Inconsiderate Drivers of the Week: Episode 40

(Photo Credit: SG Road Vigilante's Facebook Page)

In this episode of Inconsiderate Drivers of the Week, we feature quite a few drivers who change lanes and make discretionary right turns without checking for approaching traffic.

In this special feature, we'll be taking a look at drivers and other road users who were caught on camera for their inconsiderate and reckless actions. These road users exhibit poor etiquette, and we hope you never emulate their behaviour on the roads.

1) Toyota Picnic Driver Makes Right Turn From Small Lane, Nearly Collides With Camera Car

When joining the main road at a T-junction from the small lane, you are supposed to give way to the cars and pull out only when the road is clear. In the case of a right turn, you need to wait for both sides of the road are clear of traffic.

In this video, the camera car is driving on the right lane, approaching a turning on the left. As the camera car is passing the turning, a Toyota driver pulls out of the side lane to turn right. Thanks to the quick reactions of both drivers, a collision was avoided when both drivers braked in time.

2) Toyota Vellfire Changes Lane at Traffic Junction, Knocks Down Motorcyclist

When changing lanes, drivers must first signal to tell the other motorists around you of your intentions. But it’s worth remembering that signalling does not automatically grant you the right to pull out to the next lane, you also have to check and see that the next lane is clear before moving over.

In this video, a Toyota Vellfire is stationary at a traffic junction, in a straight and turning lane. After signalling left, the driver pulls out to the next lane without realising that was a motorcyclist approaching from behind. Unfortunately, the Motorcyclist was unable to brake in time and collides into the Toyota.

Luckily, following the accident, a lorry on the next lane narrowly misses the fallen motorcyclist despite hitting the fallen motorcycle.

3) Camera Car Nearly Collides With Lane-Cutting Car in Heavy Traffic

In heavy and slow-moving traffic when there is a queue of stationary vehicles, it is often hard to have a clear view of traffic of the lanes behind those congested ones. In such case, it is safest to slowly inch out of the traffic and check before moving out safely.

In this video, the camera car is driving quickly down the extreme right lane, which is relatively clear compared to the two lanes on the left. Suddenly, as the camera car is passing a yellow box, a red car appears from the left and recklessly cuts into the camera car driver’s lane.

Because of that, the camera car driver had to react quickly and swerve to the right to avoid crashing into the car.

4) Car Makes Discretionary Right Turn at Traffic Junction, Crashes Into Motorcycle Beating Red Light

When making a discretionary right turn at a traffic junction, drivers must use their good judgement to gauge when the traffic is clear enough for it to be safe to turn. At the same time, motorists should not be running red lights as they run the risk of causing accidents with other motorists.

In this video, cars are turning right at the traffic junction while the lights are still in favour for the motorists going straight (to the left-hand side of the video). As the lights turn red, the vehicles going straight stop and the vehicles turning right continue on.

However, while a car was turning right, a motorcyclist decides to beat the red light, and both of them collide.

5) Silver Car Changes Lane Without Signalling, Causes Crash With Motorcycle

Earlier, we saw a video of a car changing lanes, and despite signalling, causing a crash with a motorcyclist. While signalling doesn’t give the motorist automatic permission to change lanes whenever they want, it does indicate your intentions to other motorists.

In the video, a silver car driver tries to cut two lanes abruptly without signalling or checking. Unfortunately, there was a motorcycle approaching, and the motorcyclist was unable to stop in time, thus crashing into the car at a high speed.

The purpose of this compilation isn’t to shame or expose these road users, but to learn from their mistakes. In all honesty, the culture on Singapore’s roads 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 actions.

To improve our culture on the roads, we need to look ourselves in the mirror and learn to share our roads. Instead of treating fellow road users as competition, we need to remember that everyone else is just like us—all they want is to reach their destination safely and on time.

Read more: Inconsiderate Drivers of the Week: Episode 39

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