Do more for pedestrian safety
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Jan 18, 2011 - ST Forum
AS A pedestrian, I have observed that many drivers in Singapore expect pedestrians to give way to them. For example, when they are reversing or when they are driving out from a small lane into a main road, they expect pedestrians to wait and let them go first before crossing the road.
One morning, my husband and I were crossing a small lane and the driver of a BMW almost drove into us. The driver was angry, wound down his car window and said: "There is no traffic light here." The driver did not think that he was in the wrong even though he did not stop before the stop line.
I would like the Traffic Police to clarify who - the driver or the pedestrian - should give way in such a case. Or better still, provide a general rule of thumb, for example, that drivers must always look out for pedestrians and give way to them.
Many pedestrians themselves perpetuate the misconception that drivers have right of way at all times out of sheer fear for their own safety.
The Traffic Police should explain and highlight whether the driver or pedestrian has right of way on roads where there are "no traffic lights".
And more importantly, I urge them to launch an educational campaign on giving way to pedestrians.
Over time, I hope we can see real change in the way we drive in Singapore and develop genuine respect for one another's safety.
Loh Wei Ling (Ms)
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She can have the right of the way if the car approaches at 100km/hr.
That way, we won't get silly questions like this.
"Many pedestrians themselves perpetuate the misconception that drivers have right of way at all times out of sheer fear for their own safety."
Is she stupid or what?
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someone need to let Loh Wei Ling (Ms) know that she has the right of way
as in
if she got run down by the driver of the BMW and die, there is a good chance that the driver of the BMW will be jailed.
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how about pedestrians not being idiots?
KNN the other day, i was driving slowly in a carpark.. some old dude walks and stops quarter-way into the lane.. so i slow down even further and have to drive to avoid him so much so that my car is about a foot into the other lane..
what does that old dude do when i'm about to pass him? he suddenly lurches forward and i had to e-brake at about 10km/h..
guy still stared at me as if it was all my fault!
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It takes both hands to clap.
On my part, I've had cars barreling down on me and nearly knocking me down.
Once, one farker nearly knocked me down and horned at me when I was crossing the zebra crossing late at night. I had already taken all reasonable precautions like continuously looking out for traffic while crossing and wearing bright luminous running attire (I was out running, but I was walking at the zebra crossing). His passenger was probably busy blowing him when he nearly knocked me down.
On the other hand, I've also seen stupid idiots who suka-suka cross the road without trying to look out for traffic and treating the street as their grandfather's road. Living at Marine Parade, I very often see this with idiotic teen beach goers who yaya cross the road at Marine Crescent without bothering to look out for traffic.
At the end of the day? We all have our role to play.