Finding the roads a friendlier place these days? You’re not imagining it! Singapore Traffic Police reports their latest findings at the “Use Your RoadSense” Virtual Roadshow 2021!
An issue that often sparks wide debate especially in Singapore is: who is allowed on our roads? Now, motorists and cyclists often get up in figurative arms about one another, and it’s not difficult to guess why.
Cyclists are often viewed as obstructing traffic particularly in the leftmost lanes they tend to occupy. While not all cyclists engage in dangerous and reckless behaviour, there have also been instances of cycling along the expressway. On the flipside, there is no strict ban to stop cyclists from using roads as long as cyclists follow the on-road rules. This leads many cyclists to believe that drivers can be unnecessarily aggressive and sometimes endanger others.
Ultimately, no single group can truly stake claim on their ‘grandfather’s’ roads, and it’s up to everyone — drivers, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and other transportation device users — to behave responsibly.
As part of its long-running “Use Your RoadSense” campaign, the Singapore Traffic Police (TP) shares the latest findings of their nationwide survey. The survey focuses on the attitudes and expectations of road users on graciousness on the roads, and road safety.
During the “Use Your RoadSense” virtual roadshow launched on 12 October 2021, Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development) briefly summarised that “our roads are safer”. However, he adds that “we can still do better, especially in correcting our own bad behaviour”.
According to the longitudinal survey findings, road users generally find that other users have gradually improved over the years, describing them as easy-going, polite, and gracious. Unfortunately, of all the different road user groups, drivers were perceived to be the least gracious.
While sentiments of one another are much improved, Singaporeans still tend to associate negative feelings with other road users. Frequently used words include ‘impatient’, ‘aggressive’, ‘discourteous’, and ‘entitled’. It’s prudent to note that such mentality can lead to complacency and a tendency to shift the blame to others. Ultimately, it is up to everyone to contribute to safer roads.
Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim reminds us that “if we want to see further progress, we need to cultivate a gracious mindset and adopt a responsible mentality when using the roads”. After all, a moment of impatience or rash behaviour can lead to fatal accidents that can otherwise be avoided.
Catch the recap of the Use Your RoadSense virtual roadshow on Facebook, and remember, drive safely!
Thinking of ways you can be a more gracious driver? Here are 10 bad driving habits to avoid!
