Transport Woes...

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Forum: Tackle serious breaches in road safety rules by errant cyclists​

Oct 19, 2021

I was intrigued by Straits Times associate news editor Royston Sim's commentary (A balanced approach towards bridging the cyclist-motorist divide, Oct 10).
Apart from the Active Mobility Advisory Panel's recommendations enumerated in the piece, I think it is imperative to highlight additional serious breaches of road safety rules by errant cyclists.
On numerous occasions, I have witnessed many cyclists, especially those riding electric bikes, riding in the fastest lanes on arterial roads. This refers to lanes beside road dividers.
Furthermore, many cyclists have a propensity to make right turns at cross junctions just as motorists do. This is something that seriously warrants the attention of the Active Mobility Advisory Panel and the Traffic Police.
Cyclists riding electric or manual bicycles should stay as near to the sidewalks as possible when riding in the slowest lane on the road.
They should utilise pedestrian crossings when attempting to negotiate major turns at traffic lights.

I have often observed cyclists on race bikes occupying an entire lane instead of keeping to the side.
Other vehicles, including buses, have to slow down before attempting to overtake these cyclists. Unless cyclists keep near to the sidewalk, buses and other heavy vehicles would invariably have to encroach into the adjacent lanes when overtaking them.
As a result, other motorists in the faster adjacent lanes would have to slow down in order to give way to these buses.
I would appreciate it if the points raised here could complement those articulated in the panel's recommendations.
Considering the gravity of the situation, guidelines should be promptly put in place to address these breaches, especially on busy thoroughfares. Until they are implemented and enforced, I worry that fatal accidents may occur.
I suggest that more auxiliary police officers be stationed at strategic locations next to various roads so as to monitor the errant behaviour of cyclists.

Teo Kok Seah

 

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All bus interchange Covid-19 clusters closed, 99% of public transport front-line workers vaccinated: LTA​

A photo from Aug 31, 2021, shows Tampines Bus Interchange. An LTA spokesman said waiting times for most of bus services had been maintained.

ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Timothy Goh

Oct 20, 2021

SINGAPORE - All eight bus interchange Covid-19 clusters have been closed, with the last cluster at Tampines Bus Interchange having closed on Oct 15, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Tuesday night (Oct 19).
This was around two months after the first two clusters involving bus interchanges, at Bishan and Sengkang, were announced on Aug 14.
By Sept 7, a total of 537 cases had been linked to eight interchanges across the island, and on Sept 10, LTA said that commuters should be prepared to wait longer for some buses, as a few hundred drivers were down with the virus, or placed under quarantine or stay-home notice.
On Tuesday, LTA's spokesman told The Straits Times that as at Oct 16, about 99 per cent of public transport front-line workers had been fully vaccinated, while a total of 49 bus drivers from the various interchanges were still recovering from the virus.
They comprised 14 drivers from Tampines bus interchange, one from Boon Lay, four from Jurong East, eight from Clementi, six from Toa Payoh, nine from Punggol, five from Sengkang and two from Bishan.
The spokesman added that the waiting times for most of the bus services had been maintained, without significant impact to commuters.

Earlier in September, Transport Minister S. Iswaran said there was no evidence of the clusters resulting in the virus spreading to commuters, while Singapore's director of medical services Kenneth Mak said the clusters were likely to be the result of workplace transmission.
Associate Professor Mak added that the spread could have taken place due to mask-off interactions during rest periods at the bus interchanges, but he also noted that given the high number of community cases at the time, the infection could have been introduced from the community.
To minimise the spread, LTA put in place stricter restrictions on staff resting and dining areas at bus interchanges on Sept 2, such as allowing only one staff member to sit at each table to dine, and limiting the number of those without masks at any point in time.
At the time, LTA's chief executive Ng Lang said: "We have to strike a balance between the welfare of workers and stepping up more measures... For instance, the rule on vaccinated drivers eating alone is more stringent than on the general public. It is not an easy decision, but it is necessary."

