I am a regular commuter on City Hopper 579, one of your supposedly premium services, which you charge an arm and a leg for. I often take the bus often in the afternoons on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. As a premium service, SBS Transit has been able to provide commuters with fixed arrival timings when the bus arrives at specified bus stops. Therefore, despite the much higher charges, I prefer taking 579 from town to Simei MRT, on which I am guaranteed minimal waiting time, convenience and comfort. Having a guaranteed seat on 579 surely beats having to stand all the way from City Hall to Simei on the MRT train.
However, there is nothing premium about this service. One of the biggest drawback of taking 579 is the lack of punctuality in the arrival times (compared to other premium buses like 502, 518, and 578, which also call at the same bus stop). The deviation from the published timing is getting so out of hand that I am compelled to write this feedback.
The deterioration of the punctuality of the service has been gradual but visible. About half a year ago, service 579 often called at the bus stop within 5 minutes of the scheduled arrival times, in the recent two months, the erratic arrival times have been so bad that I now question myself if it is at all sensible to pay $3.10 to take this trip.
Today, for instance, the 1611 h bus arrived at 1630 h. Even though your website suggested that to passengers to "be at the bus stop 5 minutes earlier," past experience of seeing service 579 arrive up to as many as 10 minutes before the scheduled time has taught me a lesson to make my way to the bus stop earlier- I missed that bus because it came way too early. Since then, I made it a point to wait at the bus stop 10 minutes before the scheduled time. Still, there are buses which arrive 7 minutes or so early.
Think about it: If I arrive at the bus stop 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled bus arrival time and I have to wait 20 minutes for the bus because it was late, what SENSE does it make for the commuter who has to wait 30 minutes - despite a clearly stated arrival time for the service - for a 30 minute bus ride from Bras Basah to Simei? A comparable MRT trip would have taken less than the time of either the waiting or the bus trip!
You may also wish to note that only the service levels of bus 579 is way below those of your other premium services such as 518, 578 and 502, and most of your regular services. I know this, because I have been frustrated enough to monitor their arrival times against your prescribed timing for the past months to build my case for my feedback. I am very interested to know why this is, and why SBS transit has allowed it, to be so.
Please do not give me stock replies about road and traffic conditions. Except for extenuating circumstances, such conditions do not vary excessively day to day. Furthermore, the bus spends a good amount of its journey on the expressways, which are almost never congested at the afternoon portions of the day. What I see is simply poor management and oversight by your supervisory staff. Ask your staff why other services can be prompt but 579 can't be.
Do not tell me to use IRIS. The hallmark of a world class bus service is its punctuality. Why do I have to pay money to find out if your buses are going to underperform YET AGAIN? If SBS Transit is able to deliver the goods, people would not even need to rely on IRIS. Many countries I visit do not even have IRIS: What they have a cheap bus services with high frequencies.
Perhaps one incentive for your treasured customers like myself and one way of keeping your company in our good books is to give free rides to passengers if the scheduled premium bus service is more than 5 minutes late. After all, premium services command a price because of their high service levels and should the service fall short, suitable compensation should be made. I certainly don't pay Singapore Airline fares to be treated like a budget airline customer. If you aspire to be a world class transport company, then take a leaf out of SIA's books. If SIA, our truly world class air transport company, were late, they would have served sandwiches and drinks and their front line staff would have been profuse with apologies.
The last thing I need is wait 30 minutes for a bus with already such a low operating frequency and yet cannot keep to its announced arrival time, be faced with a tailgating bus driver who could not see the passenger trying to flag down the bus at the bus stop until it is nearly too late and drive badly, braking too hard because he was tailgating (yet again). Does SBS Transit not assign your better drivers to drive premium services?
Or am I mistaken about 579 being a premium service at all?
Showing posts with label hell drivers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hell drivers. Show all posts
Friday, May 22, 2009
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Case in point
The New Paper Headline today:
SINGAPORE MOTORIST DIES IN CRASH
He beats red light while fleeing from police.
Sister says: He has no licence but he loves to speed
He rides like he wants to die
And I think he's only 17.
I suddenly feel a teeny weeny bit smarter already!
SINGAPORE MOTORIST DIES IN CRASH
He beats red light while fleeing from police.
