The Ugly Side of Singapore's Driving Culture

I started driving again after 2 years. Though excited to get behind the wheels, I find the whole experience of driving in Singapore frustrating. While the ever increasing number of ERP gantries adds to the dis-enchantment of driving, the driving culture here really kills this simple pleasure in life. My observations are:

Singapore Drivers are:
a. Rude - We do not have the habit of giving way. Please do not deny it because if this is entrenched in our driving culture, why do we need a campaign for it? If we have this practice, why don't we know that blinking the hazard light twice means "Thank You"?

b. Unskilful - Have you ever been in the situation where a car cuts into your lane after signalling his intention just split seconds before? And after doing that, instead of accelerating, he slows down? Have you ever experienced drivers who take their time to filter their lanes thus slowing down every single car behind? Better still, ever met those who change lanes without even bothering to signal?

c. Selfish - Ever been tailgated for no reason? The tailgaters think that by sticking the bonnet into the back of your car, it will force everybody else in front to move faster!!!What logic is that? If the road is congested, it's CONGESTED! Maybe by doing that, he can move a split second faster. But it's just that! Many a times, I just feel like jam braking the car to prove a point, THE TAILGATERS ARE A MENACE AND A DANGER TO THEMSELVES AND THE REST OF THE ROAD USERS. Imagine, 2 seconds for you to react to a jam break and you are at most 1 metre away from the car in front of you while travelling at 90km/hr? It doesn't take more than a 3yr old to understand the danger.

d. No sense of speed - What do you do if you are coming out from a slip road into the expressway? You accelerate when there's no car to move into the lanes? That's fine. What happens if the left lane is crowded? Ever experienced drivers who still accelerate when filtering into the left lane from a slip road when that lane is crowded? They just literally joist you out of your lane.

e. Bo Liao - Ever seen drivers snaking in and out of the lanes thinking that that's efficient driving and that they can get to their destination faster? Better yet, performing a combination of snaking and tailgating stunts! Sometimes, I find these acts highly comical. Especially after all the "effort" being put in, we still meet each other at the same traffic light! Time saved? I don't think so. Higher level of kick? Maybe! Being a nuisance? Definitely!Kaneshna!

Having stayed in Moscow for 2 years, I have experienced what skillful driving is all about. I have also experienced what it means by being efficient on the roads. Believe you me, it's none of the above. I always stand by this notion, as drivers, we are like soldiers with a weapon, we have the capability to kill. You may not have intended for it but you certainly do not want to bear the consequences of depriving another motorist's life. It is irreversible! Please drive responsibily!