Motoring Today Column

Dec 01, 2021

Our fears were all wrong after all.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) now assures us that undergoing the required comprehensive driver's education program (CDE) shouldn't cost us much beyond the time to learn what is needed to pass a 25-item test to renew our licenses.

Under a new law covering the issuance of driver's licenses, new or renewed, "drivers who will renew their licenses have to study the CDE modules and take and pass a 25-question evaluation test to get their CDE certificate of completion needed for their license renewals."

The LTO said CDE learning materials and evaluation test are available for free at the LTO Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) portal via portal@lto.gov.ph.

If you have good internet access then you're all good to study the CDE and pass the evaluation test. Presumably you can do both from the comforts of home.

The five-hour CDE program of video and slide presentations can also be downloaded from lto.gov.ph, and are given out at all LTO offices nationwide, the LTO added.

And if you don't have access to the internet or the necessary PCs, tablets, or just smartphones, LTO offices also provide face-to-face CDE seminars and exams. Also all for free.

But the LTO also points out that the CDE is "different from the required driver's education module for student drivers and new license applicants, which is longer and has a practical driving portion."

Experienced drivers with adequate knowledge and skills can easily pass the CDE evaluation test, according to LTO chief Edgar C. Galvante.

"But even experienced drivers will benefit from the program, with its information on the best practices to deal with stress and road rage, unsafe and abusive motorists, crisis events like accidents and vehicle malfunctions, and updates on new traffic rules and signages.," Galvante added.

Bike Lane Awards

They are now handing out awards to Local Government Units (LGU) which have gone above and beyond in realizing government's wish to establish bike lanes.

Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic showed how so-called active personal mobility offers relatively safe and affordable, not to mention healthy, transport for the masses, government has been encouraging LGUs to establish bike lanes.

To encourage more LGUs to do this, theDepartment of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) have decided to start a new initiative called the National Bike Lane Awards.

Among the first winners of this pioneering awards are: Iloilo City, gold medal awardee; Pasig City, silver medal awardee, and Quezon City, bronze medal awardee.

The awards were handed out during National Bicycle Day.

For those who aren't yet aware of it, Presidential Proclamation No. 1052, declared every fourth Sunday of November as "National Bicycle Day," to highlight the importance of non-motorized transportation.

Turbocharged Civic

Many may have forgotten the days when Honda cars first arrived in the country and the Civic became the most sought-after sedan.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) is hoping the arrival of the 11th generation Civic would see a return to those days.

The all-new Honda Civic certainly has what it takes to again achieve most- sought-after-compact-sedan status with its clean-cut look, high tech features, and a VTEC turbo engine that is standard on all variants.

All variants of the All New Civic arriving in the country also come standard with Honda Sensing.

Leading the All New Civic charge is the top-of-line RS Turbo CVT Honda SENSING which features black-painted side mirrors, door handles, sharkfin antenna and trunk spoiler, along with chrome-finished dual-exhaust pipes for a sportier look.

4x4 Kia K2500 Arrives

Kia Philippines has upped the ante in the commercial vehicle segment where the K2500 is a player.

The K2500 now comes with a 4x4 variant, a first in segment.

Kia is also making the K2500 available in different body configurations to match virtually all needs of businesses needing commercial vehicles.

These include Double Cab Dropside, Single Cab Dropside, Kargo (a closed van with low ceiling), Karga (a 19-seater airconditioned people carrier), Closed Van, and a Cab & Chassis.

Kia gave motoring media the opportunity to test drive both 4x2 and 4x4 variants of the K2500 in various road conditions to showcase their versatility and reliability.

Waiting On New Ranger

If you are in the market for a new pickup, and are not in hurry to get one, perhaps you'd like to wait for the All New Ranger which should be arriving in markets worldwide by 2022.

Ford has just unveiled the All New Ranger for all to see in a global reveal.

During the event, Graham Pearson, Ranger vehicle program director, said: " Our team was focused on one goal - to make this Ranger the toughest and most capable we've ever created."

"They put it through one of the most exhaustive global testing schedules we've ever developed and would not rest until we were satisfied that it was Built Ford Tough," he added.

The reveal showed three variants: the stylish XLT, the rugged Sport and adventurer Wildtrak.

Local pickup enthusiasts would love to find out that if and when the next generation Ranger arrives, will it have the 3.0-L V6 turbodiesel engine?

Happy Motoring!!!

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