 

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Forum: Step up enforcement to curb the problem of idling vehicles​

OCT 21, 2021

Smoking is an unhealthy habit, and over the years, Singapore has managed to reduce irresponsible smoking by imposing fines when education was in vain (Worth keeping track of number of condos with smoke-free by-laws, Oct 16).
The smoking problem is more limited now as smokers have to adhere to many dos and dont's as to where they can smoke. Singapore should now move on to tackle vehicular emissions (a deadlier type of smoke) which I feel is a larger problem.
To put in place regulation to deter smoking on balconies is good, but not as important as the elimination of idling vehicles, which are easy to find around Singapore. Likewise, going after some patients smoking in the grounds of Tan Tock Seng Hospital, for example, is not as productive as dealing with the larger threat posed by idling vehicles like taxis in the same area waiting for passengers.
We should now crack down on inconsiderate motorists who still let their engines idle, many doing it way past the allowed five minutes. These include drivers waiting to pick up their children from school and shuttle bus drivers waiting for passengers. Other drivers may be napping or using their mobile phone in the air-conditioned comfort of their vehicles.
The vehicular emissions pose hazards to our health and contribute to global warming.
Just like smoking, littering and cleaning our tables after a meal at hawker centres, we already have in place rules against idling vehicles. We just need to do a better job of enforcing them. Enforcement is key and I feel it is the weakest link now. We must step it up to send the message home.


Ho San Cheow

 

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Double-decker bus collides into taxi shelter in Yishun; 3 injured, including bus driver​

The accident caused the structure on Yishun Avenue 2 to collapse partially.PHOTOS: RED NIRA NIRA/FACEBOOK

Wong Shiying

Nov 6, 2021

SINGAPORE - A 63-year-old Tower Transit driver was sent to hospital with two women aged 60 and 64 after the double-decker bus collided into a taxi stand shelter in Yishun on Saturday (Nov 6).
The accident, which involved bus service 969, caused the structure on Yishun Avenue 2 to collapse partially. The taxi stand is next to Yishun MRT station, and the bus was travelling from Tampines to Woodlands.
The two women were pedestrians, the police told The Straits Times.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force, which said it received a call for assistance at around 1pm, added that all three were sent to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.
In a Facebook post, bus operator Tower Transit said the bus captain has since been suspended.
"We are in the process of getting in touch with the injured and their families and assisting the authorities with an investigation. To those affected in any way by the accident, we're very sorry," said Tower Transit.

The taxi stand was barricaded with police officers managing the crowd of more than 50 onlookers when The Straits Times arrived at the scene at around 3.30pm.
There were also workers assessing the damage at the site, where the affected bus remained.
Investigations are ongoing.

 

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Driver closes doors on elderly woman as she alights bus at Hougang interchange, causing her to fall​

The lady wasn't seriously injured and received outpatient treatment at a hospital.

PHOTOS: SCREENGRAB FROM SGROADSACCIDENT.COM/FACEBOOK

David Sun

Nov 11, 2021



SINGAPORE - A bus driver closed the doors as an elderly woman was alighting the vehicle, causing her to fall backwards onto the road at the Hougang interchange.
The incident is believed to have happened at around 2.40pm on Tuesday (Nov 9).
A one-minute video of the incident, which appears to be footage from the bus' security camera, was shared on social media on Thursday (Nov 11).
The woman is seen struggling to alight from the bus as the doors close on her, causing her to fall into the gap between the bus and interchange platform.
Bus drivers in neon vests are seen rushing to her aid.
Ms Tammy Tan, senior vice-president of corporate communications at SBS Transit, called the bus driver's actions unacceptable, and said strict disciplinary action has been taken against him.

"The actions of our bus captain are most unacceptable," she said.
"It is fortunate that the lady wasn't seriously injured and received outpatient treatment at the hospital.
"We have taken strict disciplinary action against the bus captain and will be monitoring his performance closely."
She added that SBS Transit is in touch with the woman's family to offer its assistance, and wishes her a speedy and complete recovery.

