Mental Gymnastics

Solving Manila's Traffic

Surviving Metro Manila traffic is an everyday challenge for whoever's crazy enough to traverse it. There are pot holes, vendors, defunct traffic lights, pedestrians and worse, Public Utility Vehicles or PUVs, all crammed up in the narrow, old streets of Manila. I never realized how awful it can really get out there until I began commuting to work.

Testimonials from my driving friends, or simply the rants and ravings that they mutter while driving made me conclude that PUVs are not only an eye sore, but are major traffic deterrents as well. Sure, it's not easy to do away with them since 90% of the Metro's residents (including me) don't have their own cars. But their lack of road discipline, especially with the loading and unloading of passengers, are such a menace to other cars on the road, that it's often the cause of bottlenecks and accidents. And because of the apparent disarray that they project in their driving skills and habits, a Metro Manila driver would then have to adapt to his fellow driver's ways in order to survive.

So as we endure the daily hassles of city driving, why not do something about it? Since drivers play a major role in this, my sister conjured the idea of educating the PUV drivers since they obviously are not aware of the mess that they make. I toyed around with it and ended up with a proposal (an after-effect of my marketing days).

Project Name: PUV Refresher's Class
Objectives:

- To educate PUV drivers in proper driving and road etiquette.
- To help PUV drivers understand their role on the street & the significance of their livelihood
- To identify the people that affects their livelihood (ex. MMDA, commuters, police and traffic aides, LTO, colorums, etc.)
- To review basic driving skills & to understand road courtesy
- To gain feedback from PUV drivers on their concerns & views on driving the streets of Metro Manila

Target Market: C/D

Mechanics:

1. Find classrooms. Consider public schools.
2. Schedule several dates for the class. It can be a quarterly event.
3. Consider enlistment via phone to control the number of students.
4. Get volunteer instructors (from driving schools, volunteer groups, NGOs etc.).
5. Develop a lesson plan, AV materials, exam, feedback forms, etc. that will be used by all instructors for consistency.
6. Coordinate with PUV groups/ associations, local government to encourage drivers to enlist. Transport companies may consider this as part of their employee training.
7. Media promotion.

Suggested Sponsors:

1. Oil & Gas companies
2. Automotive & car accessory dealers
3. Fastfood
4. Driving/ Technical schools
5. F&B companies
6. MMDA, DOT, LTO & other related government agencies
7. Car repair shops & service stations.

posted by kquill @ 12:52 PM