Inconsiderate Drivers of the Week: Episode 28

(Photo Credit: ROADS.sg Facebook Page)

In this episode of Inconsiderate Drivers of the Week, we feature drivers who ended up driving on the wrong side of the road, a tailgating Mercedes driver and a speeding lorry driver that caused a multi-vehicle collision.

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) SMRT Bus Driver Ends up on the Wrong Side of the Road

Whenever we see and hear about drivers driving on the wrong side of the road, many of us often brush it off as an inexperienced or foreign driver used to driving on the left side of the road. But sometimes, even the most experienced drivers on the road can make the most basic mistakes too.

This video shows an SMRT bus driving on the wrong side of the road along Victoria Street, on the right lane. Drivers coming the opposite direction driving on the right lane had to get out of the way of the bus.

It is unclear whether there were passengers in the bus, or what happened to the bus after the video ended. But what we do know was that the bus number was flashing on the display panel, so the bus was in operation.

2) White Car Turns into Wrong Side of the Road in Front of a Police Car

It’s one thing to commit a traffic offence when you think no one is watching. It’s an entirely different thing to do it in front of a police car.

In this video, we can see a line of vehicles waiting to either turn right or do a U-turn at a traffic junction. In the queue is a police car, and in front of it, a white car looking to turn right. But for some reason, the driver of the white car turns into the wrong side of the road.

The driver of the police vehicle makes a right turn as well, but into the correct side of the road. The police vehicle is then seen slowing down and stopping by the side of the road, presumably, to confront the driver of the white car. Meanwhile, the white car driver appears to try and make a U-turn in the middle of the road to turn back out of the road.

3) Two Taxis Collide at a Traffic Junction After One Makes a Discretionary Right Turn

Many drivers like to think of taxi drivers being a menace on the roads and the biggest causers of accidents on our roads. Regardless of how true the sentiment may be, any one of us can cause accidents if we do not practice safe driving, like one of these taxi drivers here.

This video above shows a traffic junction, where drivers were making discretionary right turns at the time. Suddenly, as a taxi driver is making a right turn, another taxi driver appears from the right of the video. The latter was heading straight with the right of way, and the former did not practice good judgement when executing the discretionary right turn.

Both taxis collide with considerable force, sending one of the taxis forward, just a couple of metres from the camera car.

4) Mercedes Driver Tailgates a Motorcycle out of a Carpark Gantry Barrier

It does not matter how expensive your car is, all of us have to pay the same fees while on the road, like parking fees, for example. But in this example, it goes to show that just because you drive a high-end car, it does not mean you have high-end ethics.

In this video, we can see a motorcycle at a carpark gantry waiting to go out. A Mercedes driver then pulls up alongside the motorcycle. As the gantry barrier lifts up for the motorcyclist, the Mercedes car just goes past the barrier, without paying. Following that, as the motorcyclist begins to leave, the barrier almost drops on top of the motorcyclist.

What the Mercedes driver did was not only against the law, but it was also downright dangerous, as seen by the barrier almost dropping on the motorcyclist. It is only right that we all pay what we owe to the parking system since we used the parking facilities.

5) Lorry Driver Speeds on Right Lane, Causes Chain Collision After Not Being Able to Brake in Time

Speed limits are on our roads for a reason, they are for the safety and benefit of everyone on the roads. Special speed limits are also imposed on heavy vehicles due to their load, and thus, an increase in stopping distance.

In this video, the camera car is driving in the middle lane of a three lane road at a reasonable speed. In the middle of the video, we suddenly can see a lorry speeding on the right lane.

A few cars ahead, there was a need to slow down and stop, and thus, all the cars did. Unfortunately, the lorry driver was unable to slow down and stop in time due to the speed in which the vehicle was travelling on.

What followed was a rear-end collision of the car in front of the lorry. Due to the force of the collision, the former ended up hitting the rear of the car in front. The same thing happened to the next car in front. So in total, the resulting chain collision involved one lorry and three cars.

All of that happened just because the lorry driver wanted to speed and drive on the right lane. No excuse will ever be good enough when it comes to causing a collision on the road due to the guilty party speeding.

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.

Read more: Inconsiderate Drivers of the Week: Episode 27

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