 

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Your picture: Buses wait every weekday with engines on​

PHOTO: WONG HSIEN WAE


JAN 24, 2022


Buses with idling engines (above) stopping along double-yellow lines in Woodlands Avenue 2 have been a daily occurrence, except for weekends and public holidays, for the past few years.
The buses are there in the mornings to pick up company staff. They probably wait for the correct time to do so before eventually turning into a pick-up point farther up the road.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) stated last year that action was taken against 3,800 motorists for idling engine offences in 2020 (Action taken against 3,800 motorists over idling engines, Oct 27, 2021). This translates to about 10 motorists a day. I am sure the number of idling vehicles in Woodlands Avenue 2 alone is more than this.
The NEA letter also welcomed feedback on areas where motorists leave their vehicle engines idling. I have been giving feedback on the problem since November last year.
I welcome any action taken by the relevant authorities.

Wong Hsien Wae

 

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No surveillance and action taken by LTA and NEA for years. LTA and NEA started taking action only after a complaint.

Forum: LTA, NEA have taken action against idling buses, will continue to monitor situation​

Jan 31, 2022

We refer to Mr Wong Hsien Wae's letter, "Buses wait every weekday with engines on" (Jan 24).
Mr Wong mentioned that he had observed buses with idling engines along double-yellow lines in Woodlands Avenue 2 every weekday and had been reporting the problem.
Following his earlier feedback, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been deploying parking wardens to enforce the rules against illegally parked buses along Woodlands Avenue 2.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) has conducted surveillance and taken enforcement action against errant bus drivers who flouted the idling engine regulations. NEA has also distributed pamphlets on idling engine regulations to the bus drivers to promote compliance.
LTA and NEA will continue to monitor the situation and will not hesitate to take necessary enforcement action.
Members of the public can submit feedback on illegal parking offences via the OneService application or by calling the parking hotline on 1800 338 6622, and can report idling engine offences to NEA via www.nea.gov.sg or the myENV mobile application.


Calvin Ng
Director, Enforcement and Compliance Management
Land Transport Authority

Chow Chee Kiong
Director, Pollution Control 2 Division
National Environment Agency

 

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SMRT Trains charged over incident where train rolled over worker's foot that was later amputated​

The incident occurred in December 2018 on the eastbound track near Joo Koon MRT station (pictured). PHOTO: ST FILE

Jean Iau

Feb 8, 2022

SINGAPORE - SMRT Trains was hauled to court on Tuesday (Feb 8) over a 2018 incident in which a train rolled over a worker's foot that later had to be amputated.
A representative from the rail operator appeared before a district court to face the single charge under the Workplace Safety and Health Act of failing to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and health of its employee at work.
According to court documents, on or before Dec 12, 2018, the rail operator is said to have failed to carry out a risk assessment and set out safe work procedures in relation to the "limited movement procedure".
It is also accused of failing to implement the relevant control measures and carry out safe work procedures to address the risks involved in the operations, as well as failing to provide adequate work equipment such as walkie-talkies and other communication devices.
SMRT Trains is scheduled to be in court next on March 8.
Responding to queries from The Straits Times, Mr Lam Sheau Kai, president of SMRT Trains, said that the worker has recovered and is still working for the company.
“Upon his recovery, he returned to work in the SMRT engineering trains workshop facility. He has assimilated well into his new role in the locomotive component overhaul team,” said Mr Lam.

He added that SMRT Trains could not comment on the case as the matter is before the courts.
SMRT Trains' parent company SMRT Corp said in December 2018 that the incident occurred on the eastbound track near Joo Koon MRT station, before service hours.
A six-member maintenance team was conducting a brake test on a maintenance train before moving it back to the depot.


The test involves "limited movement of the maintenance train", said the rail operator.
Meanwhile, a worker was on the track to inspect for oil leaks from the maintenance train. An oil spill on the track affects the safety of train operations in the day, said SMRT.
It said: "The brake test was stopped immediately when one of the team members spotted the injured staff lying on the track.
"The rest of the team went forward to provide first aid to the injured staff (member) whose right foot had been rolled over by the maintenance train."
The Singapore Civil Defence Force was called, and the injured worker was taken to a hospital where the lower part of his right leg was amputated.
The Straits Times reported then that the worker was believed to have been a 59-year-old SMRT veteran.
After the incident, a "safety timeout" - referring to a temporary halt to maintenance work - was put in place and a board of inquiry was convened.
If convicted, SMRT Trains faces a fine of up to $500,000.

