I really can’t stand Singaporean drivers. Don’t get me wrong, I still think that they are better than Malaysian in regards to road manners (with probably the exception of taxis). But there is one thing that I cannot tolerate. Their use of hazard (or emergency) lights. It drives me mad! You know, that red button with a serious looking triangle on the front dashboard of your car?
Funny. Singapore is full of the latest trendy and new cars. So why so many are breaking down? The cars here must be very lousy. Either that, OR, the drivers here must be very lousy.
It appears that this unspoken ‘rule’ had been passed down for generations. Though it is not taught in driving schools, the newly graduated drivers miraculously attained that sacred knowledge long before they can parallel park. It seems that when one’s hazard lights are on, one is able to do anything without fear of reprisal. Nowadays, leaving one’s hazard lights on means you can park ANYWHERE at ANYTIME – there may not be anything particularly wrong with the car in question. One can nip into a nearby shop, by leaving hazard lights on while parked on a double yellow line, bus stop or in front of a fire hydrant. Alternatively one can pull over to the side of a busy road and stuck on their hazard lights to light their cigarette while holding a hot coffee in the other hand.
I even came across someone that suddenly decided to stop right in the middle of the road or intersection on their whims. Everyone else just has to painfully navigate around them. For whatever reasons, beats me, nobody honked. Not long after the car started moving off at an amazing leisurely speed as if nothing had happened. Not to mention with the hazard lights still on. No doubt the driver forgot to switch it off.
The ironic thing is that when they knowingly switch on their hazard lights, they are declaring ‘Hey I am a hazard to the oncoming traffic and I am doing it purposely’.
I learned that this culture probably stems, one from the ‘kiasu-ism’ attitude of Singaporeans, and two from imitating the buses and taxis. I have to defend the buses though. There are rules around the world that allows bus (especially those catered to transporting children) to use their hazard lights when stopping at designated bus stops to alert passing traffic of possible children crossing. Notice, first the designated area. Secondly it’s to protect as children tend to dash across the road without looking. As for taxis, they are just guilty and lousy drivers. So why copy them?
We used to laugh when we passed by those cars that had the hazard lights on. “There! One more lousy Singaporean car broke down – Oops now it’s restored. Miraculous!”. But the fact is, it is no laughing matter. Today as I was waiting to turn into a perpendicular road, an expensive Mercedes car was coming from the opposite direction at an annoyingly slow speed. Out of a sudden, the hazard light flashed on. Adapting a Singaporean mentality, I assumed that the car was slowing to stop before the intersection so I pull my car into the junction. Just then the car started to sway left and right. It surprised us but nevertheless, we safely crossed the T-junction as there was quite a distance between us. But imagine that poor fellow! His car WAS REALLY broken down but nobody knew whether to heed the hazard light seriously now.
Driving is something that should be taken very seriously. While many people knowingly and unknowingly violate road safety standards, they must understand that the rules and regulations are made for a reason. To protect drivers and pedestrian alike. And to make driving a more enjoyable and safe experience. Hazard lights are installed so that the four-simultaneously flashing lights attract attention to communicate a potential hazard for oncoming or passing traffic. It shouldn’t be abused for mundane and unimportant things on an individual’s whims. Recognition of its importance after an unfortunate accident happened, makes absolutely no sense.
I’m appalled at how most Singaporean has very indifferent attitude towards this issue. No doubt they are among the culprits who thrive on the ‘conveniences to self’. In fact we brought up this issue not too long ago in a conversation with a group and someone said, ‘I thought it’s the rule to do so’. How ignorant. I’m sorry, it’s not a rule. Neither is it the right thing to do. It is a very self-fish thing. Unfortunately, Singapore does not have any rule against it either. Otherwise, no one will be doing it in this ‘fine country’.
If Singapore is so with stringent rules – such as no pissing in elevators, shouldn’t they have also rules against hazard light abuse? After all, pissing on elevators only hurts your nose, but traffic hazards kill. If that didn’t work, just install a SUE equivalent and enforce the PAP concept.
(By the way, SUE stands for ‘Singapore Urinator Entrapper’ and PAP for ‘Pay and Pay’. Another thing that I ‘love’ about Singapore, acronyms for everything which I will save for my next post…)
