemporary practices of motorists, and to be more specific with limitations on changes, alterations or modifications that may be made on exhaust pipes of motor vehicles.”

While his intentions are very good and ought to be supported, his approach, I believe, is wrong. He seeks to penalize the “use or operation of any motor vehicle so modified or with removed muffler as to cause loud and unnecessary or unreasonable noise, including the noise resulting from exhaust, which is clearly audible from nearby properties and unreasonably disturbing to the quiet, comfort, or repose of other persons.”

Section 3 (2) of the proposed measure also prohibits the use or operation of “any motor vehicle that emits noise higher than 84 decibels even if not modified.”

I believe that the title of the ordinance should be changed because the word modification is such a big word. In my opinion he should title the ordinance as an “anti-noisy exhaust ordinance.”

Modification is such a big word. Anything other than OEM can be considered modified. When the mufflers are worn out, most motorists change them with replacement mufflers as they are cheaper. There are noisy ones and there are quiet ones. What we do not want are the noisy ones. The motorist must have the freedom to choose his exhaust system as long as it is not a public nuisance.

The ordinance sets a standard at 84 decibels. When a noise standard is measured there should always be the corresponding distance from the source of the noise. For example it should be 84 decibels at 100 ft. distance. The distance is necessary because the closer you are to the source the louder, and the farther, the quieter.

A public hearing should be made. Cebu has over 20 car clubs that are willing to help make Cebu better. All the honorable councilor has to do is send an invitation to the Federation of Auto Clubs Cebu and a lot of auto clubs will be very willing to help.

SAFE HOLIDAY DRIVES. To those who are taking long drives to their hometowns for the All Saints Day and All Souls Day holiday, here are some tips for a better and safer drive:

Have your car checked by a qualified and reputable service center. The most important to consider are that the brakes and your suspension/under chassis components are in order. Any failure of those parts is a recipe for an accident.

Replace the damaged parts. Repairing the damage parts are not as reliable as new ones and will actually cost you more in the long run.

Do not bond your brakes. Get a new set of brake pads. If your rotors are warped, replace them. Do not do the cheap fix of re-facing them. Brake rotors have a specified thickness, and re-facing them would bring it out of spec.

If you have not serviced your engine in the last 5000 kilometers, have it serviced.

Before your drive, make sure you do not overload your vehicle. Vehicles are designed to carry up to a certain capacity and stick to that capacity.

Make sure your tires still have life in them and have the proper tire pressures. The proper tire pressure is the one recommended by the manufacturer of the vehicle and is found in the owner’s manual.

PRAYERS. Bohol has one of the best driving roads around. It is sad to see them ruined by the earthquake. My prayers go out to the earthquake victims.