 

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ComfortDelGro to raise cab fares by around 8% in March​

ComfortDelGro said the flag-down fare of its taxis will rise by 20 cents from March 1, 2022. PHOTO: ST FILE

Christopher Tan
Senior Transport Correspondent

Feb 8, 2022

SINGAPORE - Leading taxi group ComfortDelGro will raise cab fares from March 1 - its first fare increase in a decade.
Confirming a report by The Straits Times two weeks ago, the listed company, which controls about 8,900 cabs or 60 per cent of the fleet here, said the flag-down fare will rise by 20 cents.
This means the starting fare of a Hyundai i40 cab will increase from $3.70 to $3.90, and that of a Toyota Prius, Hyundai Ioniq, and Hyundai Kona, as well as the starting fare of a LimoCab and MaxiCab, will increase from $3.90 to $4.10.
Distance and time-based charges will also rise. There will be a two-cent increase for distance rates from 22 cents to 24 cents for every 400m (or 350m after 10km) for normal taxis, and a three-cent increase from 30 cents to 33 cents for limousines.
Likewise, a two-cent increase from 22 cents to 24 cents for every 45 seconds of waiting time for normal taxis, and a three-cent increase from 30 cents to 33 cents for limousines will also take place.
With the increase, the fare for a 10km off-peak normal taxi trip is estimated to rise by 7.7 per cent or 84 cents - from $10.98 to $11.82.
The adjustment, which is almost identical to the one it made in 2011, is to "help cabbies defray higher operating costs resulting from rising fuel prices and inflation", ComfortDelGro said.


"In the last six months alone, fuel prices have increased by about 10 per cent on average, in line with rising oil prices as world economies continue to emerge from the pandemic," it added.
"Inflation has also been heading north. In fact, in the last decade, inflation has grown by close to 12 per cent."
ComfortDelGro added that cabbies' incomes have also been adversely impacted by the pandemic over the last two years, despite government relief and $206.5 million-worth of rental waivers the company has extended to its drivers.

ComfortDelGro private mobility group and taxi chief executive Jackson Chia said: "With rising fuel costs and inflation, the earnings of our cabbies have been hard hit. This fare adjustment will help our cabbies defray the higher costs of operation.
"Given that the last fare revision was more than a decade back, we seek the understanding and support of our commuters."


National Taxi Association adviser Yeo Wan Ling said: "We recognise that taxi fares need to match higher operating costs and have been in talks with ComfortDelGro on fare changes.
"We support the fare adjustments and hope that this move will help drivers better cope with rising costs."
As has happened in the past, the other four taxi operators are likely to follow ComfortDelGro's lead in raising fares.

Mr Neo Nam Heng, chairman of diversified motor group Prime, which operates Prime Taxi, said: “We will just about match their increases.”
Ms Jasmine Tan, general manager of second largest player Trans-Cab, which has around 2,400 taxis, said the company will discuss with its drivers’ union to determine how much it will adjust fares by.
“We will consult the ground and then inform the Public Transport Council,” she said.
Meanwhile, half an hour after ComfortDelGro announced its fare increase, the council replied to a query by The Straits Times filed two weeks ago that “it has been informed of ComfortDelGro’s intention” to raise taxi fares.

 

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Forum: Do more to keep students in school buses safe​

Feb 10, 2022

It is common to see school buses speeding and overtaking other vehicles on the road.
They rarely keep to the speed limit for their category of vehicles either on the highway (60kmh) or normal roads (50kmh).
Besides endangering the young lives entrusted to them, the drivers are also a nuisance to other road users.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) website states that school buses must comply with a set of safety requirements to ferry schoolchildren.
These include having a bus attendant on board and having forward-facing seats that have retractable three-point seat belts.
All these are not helpful if the bus drivers are not trained in preventive and safe driving skills. Singapore must step up enforcement and re-educate this group.
LTA should make it mandatory for them to attend a course on safety each time they renew their licences.

This is one way Singapore can reinforce the safety message and hopefully prevent accidents from happening.
After all, a bus can only be as safe as the driver at the wheel.

