Levity in Tough Times

Engineers giving technical presentations about vehicle safety rank low on entertainment value, but a Honda executive does his best to keep the crowd smiling during a “Green Safety” panel session at the recent SAE World Congress in Detroit.

Tomiji Sugimoto, executive chief engineer of Honda R&D, covers the bases with brief mentions of the auto maker's innovative ACE body structure and its role in making compact cars more crash-compatible with larger vehicles.

But he also spices up his presentation with stellar photography of road ragers flashing finger signs at fellow drivers, followed by a philosophical discussion about personal responsibility, carelessness and a “me first” attitude that takes the fun out of driving.

The best photo shows a tabby cat behind the wheel, taking its eyes off the road, much like the reckless driving cat Toonces, of “Saturday Night Live” fame.

It's important for drivers to be in the right frame of mind, Sugimoto says.

“I think a good example was the decision to hold the World Congress in April, instead of February,” he says. “We have all been in a better state of mind as a result.”