Signaling seems to be a very hard thing to do for drivers on Singapore's roads. Why is it so I wonder. I took special attention this time I'm back, after 1.5 years of a pretty gracious driving experience in Melbourne where people are quite happy to let you take your time, and usually wave at you in thanks when u give way. And we're not just talking about nice old lady drivers here, it's everyone from the sharp suited yuppie to the heavily tattooed biker.
In Singapore, I've noticed that few drivers signal on the roads. Be it to switch lanes or to indicate a turn or slipping into a filter road, most do so without flicking the signal switch (which I've found to vary between 100-120 bpm, depending on the car model and make). Whether it's a case of just being too lazy to flick the switch or sheer nonchalance, it's worrying. When you are polite enough to signal a lane change, or to make a turn, drivers behind you usually treat it as a sign of utter intimidation or brutal challenge. Thus they speed up to ensure you don't take over their side of the lane, even if you're a few car lengths away. I've read in the HardwareZone forum that if you wish to change lanes, it'll be better to do so without signaling so you get the job done. The moment the signal comes up, that's it, you're challenging the driver behind on the next lane. Scary isn't it? So this period back home has been interesting observing these habits on the road. Initially I thought people refrained from signaling in a futile attempt to save and prolong battery life.
So I took it a step further to ask a cabbie what all this is about. And he had the funniest theory.
He argued that on the roads, all Singapore drivers see, are their grandfathers. Their Ah Kongs. So deprived of time with their grandfathers, they hallucinate about them (yes of all places) on the roads. Therefore they can't see other road users. So we can't blame them. They're playing catch-up time - a sure allusion to the local term 'Grandfather's Road'. Haha!
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