Ho San Cheow

 

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Forum: Should PMD riders, cyclists dismount at zebra crossings?​

Feb 10, 2022

I refer to the report of a car driver who got into an argument with a personal mobility device (PMD) user (Benz driver arrested after gate knocked down during dispute, Feb 4).
The PMD rider reportedly said that he had priority at a zebra crossing.
Should PMD riders or cyclists who want to use a zebra crossing or traffic light junction, dismount and walk across as pedestrians do?
When I am driving, I follow the traffic rules and slow down when approaching a zebra crossing.
In many instances, this has prevented accidents from happening as PMD riders or cyclists would appear suddenly, moving at high speed.
They typically don't even stop to check if there's traffic before crossing, although they are required to stop and look for oncoming traffic before using the crossing.
At such speed, drivers may not be able to see them approaching.

I have seen signs put up at the entrances of construction sites, requesting that cyclists dismount while crossing. This is a safe and good practice to prevent accidents.

Kor Choy Yim

 

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Dissatisfaction with S'pore public transport rises in 2021: Survey​

A major bugbear was waiting time, with only 80.9 per cent of commuters expressing satisfaction. PHOTO: ST FILE

Kok Yufeng
Transport Correspondent

Feb 10, 2022



SINGAPORE - Dissatisfaction with public transport services in Singapore rose last year compared with 2020, as the proportion of commuters who said that they were happy with buses and trains fell for the second year running.
This is shown in the annual public transport customer satisfaction survey conducted by the Public Transport Council (PTC), which seeks to better understand commuters' needs and identify areas for improvement.
In an online poll of 4,212 commuters aged 15 and older, 92 per cent said they were satisfied with public transport in Singapore, down from 97.6 per cent in 2020 and 99.4 per cent in 2019.
This was the lowest since 2015 when 91.8 per cent of commuters were satisfied.
Discontent with bus services here was a factor. When asked to rate bus services from one (least satisfied) to 10 (most satisfied), 90.8 per cent of the commuters gave an overall score of six or higher last year, down from 97.3 per cent in 2020.
Trains fared slightly better, with 93.6 per cent of those polled last year saying they were satisfied with the MRT services, compared with 97.9 per cent in 2020.

A major bugbear was waiting time, with only 80.9 per cent of commuters expressing satisfaction. This was a particular issue for buses, with just 75.7 per cent of commuters happy about waiting times.

There were also fewer commuters satisfied with public transport reliability, comfort, travel time, customer service, and safety and security, compared with 2020.
However, more were satisfied with the service information provided and the accessibility of bus interchanges, bus stops and MRT stations.
PTC's latest survey was conducted between Oct 11 and Dec 3 last year.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was the second year that the survey was conducted online instead of face to face.
To participate, respondents scanned QR codes found on publicity materials located at MRT stations, bus interchanges and bus stops.
The 4,212 respondents were asked to rate MRT trains and buses in eight categories on a scale of one to 10.
The categories were safety and security, waiting time, reliability, service information, bus interchange, bus stop and MRT station accessibility, comfort, travel time, and customer service.

Those who gave a score of six and above were deemed to be satisfied.
The respondents also had to rate the importance of each attribute, and their ratings were then weighted to give their overall satisfaction score.
The silver lining is that the mean satisfaction scores for most of the categories remained relatively consistent last year. This indicates that commuters who were satisfied continued to rate public transport highly.
The mean satisfaction score for public transport services in 2021 was 7.8, the same as in 2020 and 2019.
Commuters' mean satisfaction with MRT services remained at 7.9, the PTC said, and buses were given a mean score of 7.7, a slight dip from 7.8 in 2020.
In a Facebook post on Thursday (Feb 10), Transport Minister S. Iswaran said these scores showed that public transport workers here have been consistently keeping up their good work, despite the challenges and risks brought about by the pandemic.


Last year, about 10 per cent of the 9,500 public bus drivers were affected by a Covid-19 outbreak in interchanges, leading to longer wait times and the suspension of five express services.
Said Mr Iswaran: "A huge thank you to all our public transport workers for working tirelessly to deliver safe, reliable and comfortable commutes for all of us."

