Despite having one of the highest population densities on the planet, Singapore’s traffic is not as awful as it is in many other supercities like Tokyo, London, and Paris. That does not imply that there aren’t any issues, though. Some drivers may take this for granted and become impolite to other road users because of how effectively the road network works. As the number of vehicles on the road increased, the government made an extra effort to promote alternate modes of transportation. This is crucial for Singapore’s efforts to project a green image to the rest of the globe.
First, let’s examine some of the advantages and disadvantages of driving in Singapore
Advantages:
1. Connected Road Network Advantages
Singapore takes pride in its thorough city planning, which often entails a highly connected road network. Additionally, a considerable chunk of the day and night is made easier by the efficient working of the traffic systems.
2. Well-Maintained Roads
Singapore’s roadways are both smooth and clean, as one would expect in a prosperous nation, and the contrast is particularly striking when compared to other regions.
3. Strong Traffic Enforcement
In many facets of Singaporean society, the law is rigid, and this is also true of the roadways. In general, everything is kept safe and in order by speed limits and traffic light limitations. Additionally, the traffic police effectively maintain order on the roads.
Disadvantages:
1. Vehicle Ownership Costs
Because of Singapore’s vehicle ownership system, you officially lease a vehicle for ten years rather than purchasing it, and you have to pay thousands of dollars for the privilege. You must either scrap the vehicle when the time period is up or pay for an extension.
2. Poor Motorists
People are prone to honk their horns in rage, overtake suddenly without signaling, and even make nasty gestures. People may also be seen using a “trapping technique,” which is slowing down to box out anxious vehicles, to fight back against this. This phenomenon might have been brought on by the high expense of car ownership. Taxi drivers are notorious for using very aggressive driving styles.
3. Costly parking and ERP fees
The electronic road pricing (ERP) program, which was designed to reduce traffic during peak hours but has instead proven ineffective, is the first. Parking costs have also increased sharply to keep up with the increase in the number of vehicles on the road.
Nobody wants to be caught in the center of a nasty accident, below are some safe driving tips that all drivers need to know:
1. Don’t drive when you are extremely tired
In Singapore, we all lead busy lives, but that doesn’t imply we should all be driving while severely sleep-deprived. In fact, driving while fatigued might be as risky as driving while intoxicated!
2. Always be aware of your blind spots, and stay out of other people’s way.
Blind spots are areas that are obscured from your view, by forgoing the practice of checking your blind spots, it is easy to get into an accident as you simply did not notice the other vehicle’s existence!
Likewise, you should also stay out of the blind spots of other vehicles to keep yourself safe, especially if you belong to the more vulnerable group of road users – motorcycle riders.
3. When driving, keep a wider field of vision and avoid following too closely.
Things may occur a little more quickly than you anticipate due to the high speeds that automobiles move at. You can be in for an unpleasant surprise the next time you glance at where you are heading if you take a brief break from the road, take a quick nap, or even just look down to adjust the audio volume.
It is always beneficial to look ahead and pre-empt yourself for any upcoming obstacles while driving, by doing so, you can slow down or maneuver your car to safety should there be any obstacle. Of course, it will definitely help if you keep a safe distance from the car in front as well. By keeping a safe following distance, you can give yourself more time to react in unexpected situations.
4. Make the most of your vehicle’s headlights and indicators.
Giving a warning before a turn or lane change can make driving much safer. Your actions become more predictable as a result. As a result, other motorists will be able to avoid your safe
Sending the wrong signals will make your actions much less predictable, so while signaling is crucial, making a conscious effort to turn off your indicators at the right time also makes a significant difference to safety!
5. Be cautious and deliberate when driving.
Under extremely stressful circumstances, humans don’t actually function properly. When we are under pressure, pressed for time, or both, we frequently make mistakes.
While arriving late will not look good on you, not arriving at all will be worse. Road accidents can result from hasty actions such as sudden lane changes, discretionary right turns made without checking for traffic, aggressive overtaking in bends or in the rain, or simply driving too fast.
6. Keep your focus on the task at hand – driving
Driving is a complicated task that requires your full, undivided attention. Take your eyes off the road for seconds and the next thing you know, you are sitting in a pile of the wreck.
Distracted driving is a very real problem these days as we are all preoccupied with our smartphones, be it for communication, work or leisure.
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