Inconsiderate Drivers of the Week: Episode 21

(Photo Credit: ROADS.sg Facebook Page)

In the first episode of Inconsiderate Drivers of the Week for 2019, we feature more road raging against lorry drivers, a Toyota driver deliberately braking to harm a motorcyclist, and a car and taxi driver engaging in dangerous driving.

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) Lorry Driver Tries to Run over a Motorcyclist After He Kicked off the Lorry’s Mirror

The cycle of road rage appears to have continued into 2019, with the theme appearing to be centred around small vehicles like bicycles and motorcycles, and lorries.

In the video, we see a lorry and two motorcycles that have stopped along the road. The two motorcyclists appear to be in a heated exchange with the lorry drivers with the driver side door of the lorry open. Suddenly, the motorcyclist in black slams the door and kicks off the lorry’s driver-side rear view mirror.

The lorry driver responds by trying to run the offending motorcyclist down. The motorcyclist reacted quickly and escaped without any injuries, and the lorry stops after hitting one of the stationery motorcycles.

It is unclear what happened before this that caused the motorcyclists and the lorry driver to engage in this dangerous exchange. However, if they had settled whatever matter that happened prior to this incident, the lorry’s side mirror might have stayed intact and the lorry driver wouldn’t make such an attempt on the motorcyclist’s life.

2) Toyota Driver Plays Braking Game with Motorcyclist, Causing Him to Crash into the Car

There are plenty of things that we shouldn’t do with our car, and playing the braking game with other motorists is one of the many big no-nos. The video starts a traffic junction when the light was red. A motorcyclist is seen to be having a verbal exchange with the Toyota driver directly in front of the camera car.

As the light turned green, the Toyota driver drove off, with the motorcyclist following close behind. Suddenly, the Toyota driver brakes for no good reason, causing the motorcyclist to crash into the back of the car. The motorcyclist manages to get up, and he appears to be fine.

As the camera car driver and another motorcyclist stops to help, a heated exchange ensued between the Toyota driver and the motorcyclist. The camera car driver steps in to try and diffuse the situation, and it appears that both parties just exchanged words and nothing more.

3) Car and Taxi Engages in Fast and Dangerous Driving at Night

Nothing good comes out of speeding and driving dangerously, especially when it is night-time and there are other motorists on the road. But neither is it a good idea to try and take matters into your hand when dealing with such errant road users.

The video shows the camera car driving along at night at high speed while weaving in and out of lanes to avoid other motorists driving at a reasonable speed. Suddenly, while the camera car was on the right lane, a Taxi driver ahead begins to brake and slow down. As the Taxi driver sped off, he or she proceeded to brake hard once again on the right lane.

As the camera car goes to the middle lane, the Taxi driver does the same, purposely blocking the camera car. The switching of lanes ‘game’ continues for another round before the Taxi driver speeds off in the right lane.

While the style of driving the camera car driver was engaged in prior to the encounter with the Taxi was legally questionable, the Taxi driver should not have tried to obstruct the camera car. It was an indeed a form of road raging and dangerous driving, which could have easily ended badly for both of them, and indeed other motorists around them.

4) Van Abruptly Changes Lane and Clips the Side of a Hyundai

The vehicles we drive on the road are all equipped with rear-view mirrors. It is not there to increase aerodynamic drag or make your vehicle look like it has ears, it is an essential safety tool you are supposed to use to keep a look out for approaching vehicles from either side behind you.

In this video, we see a Van approaching a traffic junction in the middle lane amid heavy traffic. The driver then decides to abruptly change to the right lane without signalling, or apparently, checking the rear-view mirror.

In the act of changing lanes, the Van clips the left-front side of a silver Hyundai i30 that could not brake in time as the driver was too close to the Van when it changed lane. Despite causing a minor accident that nudged another car slightly, the Van didn’t stop and continued to drive on. After the accident, the Hyundai driver was seen following the Van into a side street.

5) Black Toyota MPV Hits Taxi at Traffic Junction

At most traffic junctions, cars are allowed to turn right while traffic is still flowing from the opposite direction. It is ultimately down to the driver turning right to exercise and good judgement to decide when it is safe to turn right.

In the video, we see a Black Toyota MPV approaching a traffic junction in the right lane while the lights were green. At the traffic junction, a Taxi is trying to turn right, but the Taxi driver has driven so far out that the Taxi was in the way of any car driving on the right lane.

The Toyota driver was seen braking hard in the video, but the Toyota didn’t stop in time and had a minor collision with the Taxi. Luckily, the Toyota driver reacted quickly and braked early, and that he or she did not swerve to the left lane, into the path of the camera car. If anything was different as compared to the scenario above, the repercussions could have been much worse.

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 20

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