 

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Forum: Companies, drivers should work together to stop buses nearer to kerb​

Feb 15, 2022

I refer to the letter, "Bus drivers should stop nearer to the kerb" (Feb 12).
I, too, have had to alight from buses by jumping to the kerb or stepping onto the road. I am fast approaching 70, and am afraid that my knees may suddenly give way one day while doing this.
I had raised this issue in a January 2016 letter. I have also written to the transport companies, which have responded by asking me to identify the bus service number involved. But this occurs too frequently, and it is not feasible for me to keep writing in with those details.
In November, it was reported that after a bus captain closed the door on a senior who was alighting, causing her to fall, SBS Transit took disciplinary action against him.
Instead of holding bus captains solely responsible for such incidents and meting out disciplinary action, bus companies should get feedback from bus captains to understand the problems they face.
If many bus captains have difficulty stopping buses near the kerb, then the bus companies should work with them to overcome the issue.

Chan Lai Chun

 

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Forum: Should PMD riders, cyclists dismount at zebra crossings?​

FEB 10, 2022, 1:00 AM SGT

I refer to the report of a car driver who got into an argument with a personal mobility device (PMD) user (Benz driver arrested after gate knocked down during dispute, Feb 4).
The PMD rider reportedly said that he had priority at a zebra crossing.
Should PMD riders or cyclists who want to use a zebra crossing or traffic light junction, dismount and walk across as pedestrians do?
When I am driving, I follow the traffic rules and slow down when approaching a zebra crossing.
In many instances, this has prevented accidents from happening as PMD riders or cyclists would appear suddenly, moving at high speed.
They typically don't even stop to check if there's traffic before crossing, although they are required to stop and look for oncoming traffic before using the crossing.
At such speed, drivers may not be able to see them approaching.

I have seen signs put up at the entrances of construction sites, requesting that cyclists dismount while crossing. This is a safe and good practice to prevent accidents.

Kor Choy Yim

 

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Forum: Cyclists, PMD riders should slow down, stop and check traffic before using zebra crossings​

Feb 21, 2022

We refer to Forum writer Kor Choy Yim's letter (Should PMD riders, cyclists dismount at zebra crossings?, Feb 10) on safe practices at zebra crossings.
We hope all road users can follow Mr Kor's lead to slow down when approaching a zebra crossing and be alert at all times.
While cyclists and personal mobility device (PMD) users are not required to dismount at zebra crossings, they, too, must slow down, and stop and look out for oncoming traffic before crossing.
This improves safety for themselves as well as for other road users, who can then better anticipate their movement.
Mandating that cyclists and PMD riders dismount at crossings could introduce additional risks, particularly for those with pillion riders or who are carrying loads. Seniors may also find it challenging if they must dismount repeatedly.
Safety is a shared responsibility and we need everyone to do his part to keep our paths and roads safe. The Land Transport Authority will continue to work closely with the community and other agencies to promote safety awareness and civic responsibility.

Chan Boon Fui
Group Director, Active Mobility Group
Land Transport Authority

 

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Retired bus driver jailed over accident that permanently injured passenger's eye​

Jean Iau

Feb 28, 2022

SINGAPORE - After failing to keep a safe braking distance and proper lookout, a shuttle bus driver rear-ended the bus in front of him, causing a passenger to be flung forward and the bridge pads of her spectacles to pierce her right eye.
The victim, 67, had just unbuckled her seat belt as she was about to alight.
On Monday (Feb 28), retiree Phee Peng Yeow, 69, was sentenced to four days' jail and disqualification from all driving licences for 18 months for acting so negligently as to endanger the personal safety of others.
The court heard that the accident occurred on Jan 23, 2018, at about 11.30am near the Health Sciences Authority mortuary along Outram Road towards the Central Expressway.
Phee was driving a shuttle bus to and from Singapore General Hospital (SGH) behind a bus that was moving slowly owing to road works.
Deputy Public Prosecutor R. Arvindren told the court that Phee had failed to keep a proper lookout and maintain a safe braking distance, and collided into the rear of the other bus.
The impact caused the woman to be flung forward from her seat, and her head and spectacles hit a metal railing. She then realised she was unable to see with her right eye.

