Driving – Page 4 – Marcus Can Blog

How To Jaywalk and Survive

I’ve been running a tight schedule these past few weeks and I’m out of ideas except for this topic. Today, I’ll be an advocate of those who continue to choose to walk on the dangerous side as truth to be told, at some point I myself hated to go to the designated crosswalks just because it is more convenient, it is faster and it is the macho thing to jaywalk at certain times. Others I’m sure have there own excuses why they defeat the law but whatever that is I will now try to help them cross the other side in one piece. So how do you jaywalk and yet survive? Here’s my top 5 list:

1. Remember stop, look,and listen? Yes, that old kindergarten song will help you keep your life and limbs as you try to reach that other side of the road. In cases when you’re in a why-did-the-chicken-cross-the-road situation, for Pete’s sake, at least have that presence of mind: stop, look,and listen. Please.

2. Eye contact! Based on experience and observation, and as complemented by the book Traffic, an eye contact with the driver of an approaching vehicle works most of the time. This relays to the person inside the car some sort of mutual message that you know what you’re about to do and that you’re no road-kill material.

3. Grab a baby. I for one will brake to let anyone cuddling a baby cross safely and I’ve seen majority of drivers do the same thing (isn’t it comforting to know that there’s still kindness among most of us). By the way, make sure it is your own baby. Ok?

4. Be old. Our country is among many others that don’t have seniors-friendly facilities, such as escalators, that would encourage the elderly to take the safer option yet thankfully majority of motorists take precaution whenever they see someone old inching their way across. Case in point is my father who cannot use those long flight of stairs of the overpass leading to his favorite place. He’s been hanging out in this mall almost whole year round so I know that considerate drivers have slowed down for him as he makes his way to the ‘big R.’

5. Smile..and wear shorts. Wear shorts…and smile. Smile…and wear shorts. Wear shorts…and smile. (I think I’ve made this one clear enough.)

***

Mood: 2/10 Honks! (Lego kid still sleeping.)

Blindness Falls

Darkness is the absence of light…and blindness is the presence of a oncoming vehicle on high beam.

***

The long wait for the part has come to an end. More than a month after my low beam conked out because of a faulty headlight switch, I got the call from my Honda service advisor informing me about the replacement part’s availability. And with this, the people whom I usually meet while on their way back home from a tiring work day will now be so grateful not to have another blinding encounter. To the tired engineers driving their cars, factory workers riding their underbones, Tagaytay-bound party goers, jeepney drivers, tricycle backseat passengers, village security guards, toll booth workers, and others — pedestrians, street dogs, and stray cats included — whom I have blinded, my sincerest apology. I had no choice but to drive on full high beam. Contact a Honda engineer for more explanation why its part no. 35255-S5A-A12 failed before its fifth year.

***

If it’s any consolation, I saw the light — my low beam light — again on 12/12/12.

***

Mood: 2/10 Honks! (Guilt-free driving again.)

My Own Share of Driver’s Bad Luck

Drive home this morning was eventful. Firstly, I arrived at the toll area with a truck that has just slammed into the opposite toll gate’s concrete barriers and its driver, who appears drunk or sleepy, still arguing with the authorities as if they’re the ones at fault. Then unknowingly I lined up behind someone who, according to the security guard, picked the wrong exit to enter (have you ever realized that either way, a toll gate is always called an EXIT?) and refuses to move out thus requiring me reverse back to transfer to another gate (I have this habit of not tailgating so I was out real quick) . And as if to share the misfortunes of the others, my headlights conked out while I was waiting my turn to cross an intersection — thankfully, dawn is already breaking that time. Ti abi. Not call center TGIF day.

***

I searched the web and found a good DIY link that could help me save P4,000 in headlight switch replacement — parts and labor. I’ll find out later.

***

Parking Confusion

Isn’t it strange that objects in the mirror are closer than they appear but they are actually farther when seen through the rear window?

***

I am done reading Tom Vanderbilt’s Traffic (How We Drive) and I have already drafted a book review which I wrote on my Starbucks 2012 planner (Finally, it has been used, however, late).

