Inconsiderate Drivers of the Week: Episode 10
(Photo Credit: Roads.sg)
It's time for another round up of Inconsiderate Drivers of the Week. In this week's episode, we feature several drivers who can't seem to keep a lookout for other vehicles and pedestrians.
In this weekly feature, we'll be taking a look at drivers who were caught on camera for their inconsiderate and reckless driving. These drivers exhibit poor driving etiquette, and we hope you never emulate their behaviour on the roads.
1) Nissan Qashqai Makes a U-Turn from the Left Lane, Causes Car to Jam-Brake and Hit the Nissan Lightly
This video shows a red Nissan Qashqai stationery on the left lane, with its hazard lights on. As the camera owner approaches on the right lane at considerable speed, the Nissan moved and proceeded to do a U-turn from the left lane, cutting into the right lane. This caused the camera owner to jam-brake, throwing everything in the car forward.
The camera owner proceeded to horn the Nissan driver and the driver stopped. Unfortunately, the camera owner couldn't stop in time and appeared to knock the right side of the Nissan lightly. The Nissan driver seemed apologetic, raising their hand at the camera owner and reversing the car.
Now, while the Nissan driver is the instigator of the incident, the camera owner was driving at a rather high speed for a residential area. Both drivers contributed to the incident, but if the Nissan driver signalled right instead of leaving the hazard lights on and checked for approaching vehicles before making the manoeuvre, this incident could have been avoided.
2) Van Driver Didn't Stop for a Young Boy Crossing the Road at a Zebra Crossing
This video shows a Volkswagen van dashing across the zebra crossing without checking for pedestrians crossing. In this case, it was a small boy with his hand raised while crossing the road. The camera owner stopped for the boy, but the camera showed the van driver not stopping for the boy. Luckily, the young boy stopped in the middle of the zebra crossing in time.
The road safety violation and concern are quite clear and self-explanatory here, but a debate erupted in the comment section between netizens, arguing over whose right of way it was at the zebra crossing. While it depends on the situation, the boy certainly had the right of way at this zebra crossing. The onus is on the motorists to slow down or stop if needed to check for pedestrians crossing or who are about to cross at zebra crossings.
3) Motorcycle Cuts in Front of a Car from the Right Side to Turn Left
This video shows a motorcycle riding along on the right side of the camera owner's car, overtaking the car and cutting across the front of the car to turn left at the zebra crossing.
A part of the video appears to have been cut away, but a subsequent post in the comment board shows the whole incident. After overtaking, the motorcycle sped up and cut in front of the car without any warning or signalling. The camera owner braked in time to avoid an accident.
The motorcyclist should have signalled and slowed down behind the camera owner's car before turning left. Meanwhile, some would say that the camera owner should have slowed down and gave way, but since the motorcyclist failed to signal, it would have been impossible for the driver to know the intentions of the motorcyclist.
4) Mitsubishi Driver Tries to Reverse on a Main Road and Then Swerves Across Two Lanes to Turn Left
Construction is everywhere on the roads in Singapore, roadworks to replace tarmac or to install tubes and pipes underground. All motorists should take extreme care and caution when approaching roadworks, especially when lanes are completely closed off. When the middle lane is closed, motorists should be very careful about using the middle road after the roadworks are done.
This Mitsubishi driver in the video, in the yellow box, was queuing up on the right lane when the middle lane was closed to traffic. The driver then tried to reverse, presumably, to go to the left lane. The driver then gave up and proceeded on, driving on the right lane.
After clearing the construction on the middle lane, the driver signaled left and waited until they reached the traffic light before turning left at high speeds, cutting across two lanes and causing a lorry on the left lane to jam brake. What the driver should have done was, while signalling, first filter into the middle lane after clearing the construction. After that, continue filtering left to the turning lane before turning left.
The Mitsubishi driver went to the wrong lane before the construction on the middle lane, that was fine, we have all been there. But instead of the reckless driving shown in the video, the driver could have been patient in the example above, or just gone straight and make a U-turn when possible.
5) Toyota C-HR Turns Right from the Straight-Only Lane
There is a reason why you must go straight on straight-only lanes. This is to ensure you don't endanger the lives of other motorists by cutting across lanes when you want to turn. The driver of this Toyota C-HR did what he shouldn't have, by turning right from the straight-only lane. Therefore, the driver caused the camera owner to brake suddenly to avoid colliding with the Toyota.
Even if you are on the wrong lane and you want to turn, you should signal and change lanes to the turning lane first. If it is too late for that, don't worry, this is Singapore, you will have another chance to U-turn not far ahead. It may take longer, but it's way better than endangering the lives of other motorists on the road by engaging in a reckless act.
The purpose of this compilation isn’t to shame or expose these drivers, but to learn from their mistakes. In all honesty, the driving culture in Singapore leaves a lot to be desired. We lack basic road courtesy and we don’t mind causing inconveniences to other road users if it benefits us. We sometimes even put their lives at risks with our careless and nonchalant driving.
To improve our driving culture, we need to look ourselves in the mirror and learn to share our roads. Instead of treating fellow motorists as competition, we need to remember that every other road user is just like us—all they want is to reach their destination safely and on time.
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