Here is just a small sample of letters in Singapore on this topics….And the Government is doing very little in arresting this situation despite collecting humongous amount of taxes and revenue from the drivers!!!
Let’s drive with more etiquette
Source: Todayonline 8Jan2014
Jedidiah Tan
I refer to the report, “Grassroots effort aims to ease traffic woes in Tiong Bahru” (Jan 6). I applaud Mr Choa How King and his fellow residents’ effort to create awareness of the ample parking spaces in Tiong Bahru.
Their report and the colour-coding system he produced demonstrate that members of a community can take proactive, measured steps to help solve a community problem. It underscores that the most practical solutions can be those from the ground.
He is not alone in his frustration. My wife and I live in an apartment located beside a coffee shop, an NTUC FairPrice store and convenience shops, all well-frequented by residents, parishioners of a nearby church and staff from the nearby semiconductor plants.
The place is well-serviced by a multi-storey car park and others within a five-minute walk. Yet, the loading/unloading bay beside the coffee shop is almost always double- and triple-parked, making it difficult for delivery drivers to unload goods.
Late into the night, we sometimes have to bear with the blaring of a car horn by a frustrated driver trying to exit. We have also witnessed people arguing because of this.
I am often bemused that Singaporeans can fare so poorly in civic consciousness. If the level of civic consciousness is a measure of how educated a country’s citizens are, how would we fare just by the way we drive or use the roads?
How many of us have experienced tailgaters, road hoggers, cars speeding up when one has signalled an intention to switch lanes or the difficulty of having to snake around a car parked indiscriminately?
Recently, there were complaints about the Marina Coastal Expressway. Having used it without a hitch, I wonder if the congestion problems are caused solely by infrastructure issues or a lack of awareness of road etiquette.
By that, I am also referring to the need to plan one’s route in advance. Having travelled extensively, I am proud that Singapore’s road system is well-planned. How well a road system serves its purpose also depends on how it is used or abused.
Singaporeans must improve their road etiquette. For a start, we should learn to give way when someone is trying to switch lanes and has given ample indication. We lose far less from a few seconds of delay than a crash caused by not giving way.
“Not enough done to check bad road habits
The Sunday Times, 5 Jun 2011
“the driving experience has deteriorated dramatically…. driving on the roads here has now become downright dangerous.”
“People have become bolder about such behaviour, likely because the police sometimes do nothing about it.”
” It is becoming more frustrating and dangerous to drive here. This could be solved if the Police would take action, and citixens stop putting up with this type of behaviour.”
– Jesses Wong
Reckless deck riders
Source: The Straits Times 4 Feb 2012
‘We are sending the wrong message if the police continue to adopt a lax attitude.’
MRS JENNY SIM: ‘It is puzzling that the motorcyclist who rode his motorcycle in the void deck was only issued a summons for illegal parking (‘Police should punish such reckless habits’ by Mr John Huntley; Wednesday). We are sending the wrong message to such reckless motorcyclists if the police continue to adopt a lax attitude towards these law-breakers. Do we have to live in continual fear of the safety of our loved ones?’
Drop in driving standards becoming a troubling norm
I refer to the report “Traffic Police maintain stance on licence regime” (June 1). Firstly, as a Singaporean, I am not persuaded by the argument by others that errant drivers here tend to be foreigners with a converted licence.
We should not go on a witch-hunt in light of the evidence of deteriorating driving behaviour even among Singapore citizens.
Let us not be the pot calling the kettle black.
As it is, I regularly see drivers beating the red light, not signalling when changing lanes, tailgating on the expressway while flashing the high beam, speeding past speed cameras that do not seem to be activated and racing at night.
There is now rarely a day of driving that I do not feel like I am entering a battlefield.
This is wrong but it is becoming a norm because if people think they would not be caught, they would continue to drive in these ways.
Such disorderliness is troubling and a threat to others. This is not the Singapore I knew.
Worsening driving habits?
It was a short Facebook post about three road encounters that he and his wife had had yesterday. But within four hours, Law Minister K Shanmugam’s post had drawn more than 100 lively comments, which overwhelmingly agreed with his observation about an “increased amount of unsafe driving on our roads”.
In one incident, Mr Shanmugam’s wife, who was driving, wanted to change lanes and signalled, but a van behind sped up so they could not do so. “I wonder if it is the case that we are simply noticing this more, or if our driving habits have become worse,” he mused.
That provoked a litany of gripes from netizens – about drivers tailgating, not signalling early when filtering, using high-beam headlights, not giving way to pedestrians or cyclists, poor standards of driving instructors and more.
A number observed that there seemed to be fewer enforcement patrols on the roads and called for these to be stepped up. Others asked for heavy penalties for errant drivers or a review of speed limits for goods vehicles.
Responding to some of the comments, Mr Shanmugam noted that, contrary to belief that ministers have official drivers, they actually drive their own cars. As to those who suggested foreign drivers could be at fault, he said he was “pretty sure” that, in two of his three encounters, the drivers were local.
Bad driving habits common to all
I read with interest the suggestion on how “Taxis could set the example of good driving habits” (Sept 21), which sounded valid at first glance. In toto, though, the impression given is that bad driving habits are exclusive to taxi drivers.
One need only be stationed for 30 minutes at a busy road or intersection, and one would be amazed at the number of motorists guilty of not signalling, tailgating and horn abuse, not forgetting using their mobile phones.
Despite all the public education campaigns, bad habits prevail.
The only solution is for the authorities to book errant drivers, including cabbies, as well as impose higher fines and, especially, demerit points.
Incidentally, as cabbies drive for a living, why would any in their right mind intentionally flout traffic laws?
Indeed, some have bad driving habits, but no one can say with integrity that other motorists do not.
Ungracious – on and off the road
Source: The Sunday Times Jun 12, 2011
“Motorist do not give way, most do not bother to signal, and tailgating is almost the norm of the road”
“I am loath to seek stricter controls but it’s high time the traffic police exerted their presence and muscle on those who flout traffic rules.”
– Clarie Chong (Mrs)
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