Sister says: He has no licence but he loves to speed
He rides like he wants to die
And I think he's only 17.
I suddenly feel a teeny weeny bit smarter already!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Open Letter to Singaporean Drivers
Dear Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Madam Driver,
I know your car is cheap. By your standards, the damned thing must be cheap.
I know your life is cheap. By the insurance companies' estimate, you probably don't have much life insurance.
I know your car insurance is cheap. Since your car is cheap, then the insurance, which costs a minute fraction of the car price must be like a microscopic speck of dust in your eyes.
I know your licence is cheap. You probably got it while you were overseas and then converted to the Singapore licence, which is notoriously difficult to achieve.
I know petrol is cheap. Despite the hikes and all, your car is bigger than your brains and your car's petrol consumption is faster than a battalion of thirsty soldiers at a water parade, you simply think nothing of it.
I know your brake pads are cheap. That's why you can afford to speed up and brake suddenly so often.
I know you think your judgement is impeccable. That's why you tailgate the cars like an bootlicking ass sniffer who has literally shoved his/her/its nose into the ass he/she/it is sniffing and actually *believe* you can brake in time in case of sudden slowdowns.
I know you think your driving skills are over the top. That's why you weave in and out of traffic with no care for the lesser drivers on the road.
My biggest hope for you is to be involved in some major road accident that leaves you maimed, hopefully hand-and-leg amputee, your brain damaged enough for you to lose your ability to speak but not your ability to feel pain, frustration and most importantly, your pelvis smashed so you need a colon-bag sticking out by your side - you have a hand to change your own! - and may you outlive your caregivers! And what else can I wish upon you that you did not try to inflict upon us through your senseless driving.
I know you have already bought your one-way ticket to hell, but the saner of us have not bought ours. We probably don't know that such a ticket exists, except for the brief realisation that on your attempt to take trip there, you would have had the ability to bring us along for free. (Did you pay with your Mastercard?)
I wish you all success in your death seeking pursuits,
A law-abiding driver
I know your car is cheap. By your standards, the damned thing must be cheap.
I know your life is cheap. By the insurance companies' estimate, you probably don't have much life insurance.
I know your car insurance is cheap. Since your car is cheap, then the insurance, which costs a minute fraction of the car price must be like a microscopic speck of dust in your eyes.
I know your licence is cheap. You probably got it while you were overseas and then converted to the Singapore licence, which is notoriously difficult to achieve.
I know petrol is cheap. Despite the hikes and all, your car is bigger than your brains and your car's petrol consumption is faster than a battalion of thirsty soldiers at a water parade, you simply think nothing of it.
I know your brake pads are cheap. That's why you can afford to speed up and brake suddenly so often.
I know you think your judgement is impeccable. That's why you tailgate the cars like an bootlicking ass sniffer who has literally shoved his/her/its nose into the ass he/she/it is sniffing and actually *believe* you can brake in time in case of sudden slowdowns.
I know you think your driving skills are over the top. That's why you weave in and out of traffic with no care for the lesser drivers on the road.
My biggest hope for you is to be involved in some major road accident that leaves you maimed, hopefully hand-and-leg amputee, your brain damaged enough for you to lose your ability to speak but not your ability to feel pain, frustration and most importantly, your pelvis smashed so you need a colon-bag sticking out by your side - you have a hand to change your own! - and may you outlive your caregivers! And what else can I wish upon you that you did not try to inflict upon us through your senseless driving.
I know you have already bought your one-way ticket to hell, but the saner of us have not bought ours. We probably don't know that such a ticket exists, except for the brief realisation that on your attempt to take trip there, you would have had the ability to bring us along for free. (Did you pay with your Mastercard?)
I wish you all success in your death seeking pursuits,
A law-abiding driver
Crazy crazy roads
Yesterday, there were three road incidents that I saw on the Pan Island Expressway. Incredible.
In the first incident, a pick-up careened suddenly three lanes (from middle right all the way to the extreme left lane), and then past the road shoulder hit against the roadside fences along the shoulder lane and richocheted off. The pick-up then came to a stop in the road shoulder. Amazingly, no other car was involved despite there being cars before and following the pick-up all the way. Incredibly, no one had to brake or take evasive actions! Go figure. Right after I passed the pick-up, not more than 100 m later, there was a loud bang.
