Letter to the Editor | Reasons why Singaporeans resort to road rage instead of avoiding it

Dear Editor,

I read with concern the report, “Road rage ‘a real and big issue’ in Singapore, as drivers bemoan sense of entitlement on roads” (TODAY, July 16).

As we all know, Singapore is a well-known cosmopolitan city and its people are living in a hustle and bustle lifestyle, and most motorists feel abominable to adapt to its daily heavy traffic flow.

It is a known fact that each road is a public amenity and yet nowadays, we notice that there are increasing cases of road rages in Singapore.

Why do people resort to the unbearable and disgusting behaviours of road rage such as flashing headlights, unnecessarily and intermittently or repeatedly honking, tailgating, lane-changing/lane-cutting without signalling, shouting, exchanging vulgarity, pointing middle fingers and altercations or fighting between entangled motorists?

I think, basically, there are a few possible reasons:

1. Selfishness and unwillingness to give way result in vicious abuse or, in worst-case scenarios – the occurrence of a road accident. Some people might have the wrong perception that since I have the right of way and paid for road tax, why must I give way to other road users?

2. Bad temperament, irritable character and impatient attitude of the affected motorists could accelerate the ignition of conflict or dispute if both parties fail to give way or accommodate each other.

3. Competition on the roads by speeding and frequent or irregular wavering to signal upper social status. It is not difficult for us to notice some drivers of luxurious cars speeding and wavering on the roads like nobody’s business. This is one of the typical roadhogs.

Anyway, when we encounter such an unpredictable and unpleasant incident of road rage, we must bear in mind to keep calm and avoid engaging in eye-to-eye contact and any verbal communication with the road hog.

Otherwise, we would waste our precious time and energy on these kinds of unproductive matters.

Teo Kueh Liang