MDPPA offers road-safety tips this holiday season

The Christmas season is already here: Filipino shoppers are hopping from mall to mall, scouting for gifts, filling restaurants, and congesting roads. These activities, however, increase the probability of road accidents.

This Christmas, prevent misfortune from spoiling your holidays with these tips from the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association Inc. (MDPPA), the Philippines’ premier motorcycle manufacturers association:

1. Focus on driving. Everyone is excited about the holi­days. After all, this is the season of parties, shopping sprees, and Christmas bonuses. But be sure not to let your wandering thoughts cloud your judgment while driving. Devote your full attention toward reaching your destination safely.
2. Stay healthy. Not even the best motorcycle available in the market can spare a motorist from a fatal heart attack or stroke. One should always keep his or her health in check. Some health conditions pose side effects, which can impair the driver’s vision and sense of road awareness.
3. Don’t drink and drive. Having a little too much to drink can lead to numbed senses—particularly blurry vision—and slower reaction times. And even if you’re not drunk, you still have to be on your guard: Be wary of recklessly drunk pedes­trians, too!
4. Maintenance. Major motorcycle modifications are discouraged, since these can lead to unpredictable motorcy­cle performance. Riders are advised to change oil and filter regularly, as specified in the owner’s manual. Daily visual inspection should include leaks, tire condition, brakes, pedal/lever plays, and signaling and head light devices, since the latter serve as safety devices to help the rider be seen and see other motorists or pedestrians. One should be wary of any form of electrical malfunctioning, too.
5. Adapt to the weather. What should riders do when it starts raining? They should note that the road is slickest when it starts raining, as the layer of dust and oil on the road surface is not yet washed out.
6. Road rage. Avoid road rage at all costs: this can lead to direct and indirect motor accidents. Reckless driving, lack of focus, and even the tendency to pick fights are just some of the severe effects of extreme anger.
7. Plan your travels. Not only it will save you time, effort, and fuel, it will also help relieve traffic congestion and reduce carbon emission from driving.

Don’t let road accidents turn Christmas celebrations tragic. Follow these tips in staying safe and merry during the holidays! And remember, road safety should be exercised everyday and not only during the Christmas season.