"The victim felt liquid and jelly-like substance dripping from her right eye. She was also bleeding from the right eye and screamed for help," said DPP Arvindren.
The woman underwent four surgeries between January 2018 and April 2019, and was given a total of 109 days of hospitalisation and medical leave.
She continues to suffer from sub-optimal vision in her right eye and requires regular management and follow-ups. The damage to her optic nerve is permanent.
The woman filed a police report on Sept 11, 2020, more than 2½ years after the accident. It was not mentioned in court why she had waited to file the report.
Phee's lawyer, Mr Ivan Tay from Robertson Chambers, urged the court for a $5,000 fine, noting that his client had immediately exchanged details with the driver of the other bus, had driven the woman to the emergency and accident department of SGH, and visited her the next day.
"This was pure negligence on the accused's (part) and there was no premeditation, no aggravating factors… He's now retired, there is no risk of reoffending," said Mr Tay.
However, District Judge Eddy Tham said the fact that Phee did not set out to cause harm is not mitigating for the charge he was convicted of, and he should have been more careful when driving passengers around a hospital.
The court heard that the victim is seeking compensation for her injuries in a civil suit.
For causing grievous hurt and endangering life by acting negligently, Phee could have been jailed for up to two years, or fined up to $5,000, or both.

 

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Elderly passenger died after bus driver applied brakes abruptly to avoid car: Coroner's inquiry​

Mr Siah Keok Tiang, 68, suffered a head injury and broken ribs in the incident on Sept 8 last year, and died on Sept 16 in hospital. PHOTOS: SIAH HWAN LING/FACEBOOK
Osmond Chia

Mar 10, 2022

SINGAPORE - Just as an elderly passenger was about to get up from his seat to alight from bus service 175, a car on the right signalled to make a left turn along North Bridge Road.
The bus driver, who was focusing on the road ahead, saw the car turn into his lane and had to apply the brakes abruptly to avoid a collision.
As a result, the passenger - Mr Siah Keok Tiang, 68 - was thrown forward towards the front of the bus.
He suffered a head injury and broken ribs in the incident on Sept 8 last year, and died on Sept 16 in hospital, said investigating officer (IO) Firdaus Suleiman in presenting his findings to State Coroner Adam Nakhoda on Thursday (March 10).
Mr Siah's daughter, Ms Siah Hwan Ling, and other members of the family were in court.
The police officer said Mr Siah had boarded the bus at around 11.30am after visiting a dialysis centre in Upper Boon Keng Road for a health check.
Mr Siah, who was heading home, was supposed to alight at a bus stop before Bugis Cube, which is along North Bridge Road.

As the bus approached his stop, he pressed the bell to alert the driver and was holding on to a pole on the bus while he shifted forward in his seat preparing to get off, said Senior Staff Sergeant Firdaus, who is from the traffic police fatal investigations team.
Camera footage obtained from the bus showed a car had moved from the third lane of the road, on the right of the bus, before overtaking the larger vehicle.
At the time, the bus was on a dedicated bus lane on the extreme left side of the road.


The car, which was around 1½ car lengths in front of the bus, then slowed down and signalled to turn left to Liang Seah Street.
The bus driver, who was focused on the road ahead, then applied his brakes abruptly.
Senior Staff Sgt Firdaus said: "Based on the footage, the motor car entered the lane of the bus abruptly and caused the bus driver to apply his brake to avoid a near collision."
Mr Siah was thrown forward and hit the front of the bus.


Another passenger, who was seated, was also thrown forward. But the passenger did not report any injuries at the time.
The IO said Mr Siah was in and out of consciousness in hospital. Medical professionals had to resuscitate him.
He died around 7.30am on Sept 16.
In court, Mr Siah's daughter asked if there was any evidence of speeding.
The IO replied that the bus appeared to be travelling below the speed limit of 50kmh, around 35kmh to 45kmh. Video footage also did not show the car to be travelling at a fast speed, he said.

The IO said cars were allowed to enter the section of the bus lane as there was a broken dotted line for cars to pass.
Both drivers, who were not named, had valid drivers' licences.
State Coroner Nakhoda called for a clarification to be made on the nature of one of Mr Siah's injuries and adjourned the matter to a later date before giving his findings on the case.