(A change in plans led me right back to the opposite side of the expressway). There, I saw the source of the loud bang. A lorry's back tyre has exploded. Go figure. It rests in the traffic island right after the exit to the expressway.
And late in the evening, after my shopping and dinner, on the way home, we saw a 12 car pile-up although the newspapers said that there were two separate incidents involving 10 cars in all. I counted and there were 12!
So exciting. Except there were no deaths. We could increase our IQ by a lot if these folks voluntarily removed themselves from the gene pool!
In the first incident, a pick-up careened suddenly three lanes (from middle right all the way to the extreme left lane), and then past the road shoulder hit against the roadside fences along the shoulder lane and richocheted off. The pick-up then came to a stop in the road shoulder. Amazingly, no other car was involved despite there being cars before and following the pick-up all the way. Incredibly, no one had to brake or take evasive actions! Go figure. Right after I passed the pick-up, not more than 100 m later, there was a loud bang.
(A change in plans led me right back to the opposite side of the expressway). There, I saw the source of the loud bang. A lorry's back tyre has exploded. Go figure. It rests in the traffic island right after the exit to the expressway.
And late in the evening, after my shopping and dinner, on the way home, we saw a 12 car pile-up although the newspapers said that there were two separate incidents involving 10 cars in all. I counted and there were 12!
So exciting. Except there were no deaths. We could increase our IQ by a lot if these folks voluntarily removed themselves from the gene pool!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Eugenics the Singaporean Way
He won't say sorry
'IT'S NOT MY FAULT'
Man causes crash after slamming brakes to insert CashCard
Woman biker rushed to ICU, suffers memory loss
HE stopped his car abruptly on the fast lane of a busy highway to insert his CashCard.
By Chong Shin Yen
29 April 2008
HE stopped his car abruptly on the fast lane of a busy highway to insert his CashCard.
And it caused an accident that left a woman seriously injured.
But to Mr Lim Huang Khim, 45, it was the 'natural thing' to do. He does not think he did anything wrong.
This, despite being fined for his inconsiderate driving that caused a motorcyclist to slam into the car behind him - which had braked in time to avoid hitting Mr Lim's car.
This, despite a judge ruling in a civil suit that Mr Lim was 50 per cent liable for the accident.
The motorcyclist, Miss Tiong Zhen Cheng, 33, was flung more than 20m and landed beside Mr Lim's car.
The sales executive was warded in the intensive care unit and spent about a week in hospital. She still suffers pain and some memory loss.
Miss Tiong ended up being sued by the driver of the second car, Mr Lye Chiew Meng, for the damage to his Toyota.
His rear windscreen was shattered and the repair bill came to $7,000.
But her insurance company felt Mr Lim should also be liable and he was named as the third party in the civil suit.
SMILED MANY TIMES IN COURT
Earlier this month, Mr Lim, who works as a driver, insisted he was not to blame and smiled several times as he recounted the accident on the stand.
He was chided by District Judge Lim Wee Meng for his cavalier attitude.
Judge Lim said: 'I don't think it's funny. Someone was seriously injured and I don't think it's funny at all.'
The accident happened around 7.50pm on 29 Nov 2006 on the Central Expressway, just before the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantry near the Braddell exit.
Mr Lim was driving a rented silver Mitsubishi car and was travelling on the extreme right lane on his way home with his wife and four children.
When he saw that the gantry was activated, he switched on the car's hazard lights and stopped to slot in his CashCard.
Mr Lye, a finance manager, who was behind him, managed to stop in time. But Miss Tiong's 400cc Honda motorbike crashed into Mr Lye's car.
When cross-examined by Miss Tiong's lawyer, Mr Lim maintained that he was not at fault.
Her lawyer, Mr William Chai, asked: 'A car was damaged, a person was severely and mentally injured, are you saying you are not responsible? Not even 1 per cent?'
Mr Lim replied: 'I'm saying that I'm totally not to be blamed.'
He told the court that he had not inserted his CashCard into the in-vehicle unit (IU) earlier because he did not know that the ERP gantry was activated at that time.
