Like it or not, many of the current trends in the Philippines – from music and fashion to food – have been influenced by South Korea; that’s hallyu at work for you. But surprisingly, one practice still hasn’t caught on, and that’s having fire extinguishers on cars.
Most mass-market cars in our country are not required to include fire extinguishers as standard equipment
See, the East Asian country requires all vehicles since 2018 to carry at least one portable fire extinguisher that can fit inside the car’s glove box, ideally within arm’s reach of the driver. This was apart from the existing law that mandates fire extinguishers for vehicles that have more than seven seats.
Here in the Philippines, we typically associate fire extinguishers with households or commercial establishments. Cars, however, are a different story. Many motorists are even likely averse to anything that might suggest a flaw with their brand-new ride. Having a fire extinguisher on board, for instance, might give the impression that a car is prone to spontaneously bursting into flames.
You'll never know when a situation will call for it
Truth be told, it’s not a healthy assumption to cultivate. That’s like saying the reason that cars come with tools is because they're expected to constantly need fixing, which isn’t necessarily true. Remember that however impressive your car is, it’s still composed of volatile substances and flammable materials. There’s gasoline or diesel fuel that needs to be burned for combustion, the electrical system that powers the car’s electronics, even the very fabric that keeps you comfortable on long drives.
They’re all intended of course to help the car perform as designed, but all it takes to spark disaster (pun not intended) is an ill-timed problem with one or more of those functions. Before you know it, you’ll be witness to your vehicle becoming a burning heap of metal, attracting attention for all the wrong reasons.
This is not how you planned your car to be noticed
It never hurts to be prepared with a contingency such as a fire extinguisher in your car. Even if you won’t get the chance to use it for yourself, it could turn you into a good Samaritan for someone else in need on the road.
Find more tips for beginner car owners at Philkotse.com.