- Joined
- Feb 12, 2009
- Messages
- 2,401
- Points
- 48
I cannot help to reflect on the news in the Straits Times report yesterday that stated that figures of m/cycle fatalities have gone up in this tiny nation of 4 million people.This should NOT be the case. As a small nation we can act effectively to stop this "wheel-bound" terrors in their tracks.
The report stated that the main causes of such accidents are;
a) Disobeying traffic lights signals,
b) Failure to maintain proper lookout, and
c) Failure to maintain proper control of vehicle.
a) Disobeying traffic lights signals,
Traffic lights are there for a purpose. Some of these signalised areas are augmented by cameras. Cameras catches live action. Prosecutorial procedures should rightfully follow.
To digress, just look at the manner lorries and goods carrying vehicles abuses lanes on highways NOT MEANT for its use.
Cameras are mounted every few hundred metres on our highways and other roads. It captures the number-plates of these flouters.
Traffic Police MUST provide these details (of law-breakers) on a weekly basis to the community as a form of deterence.
Concerned newspapers and TV stations should follow-up and expose this perpetrators who think that the road is an amusment centre of sorts - ala The Great World, The New World of 50's.
Riders, just like drivers have to sit for a Highway Code test before getting the chance to go for a riding test on the road.
Are these courses too easy nowadays? Could it be that the Riding and Driving Schools run by the NTUC and other private organisations make it easier for their "clients" so that "word would spread around and garner good future business" for such schools. If this is so, it is an extremely dangerous move and should be stemmed.
b) Failure to maintain proper lookout.
Licences given by Singapore Authorities are respected all over the world. Those running foul of such rules should be seriously dealt with and if possible have their licences revoked forever, otherwise we risk loosing our "respect" in other countries.
Like taxi-drivers, those with past records of violations (on an annual basis) should be required to sit for refresher courses.
Those who are clean allowed to continue without the need for a refresher course. A reward so to speak.
c) Failure to maintain proper control of vehicle.
Action should be taken against those involved in a number of accidents within a year. Traffic investigators should probe deep and ascertain, whether the culprit concerned had been driving too close or in a reckless, dangerous and rash manner. Those reported for failing to "respect" the signals given by vehicles ahead of theirs to gain access into lanes or side-lanes, should be hit heavily.
LTA and Traffic Police should come down hard on motorcycles and vehicles that had been illegally-modified. Laws should be in place to seized such dangerous vehicles and the offenders heavily fined or even jailed (for repeat offences).
Those wanting to ride motorycles with high engine capacities should have a certain age (reccommended age should be above 40). They must also have clean records.
Many neighbouring countries do not have many high cc bikes. Only those who can afford it and are "matured" enough are allowed to have it.
Why are we so liberal with our youngsters like having Class 2A, 2B and 2?.
Go by age and clean record.
Our youngsters are our assets. Why allow them to become another figure of fatalities?
We love our children and granchildren, don't we.
If the authorities truthfully love the people they should think like parents too.
In conclusion, in all fairness to the affected dad whose letter appeared in the ST yesterday, the dangerous manouevres orchestrated by the man on the two-wheeler in an area considered out-of-bounds to motorised vehicles that nearly led to an accident involving his child has a lot more to tell about the general behaviour of our local youths. These youngsters are taking it for granted. The police officers attending that case should be hauled up by their supervisors and taken to task, if they had acted irresponsibly.
Act now before it is too late.
The report stated that the main causes of such accidents are;
a) Disobeying traffic lights signals,
b) Failure to maintain proper lookout, and
c) Failure to maintain proper control of vehicle.
a) Disobeying traffic lights signals,
Traffic lights are there for a purpose. Some of these signalised areas are augmented by cameras. Cameras catches live action. Prosecutorial procedures should rightfully follow.
To digress, just look at the manner lorries and goods carrying vehicles abuses lanes on highways NOT MEANT for its use.
Cameras are mounted every few hundred metres on our highways and other roads. It captures the number-plates of these flouters.
Traffic Police MUST provide these details (of law-breakers) on a weekly basis to the community as a form of deterence.
Concerned newspapers and TV stations should follow-up and expose this perpetrators who think that the road is an amusment centre of sorts - ala The Great World, The New World of 50's.
Riders, just like drivers have to sit for a Highway Code test before getting the chance to go for a riding test on the road.
Are these courses too easy nowadays? Could it be that the Riding and Driving Schools run by the NTUC and other private organisations make it easier for their "clients" so that "word would spread around and garner good future business" for such schools. If this is so, it is an extremely dangerous move and should be stemmed.
b) Failure to maintain proper lookout.
Licences given by Singapore Authorities are respected all over the world. Those running foul of such rules should be seriously dealt with and if possible have their licences revoked forever, otherwise we risk loosing our "respect" in other countries.
Like taxi-drivers, those with past records of violations (on an annual basis) should be required to sit for refresher courses.
Those who are clean allowed to continue without the need for a refresher course. A reward so to speak.
c) Failure to maintain proper control of vehicle.
Action should be taken against those involved in a number of accidents within a year. Traffic investigators should probe deep and ascertain, whether the culprit concerned had been driving too close or in a reckless, dangerous and rash manner. Those reported for failing to "respect" the signals given by vehicles ahead of theirs to gain access into lanes or side-lanes, should be hit heavily.
LTA and Traffic Police should come down hard on motorcycles and vehicles that had been illegally-modified. Laws should be in place to seized such dangerous vehicles and the offenders heavily fined or even jailed (for repeat offences).
Those wanting to ride motorycles with high engine capacities should have a certain age (reccommended age should be above 40). They must also have clean records.
Many neighbouring countries do not have many high cc bikes. Only those who can afford it and are "matured" enough are allowed to have it.
Why are we so liberal with our youngsters like having Class 2A, 2B and 2?.
Go by age and clean record.
Our youngsters are our assets. Why allow them to become another figure of fatalities?
We love our children and granchildren, don't we.
If the authorities truthfully love the people they should think like parents too.
In conclusion, in all fairness to the affected dad whose letter appeared in the ST yesterday, the dangerous manouevres orchestrated by the man on the two-wheeler in an area considered out-of-bounds to motorised vehicles that nearly led to an accident involving his child has a lot more to tell about the general behaviour of our local youths. These youngsters are taking it for granted. The police officers attending that case should be hauled up by their supervisors and taken to task, if they had acted irresponsibly.
Act now before it is too late.