***

Mood: 3/10 (Noontime. Tipsy. Experimenting with blog post format.)

Goodyear Duraplus offers quieter ride

It’s no Goodyear but I know Marcus would love to see Guido live in action.

Concrete, asphalt, potholed, slippery, and a combination of these road conditions had me nothing but praises for my car’s new tires. Other than the confidence of having deep-treaded tires during this rainy season, I am starting to get the impression that Goodyear Duraplus tire offers quieter ride compared to my old Bridgestone tires.

I got our car out of the dealer’s shop with Bridgestone 185/80R13 as its stock tires and just days after that I began accepting that what I’ve heard and read about the Honda City 2008 model are true – that road noise penetrating the interior is one of its design flaws. I never knew though that friends and people in the forums could be wrong. Now it seems clear that it is not the car’s design that is the culprit but rather the factory installed tires. And why do I think so?

You will know that my car remains almost stock until now, no modification whatsoever except for the DIYed front speakers upgrade. Budget has stopped me from soundproofing by using sound deadeners
that most car enthusiasts would recommend for a quieter ride. Of course I have read about replacing (or experimenting with) tires as a solution to road noise but I’ve been skeptic about it because I have this notion that any tire would emit the same level of road noise anyway. Well, I was wrong. I recently learned that one of the cheapest Goodyear 175/70R13 size in the market is capable of lessening road noise to a noticeable level even if a quieter ride isn’t among those benefits explicitly stated on Goodyear’s website.

So now that I am free of that rumbling sound that I’ve gotten used to in the past four years, I can now put to good use my sense of hearing while driving. I can now focus more on incoming traffic, identify the sound of motorcycles approaching my blind spots, and hear pedestrians rushing to cross the road. Similarly, I will now be less distracted when I have people inside the car talking such as one little boy blabbering about almost every- thing that comes to mind while he is in the backseat. And yes, when all alone, I may now fully enjoy any music from the car stereo and sing along with it in the process. Well, there are annoying sounds that are even a good car tire just can’t handle. Ti abi.

***

Mood: 3/10 Honks! (Hot Saturday morning!)

Tire(d) talk

It’s rainy season again here in the Philippines and for people especially those who drive cars (or any other form of wheeled transportation) this means being more aware of another hazard – slippery roads. On top of staying on alert during rainy season drive, it is also imperative that drivers keep a well-maintained vehicle and give extra attention to the tires which greatly affect critical driving factors such as maneuverability and braking distance. And so yesterday, I did just that and had my 4-year old tires replaced, all four of them — courtesy of the red plastic armless bandit.

***

There are 3 quick ways to determine when a tire needs replacement:

Tire gauge. Reputable car service shops has this measuring tool so leave it to them unless you want to pick one for personal use (though I have yet to see one being sold in stores like Ace Hardware).

Penny test. Howstuffworks.com offers a guide on how to do this using an American penny but do not worry if you don’t have one as Goodyear Servitek leaflets suggest using a 5-peso coin as an alternative so it should work just fine.

Tire wear indicators. Most automotive tires have tire wear bands that be- come obvious when the tire is about to be replaced. One can go for the quick visual check or the tire mark test but either way will tell if it is time to head to the nearest Goodyear Servitek tire shop.

***

The last time I was in a tire shop was more than five years ago and I noticed yesterday that technology continues to make a car mechanic’s life easier. Tire alignment is now wireless, thanks to high-tech cameras and software, any trained (take note) mechanic can now perform camber and toe diagnosis and alignment in a jiffy.

The funny thing however with my recent Goodyear Servitek experience is that I have proven once again that technology alone isn’t an assurance of a satisfying work. I can tell all about it but then again this tire talk is already tiring enough. Anyway, to make a long story short, while technology has made the car mechanic’s life easier, irate customers remain a big challenge. Hmm. Can anyone from MIT solve this? I can be your guinea pig.

Drive safely folks!

***

Mood: 2/10 Honks! (In the next few days, I’ll be availing five free Starbucks frappucinos .)

