1. Tune up engine regularly. Whether your engine is using gasoline or diesel, you need to tune up your car’s engine regularly. Don’t follow what other car owners do where in they only tune up their car’s engine when they have a long trip. Remember that tuning your car’s engine regularly will help you save money.
2. Don’t run your car’s engine in normal idling speed in a longer time. Warming up your car’s engine could be done in just a short period of time, maybe from 2 minutes to 4 minutes. Then after that just stop the engine while waiting for the time when you will ride the car.
3. Run your car on fuel efficient speed. Most of the fuel efficient speed of the car is in between 75 to 90 KPH. So, make use of this feature except of course if you’re in village, town or cities. But if you’re running in highways, then why not run your car at 75 to 90 KPH?
4. Maintain you car regularly. Follow the regular preventive maintenance program. These actually depends on the car. But most of the cars should be sent to valid mechanics for check up, change oil and other maintenance procedure every 5,000 kilometer run or ever 3 months. Poorly maintained car used up 25% more fuel compared to those well maintained cars.
5. If you’re driving in cities with heavy traffic. Learn how the right timing in your route to avoid being caught up in traffic and prepare for possible alternative route.
6. Keep your car speed at steady. Breaking and speeding up costs more fuel. However, anticipating the stops or when to slow down.
7. Master when to shift higher gear without giving more stress to your car’s engine.
8. Fill fuel tank early morning. A liter of fuel filled in early morning contains more fuel than air compared to filling fuel at noon when the temperature is hot.
9. Keep your fuel cap tight. This is to avoid spilling fuel. When filling the tank, don’t overfill it.
10. Avoid rapid acceleration. Gradual acceleration can save more fuel than rapid acceleration.

I just couldn’t understand why most of the motorcycle riders don’t want to wear helmet when in fact wearing helmet will not only protect the motorcycle riders during fall out but also will help the rider from any disturbance in riding like wind, dust, insects and other objects that might hit you while riding.

Everytime I use my Honda XRM motorcycle, I always bring with me the helmet. Not just bring the helmet with me, I always wear it on my head not on my hands.

Besides, I make sure that the helmet that I bought and that I am using is the one that passed the standard quality. This kind of helmet might be expensive but it’s an assurance that the helmet will really help me during fall out.

I noticed that there are other motorcycle riders who wear substandard helmet just to comply with the requirements set by the law when riding motorcycle but rejecting the thought of saving themselves during accident.

Rolling the highways with this route is quite interesting and exciting, but then I need to prepare lot of things just to make sure my trip will be safe.

(1) Money

Money is one of the important that I should prepare. Remember that every now and then we’ll be using this for:

1. Meals
2. Fuel
3. Hotel
4. other extra expenses

(2) Clothes

I will be spending several days on this trip. I just can’t take the adventure without resting. And in the first place, I need to wait for the schedule of the roro vessels connecting my Leyte ride and Mindanao rides. And with this, I really need to prepare some extra clothes.

(3) Tools, Airpump and Extra Interior Wheel Shell

While rolling the highways, we don’t of course know what will happen to our wheels and other motorcycle parts.. Therefore we need to bring tools, airpump and extra interior.

(5) Philippine Maps

I think, I need to bring a comprehensive Philippine Maps, with Highways and Streets included. Just in case we’ll be lost somewhere, then we can easily find the right road to take.

I was really thinking what’s the cause of it. And got several reasons as listed below:

1. Maybe I am already tired.
2. Maybe because of lack of Oxygen because I am always wearing a closed-type helmet.
3. Maybe I need to take Iron.
4. Maybe I need to take a nap first before driving.
5. Maybe I really need to take energy drinks.
6. Maybe my blood pressure raises again.

I will still observe my body to know what really is the reason. I really need to find remedy for this problem to avoid any accident on the road.

First last Wednesday when I was on my way home from Hinunangan. In Barangay Nahaong, Libagon, Southern Leyte I overrun a dog and I almost lost control of the motorcycle which was running at the speed of 60KPH during the incident. I really thanked God for saving me from that accident.

However, this afternoon, after my transaction at the Land Transportation Officer here in Maasin City I took the road in a hurry which led me to almost hit the coming passenger type Multicab. The driver shouted at me, cursing me. But I didn’t give him attention to avoid problems…

What’s the lesson here?

1. Avoid driving in hurry. You can drive faster but don’t drive fast because you’re in hurry. This is because if you’re in hurry, you’re mind will be filled of those things that made you in hurry and therefore can’t focus on your driving.
2. Before entering the road if you’re off the road, make sure that there’s no vehicle coming from any direction. Give way to those drivers who have the right of way.
3. Be ready on what emergencies you might encounter on the road. Practice defensive driving.

Reminder: Learn to Drive Defensively.

Note: Originally posted at our blog hosted by blogspot.com on April 16, 2007