 

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Forum: Tackle the many instances of road and traffic offences seen daily​

Mar 31, 2022

From videos on social media and my personal daily observations, it appears that traffic conditions on our roads are deteriorating.
This is happening despite numerous tightened guidelines and regulations.
Every day, I see road hoggers and heavy vehicles speeding on the expressways, and motorcyclists weaving in and out of lanes.
Cyclists and delivery riders blatantly and repeatedly ignore basic traffic rules by driving through a red light, not wearing a helmet or not stopping to check the traffic before riding across zebra crossings.
E-scooter riders can also be found on pedestrian paths.
Such behaviours do not befit a modern and developed city.
The current state of affairs is likely due to the increasing lack of direct surveillance and enforcement activities.

Rules are no good if there are no consequences for violation or rewards for compliance.

Foo Voon Wee

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

$10 incentive for taxi drivers to pick up passengers at Changi Airport​

The incentive comes after Singapore further relaxed pandemic measures. PHOTO: SHINMIN DAILY NEWS
Kolette Lim

Apr 1, 2022

SINGAPORE - It is not enough that more people can now fly into Changi Airport with greater ease - there should not be a long wait for a taxi to leave the terminals.
With that in mind, Changi Airport Group has launched an incentive programme to encourage drivers to pick up passengers from the airport.
Drivers will be given a reward of $10 for each day they make a minimum of three trips from Terminal 1, Terminal 3 or Jewel Changi Airport.
Trips must be made during three time windows - 6am to 10am, noon to 1pm and 4pm to 7pm - in the programme that starts on Friday and ends on April 30.
The 100 drivers who make the most number of trips from these locations throughout the month of April will be entitled to participate in a lucky draw. Ten winners will each get $1,000 worth of preferred fuel or petrol kiosk vouchers.
The incentive comes after Singapore further relaxed pandemic measures, with travellers no longer required to take only designated flights to enter the country quarantine-free and quotas for daily arrivals removed.
Higher traffic is expected at the airport with the easing of travel measures, as seen from the bigger crowds in terminals 1 and 3 on Friday. ST observed that there were three to four groups of passengers in the queue for taxis at Terminal 3's arrival hall on Friday morning.

But Strides Taxi driver Charles Ba feels that it could be difficult to fulfil the eligibility requirements. The 51-year-old said that while cabbies are able to get passengers almost immediately during the peak period of 8am to 10am, they would likely have to wait for as long as an hour during the rest of the day, when demand is low.
"If I'm lucky and all my trips from the airport are to areas in the east, I might be able to complete three trips without having to queue each time. But if I get a passenger going to the central business district, it's not worth having to go all the way back with the possibility of having to queue," he said.
"The incentive makes it a $3 bonus for each trip. That's not worth it, especially since petrol prices are expensive nowadays."
According to pump price tracker Fuel Kaki, 92-octane petrol is now at $3.01 a litre at Caltex and Esso, and $3 at SPC.
Mr Henry Tay, who's with ComfortDelGro, said he would resume heading to the airport if the Covid-19 situation in Singapore remains stable following the opening of borders.
The 52-year-old said: "I like to pick up travellers because when they like talking to us, they will arrange subsequent rides with us throughout their trip."

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Forum: Charging electric car can be frustrating experience​

Apr 4, 2022

It can be frustrating to charge an electric car, compared with a car that uses petrol and needs only a 10-minute stop at a petrol station.
Imagine a situation in which a person's electric car's battery is running low at 10pm, but the three charging points at the HDB carpark are occupied.
He checks the expected charging times for the three cars - two hours, five hours and eight hours - then parks his car elsewhere and returns home.
At midnight, he drives his car to the first charging point but is too late; another car has taken the spot.
He returns home, sets his alarm for 3am and goes to sleep. At 3am, he wakes up and goes to the carpark again. But the now fully charged car at the second charging point is still there as the owner has not come to unplug it and drive it away.
So he goes back to sleep, and returns to the carpark at 6am to again check if any charging points are available.
This scenario is illustrative, but have the relevant authorities, electric car charging providers and car manufacturers really addressed the issues related to electric car ownership from a user experience perspective?

Otherwise, the current drive to increase electric car ownership is bound to grind to a halt.

Syed Fauzi Syed Mohthar