Bad news travels fast in the automotive industry and by now everyone in the trade should know that the Honda Safety Driving Center will be closing on April Fools Day.

The word we got is that the HSDC will be dissolved and its functions absorbed by Honda Philippines, Inc. on April 1, 2010.

Its employees will be terminated while the facilities will be operated and run by the HPI Marketing Division.

We have a number of friends at the HSDC and we're hoping that some of them may be absorbed by HPI.

It was said that the reason behind the dissolution of HSDC was that it failed to generate sufficient tuition fees and donations from Honda companies to cover its expenses.

This is sad news, especially for those who believe that HSDC was doing a yeoman's job at advocating and promoting road safety.

Early on, the perception was that HSDC would be run like a foundation to promote road safety with support mainly coming from Honda Asia.

The main purpose was to teach people the safe and proper way to drive cars and other four-wheel vehicles and to ride motorcycles.

The HSDC had all the facilities and personnel needed: professionally trained driving instructors, a road course that simulated real-world driving conditions complete with traffic signals and signs.

The HSDC was promoted as a place where owners of other brands of vehicles and motorcycles can go and learn to become safe drivers and riders.

In its short two-year lifespan, the HSDC was also active in seeking out partners in the private and government sectors to promote road safety, something we all know is really needed to make our streets less dangerous and to bring down the number of deaths and injuries from road accidents.

We aren't sure what will happen after the HPI Marketing Division takes over. Will it continue as a driving school or will it just be part of HPI's efforts to sell motorcycles?

We still like to believe Honda is all about safety and new technology. And it may be all about the bad economy.