How to lessen trips to the gas station

If only Krispy Kreme-fueled cars exist then a price hike won’t be such a burden.

Latest news has it that the possibility of a P60/liter unleaded gas price is high and we all know this is not good news. Not everyone knows, however, that there are more ways than one to beat this almost unstoppable fuel price hike. For example, parking the car longer than before – that is, use it less by carpooling or taking public transportation. Switching to more fuel-efficient cars such as newer models or the more expensive hybrids is also an option that other lucky individuals might have. Or lastly, and the most practical, is becoming more aware of things most of us used to ignore yet could actually affect how one can make fewer trips to the gas station. To achieve this last alternative, I now offer my top 5 tips to beat the fuel price hike:

The lesser pullback, the better. Whether one comes from a full stop or shifting gears from second to third, that feeling of being pulled back to the car seat during acceleration is a sign that the car (and driver) is exerting too much effort which translates to inefficient use of fuel. To avoid this, keep in mind the simple tip I’ve read years ago: imagine an egg is underneath the gas pedal – step on it as light possible as a centimeter-deep (or even less) depression of the gas pedal is already enough to pump gas necessary to keep the car rolling. Always remember that in daily commute, pedal to the metal isn’t the way to go.

Don’t get squeezed. The exact opposite of acceleration is deceleration but the effect is somehow similar which is demonstrated during braking. Any driver has likely experienced that feeling of being squeezed by the seatbelt (assuming he wears one) after applying the brake hard. Hard stoppage means “aborted” use of fuel and this is because gas that was pumped into the engine’s cylinder is supposed to make the car travel at a particular distance and by braking hard the dispensed fuel’s purpose is suppressed and wasted–unless the car has KERS or Kinetic Energy Recovery System such as one that is used by Formula 1 cars and hybrid automobiles.

Avoid leaning hard sideways. Drivers executing a turn or maneuvering curved roads use a combination of the brake and gas pedal to control the car so both tip numbers 1 and 2 above apply in this scenario. In curved roads, the driver will experience countering centripetal force by leaning sideways at an apex. The harder one leans to one side, the likelihood of fuel wastage is high. To achieve a smoother drive, anticipating the curve is important as well as knowing when to brake and to accelerate. In normal condition, brake (as gently as possible) before entry to the curve (and/or switch to lower gear for better traction during the turn) and then accelerate upon exit.

Gravity is your friend (and foe). Navigating through a downhill is an opportunity to save gas as this is when it is less stressful to the engine. Be aware, however, that turning the engine off (or even coasting) is a big no- no – for most cars, a turned off engine means zero vacuum which in turn disables the brake master and power steering. Go figure. Going up is of course more demanding to the car’s power source and it would be helpful if its load is lessened. If possible, turn the air conditioner off when driving uphill.

Too cold isn’t cool. Speaking of air conditioners, one should use this wisely and sparingly when driving. A car that is too cold uses more fuel than it is supposed to be and that is why thermostats control knobs are there20 – lower the temperature whenever possible. One should also read their car owner’s manual to learn how the fan vents settings work to optimize the temperature inside the car especially if only the driver is inside.

The tips I have listed here, by the way, are with the assumption that the car is in good condition and keep in mind never to compromise safety over savings: ensure that car is maintained regularly, brake hard if needed, and follow the speed limits all the time. Drive safely everyone!

***

Mood: 6/10 Honks! (Writing to relieve the 2nd week of anxiety. Wifey still not well.)

Nearing Honda hybrid consumption

I read this news about a woman in California winning a case against the manufacturer of Honda Hybrid after her Japanese hybrid vehicle failed to meet the expected gas consumption of 21 kilometers per liter (50 mpg). According to the news Heather Peters received more than USD9,000 from Honda or around 400,000 in Philippine peso which is enough to buy a used Honda City like what I am currently using.

This article is so timely as I have just finished computing my January consumption and believe or not, our Honda City 2008 achieved the highest gas mileage I have ever recorded since I started the conscious effort to take note of my gas expenses and driving habits25. The first two months after August, I was able to prove that I am among the average Honda City owners who is at the 13 km/liter range but sooner or later I began getting favorable gas consumption. In October I reached 17 km/liter.

