Dec 15 2009
Roger Poh gets worked up about our free-for-all roads
“Anyone who drives in Singapore, even for one day, will inevitably shake his head more in sadness than in frustration at the reckless antics on our roads. One foreign driver was sufficiently peeved to write to the newspaper here. Why, he asked, with such beautiful road infrastructure yet our drivers drive like manics?
Young drivers in their souped-up Subaru, Lancer and Honda turn our expressways and roads into race tracks. They even dare to race along Orchard Road. These people think they’re Formula 1 material, inspired by watching too many episodes of F1 on TV no doubt. They fool themselves really. It’s the alertness and evasive actions that other law-abiding drivers take that enable these hotheads to repeat their craziness on yet another day.
The strange thing about driving is that road hogs seem to hoose the very day when you’re in a hurry. Hugging the outermost lane, and a stubborn refusal to give way to faster vehicles are the mindset of such drivers who think driving at 90 kph give them the right to stick to the lane. Not only do they endanger themselves but other road users as well as frustrated drivers overtake them on the left. It’s both pride and sheer ignorance on display here.
Perhaps, the most annoying thing is rampant queue-jumping. After you have taken the right lane and been in the queue for ten minutes or so, along comes a car that squeezes into the small space in front of you. It’s at this critical moment when you have murderous intentions!
Sadly, reckless, dangerous, rude and inconsiderate driving have become the culture in Singapore. This is largely due to the lack of effective enforcement of traffic rules. In my view only strict policing and a zero tolerance towards errant driving can eradicate the menace, and make our roads and expressways safe for all road users.
If on any day, I can drive without any aggravation from other drivers I’ll feel blessed. To prevent my blood pressure from escalating, I’ve adopted the strategy of overlooking three instances of atrocious driving before I get worked up.
Singapore drivers can drive you up the wall. It’s a free-for-all on our roads is the inescapable conclusion. Am I alone in feeling this way?”
Roger Poh is a freelance writer, specialising in travel writing. He has been driving for more than 30 years in both Singapore and Malaysia. He travels quite frequently, as a backpacker, for his travel stories. A fitness fanatic, you find him in the gym on most days. A prolific contributor to the local newspapers’ letters page until the advent of blogging. Read his writing at http://footlooseinasia.blogspot.com/ and http://rogerpoh.wordpress.com/
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