When asked if seeing the activated gantry was a big surprise, Mr Lim said he had seen it from afar and was trying to insert the CashCard in time.
He also told the court that he did not see Miss Tiong's bike behind Mr Lye's car.
He admitted that following the accident, he had purposely left out in his police report the reason for stopping his car as he knew that it was an offence.
Mr Lim, who has been driving for 24 years, was fined $200 by the Traffic Police for inconsiderate driving and given nine demerit points.
But in his affidavit tendered to the court, he said: 'I decided to pay the $200 out of convenience even though I do not believe that I should be responsible for the accident.
'I did not want the trouble to engage a lawyer to contest the claim because this would be time-consuming and the legal fees would definitely exceed $200.'
In contrast, Mr Lye was apologetic about what happened to Miss Tiong. His lawyer, Miss Bonnie Kwok, told the court: 'My client would like to extend his sympathies to Miss Tiong.'
She also said that while Mr Lye could clearly see the traffic conditions in front of him, Miss Tiong could not.
Said Miss Kwok: 'It's not a situation whereby the vehicles were approaching a traffic light junction, so there's no reason for Miss Tiong to anticipate a sudden stopping.
'Mr Lim had created a dangerous situation. I found it rather distasteful that Mr Lim's demeanour in court showed that he couldn't be bothered that Miss Tiong had suffered severe injuries and trauma.'
Before giving his verdict, the judge pointed out that Mr Lim could have gone through the ERP gantry and paid an administrative fee of $10 for not having a CashCard.
LIABLE FOR DAMAGE
He ruled that Mr Lim and Miss Tiong were each 50 per cent liable for the damage caused to Mr Lye's car.
When contacted by The New Paper, Mr Lim insisted that he was not in the wrong.
He said in Mandarin: 'Are you a driver? Have you driven a car before?
'If you have, you should know that it's a driver's natural reaction (when you see an activated gantry).
'You can't say it's right or wrong because there's no right or wrong in such situations. I did switch on the hazard lights to warn the vehicles behind me.'
Mr Lim said that he felt sorry for the injured Miss Tiong, though he did not speak to her in court.
'She might think that I have an ulterior motive if I went up to her and apologised,' he said.
Just two days before the accident involving Miss Tiong, Mr Lim said he was involved in a similar accident along the East Coast Parkway.
Mr Lim told The New Paper that the car in front of his had slowed down suddenly.
'So I also braked and stopped my car to take a closer look at what the driver was up to and to take down his licence plate number,' he said.
'But the car behind me couldn't stop in time and ended up crashing into the rear of my car.'
Mr Lim said the first car then drove off. His car, a Honda Stream, ended up at the workshop for five days.
That was why he was driving a rented car, which did not have a CashCard in the IU.
Mr Lim added: 'If I was driving my car, this wouldn't have happened because I always have the CashCard inside the IU.'
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/printfriendly/0,4139,163364,00.html?
Emphases mine. I knew Singaporean drivers typically have depressed IQ but to go against Highway Code rules, I think Lim and Tiong ought to have both their licenses revoked. Stopping on the expressway and riding in the extreme right lane... what were they thinking? And why did no one die?
'IT'S NOT MY FAULT'
Man causes crash after slamming brakes to insert CashCard
Woman biker rushed to ICU, suffers memory loss
HE stopped his car abruptly on the fast lane of a busy highway to insert his CashCard.
By Chong Shin Yen
29 April 2008
HE stopped his car abruptly on the fast lane of a busy highway to insert his CashCard.
And it caused an accident that left a woman seriously injured.
But to Mr Lim Huang Khim, 45, it was the 'natural thing' to do. He does not think he did anything wrong.
This, despite being fined for his inconsiderate driving that caused a motorcyclist to slam into the car behind him - which had braked in time to avoid hitting Mr Lim's car.
This, despite a judge ruling in a civil suit that Mr Lim was 50 per cent liable for the accident.
The motorcyclist, Miss Tiong Zhen Cheng, 33, was flung more than 20m and landed beside Mr Lim's car.
The sales executive was warded in the intensive care unit and spent about a week in hospital. She still suffers pain and some memory loss.
Miss Tiong ended up being sued by the driver of the second car, Mr Lye Chiew Meng, for the damage to his Toyota.