December 2011 and January 2012 data, however, are more encouraging. Despite the Christmas holiday traffic, my less aggressive driving style resulted to 18 km/liter — more distance covered with lesser trip to the gas station — which is just 3 kilometers short of the disputed Honda Hybrid figures. Yes, I know, the 50 mpg promised by Honda is for city driving which “if true” is about double of what non-hybrid cars (like mine) can achieve but apparently since there is a winner in this case against Honda, it just shows that there is still some sort of flaw in this expensive vehicle’s system (unless Honda got some incompetent lawyers like those in CJ Corona trial. Oppps, different topic. Sorry, cant’ help it).

And so with this latest milestone, I now face the challenge of breaking the new kilometer per liter record and perhaps prompt more Honda Hybrid owners to file more complaints once they read that another guy with a lowly Honda City somewhere in the Philippines comes close to the gas consumption they’re supposed to have with their brand new Honda Hybrid.

***

Trivia: In Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, one will spot a Honda City 2008 car swerving while Ethan Hunt gives change in the midst of a sand storm. This is just a few of the interesting scenes in this movie. Yes, just a few. Disappointing film.

***

Mood: 3/10 Honks! (Wifey and kiddo left me. They’ll be back. Hahaha.)

RockEd’s DJ Joint Session

Is it possible for a radio show intended to basically talk about nothing to end up being interesting? And more so, is it possible to cram six or more DJ’s coming from different stations in one booth at the same time? The answer is a big yes.

The show was conceptualized by one of the tweeps I follow, @gangbadoy, who herself is a DJ from NU107. Gang is one the most active tweeps who became one of the most recognizable aliases on Twitter during the typhoon Ondoy days. Since then, I’ve seen her become outspoken in politics and more especially after the infamous Ampatuan massacre in Maguindano (although I don’t necessarily agree with some of her opinions). The ruthless killing which included a number of press people became the inspiration for this year’s Rock The Riles (RTR) which also happens to be one of the projects by this very passionate DJ.

I don’t know when RTR actually started, but I was awed by the idea of holding a rock concert in different MRT stations and to think it got an approval considering the schedule was set during the peak hour of its operation. What made it even better and appropriate to this year’s theme of demanding for justice for those press people slain in the massacre is that @gangbadoy was able to get support from DJ’s from other radio stations to host in separate train stations. This I assume was when another light bulb moment came to Gang’s mind: get all those DJ’s who participated to have a joint session at NU107′s booth with an interesting agenda – talk about nothing.

Today is that day and I was so anxious of getting out of class, not that I hate it, just so I can fill my curiosity of what it’s like to have one radio show with different DJ’s at one time. Well, luck must be on my side, when 30 minutes before my alarm sets off to listen to the said show our professor concluded our session ahead of schedule.

I soon heard while starting to drive back home that RockEd’s joint session is indeed all-star cast. As I manage my way out of EDSA’s traffic coming from Rockwell, voices of personalities like Gang, CJ (89.9), Suzie (89.9), Jiggy Cruz (nephew of Noynoy), and KC Montero (MTV) fills void in the car. To my surprise and delight, I also heard the voice of the very opinionated and talkative DJ Mo Twister of the Good Times Show (89.9) fame. Mo expectedly dominated the discussions and was as articulate as if he was in his own 6-9 morning show. Just as planned the show was indeed all about nothing—i.e., anything goes. The topics ranged from the genitals, DJ’s vs. DJ’s confrontations, product endorsement wishlist, presidential candidate choices, ABS-CBN vs. GMA7, failed celebrity interviews and so on and so forth. It’s a shame I got home early and had to get out of the car with the show’s remaining 30 minutes. I’d say this is the most awesome radio show I’ve listened to, and I really wish for an encore. Good job Gang and team.

***

Mood: 2/10 Honks (One of those times I’d wish I got stuck in traffic.)