Where's that steely traffic cop?

[MarrickG]

FOR a long time, the mobile Traffic Police officer was the essence of the uncompromising disciplinarian of our roads and expressways.

I remember, as a child, the fear and respect he commanded when he appeared suddenly from nowhere to impose the law.

Motorists automatically toed the line because every offence that was committed meant a fine, burning a hole in the pocket.

An illegal U-turn, parking against double-yellow lines or along a road with a single continuous white line or near a fire hydrant - these were virtually unheard of.

Motorists kept their respectful distance from this 'uncle with the black legs' (a moniker that came with the perfectly polished knee-length black boots they wore).

Traffic enforcement today is different, to say the least. The Traffic Police seem more tolerant of errant motorists.

Penalties appear to be meted out only for errors in major thoroughfares and in the Central Business District. Elsewhere, the Traffic Police keep a low profile.

With the delegation of some duties to the Land Transport Authority and its outsourced agents, they have also given away much of this legacy.

Is this new-age tolerance for recalcitrant driving preferable to the steely legacy of old which ensured discipline on our roads?

We need to take a long and hard look.

Richard Goh

 

[cooleo]

Aiyo this guy just got summons is it? Wanna talk cock about traffic police

 

[boring]

traffic police and rov outsource part of their enforcement team liao la, those low paid ateos and certis where got time to work "steely"

 

[BuiKia]

With the sudden population increase, the existing police manpower probably couldn't manage it well.

I was told that no one with any common sense would want to join the police with its benefit being the same as private sector and its salary way below the current market. Not to mention the limitless restriction to your lifestyle while with the police.