His rear windscreen was shattered and the repair bill came to $7,000.
But her insurance company felt Mr Lim should also be liable and he was named as the third party in the civil suit.
SMILED MANY TIMES IN COURT
Earlier this month, Mr Lim, who works as a driver, insisted he was not to blame and smiled several times as he recounted the accident on the stand.
He was chided by District Judge Lim Wee Meng for his cavalier attitude.
Judge Lim said: 'I don't think it's funny. Someone was seriously injured and I don't think it's funny at all.'
The accident happened around 7.50pm on 29 Nov 2006 on the Central Expressway, just before the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantry near the Braddell exit.
Mr Lim was driving a rented silver Mitsubishi car and was travelling on the extreme right lane on his way home with his wife and four children.
When he saw that the gantry was activated, he switched on the car's hazard lights and stopped to slot in his CashCard.
Mr Lye, a finance manager, who was behind him, managed to stop in time. But Miss Tiong's 400cc Honda motorbike crashed into Mr Lye's car.
When cross-examined by Miss Tiong's lawyer, Mr Lim maintained that he was not at fault.
Her lawyer, Mr William Chai, asked: 'A car was damaged, a person was severely and mentally injured, are you saying you are not responsible? Not even 1 per cent?'
Mr Lim replied: 'I'm saying that I'm totally not to be blamed.'
He told the court that he had not inserted his CashCard into the in-vehicle unit (IU) earlier because he did not know that the ERP gantry was activated at that time.
When asked if seeing the activated gantry was a big surprise, Mr Lim said he had seen it from afar and was trying to insert the CashCard in time.
He also told the court that he did not see Miss Tiong's bike behind Mr Lye's car.
He admitted that following the accident, he had purposely left out in his police report the reason for stopping his car as he knew that it was an offence.
Mr Lim, who has been driving for 24 years, was fined $200 by the Traffic Police for inconsiderate driving and given nine demerit points.
But in his affidavit tendered to the court, he said: 'I decided to pay the $200 out of convenience even though I do not believe that I should be responsible for the accident.
'I did not want the trouble to engage a lawyer to contest the claim because this would be time-consuming and the legal fees would definitely exceed $200.'
In contrast, Mr Lye was apologetic about what happened to Miss Tiong. His lawyer, Miss Bonnie Kwok, told the court: 'My client would like to extend his sympathies to Miss Tiong.'
She also said that while Mr Lye could clearly see the traffic conditions in front of him, Miss Tiong could not.
Said Miss Kwok: 'It's not a situation whereby the vehicles were approaching a traffic light junction, so there's no reason for Miss Tiong to anticipate a sudden stopping.
'Mr Lim had created a dangerous situation. I found it rather distasteful that Mr Lim's demeanour in court showed that he couldn't be bothered that Miss Tiong had suffered severe injuries and trauma.'
Before giving his verdict, the judge pointed out that Mr Lim could have gone through the ERP gantry and paid an administrative fee of $10 for not having a CashCard.
LIABLE FOR DAMAGE
He ruled that Mr Lim and Miss Tiong were each 50 per cent liable for the damage caused to Mr Lye's car.
When contacted by The New Paper, Mr Lim insisted that he was not in the wrong.
He said in Mandarin: 'Are you a driver? Have you driven a car before?
'If you have, you should know that it's a driver's natural reaction (when you see an activated gantry).
'You can't say it's right or wrong because there's no right or wrong in such situations. I did switch on the hazard lights to warn the vehicles behind me.'
Mr Lim said that he felt sorry for the injured Miss Tiong, though he did not speak to her in court.
'She might think that I have an ulterior motive if I went up to her and apologised,' he said.
Just two days before the accident involving Miss Tiong, Mr Lim said he was involved in a similar accident along the East Coast Parkway.
Mr Lim told The New Paper that the car in front of his had slowed down suddenly.
'So I also braked and stopped my car to take a closer look at what the driver was up to and to take down his licence plate number,' he said.
'But the car behind me couldn't stop in time and ended up crashing into the rear of my car.'
Mr Lim said the first car then drove off. His car, a Honda Stream, ended up at the workshop for five days.
That was why he was driving a rented car, which did not have a CashCard in the IU.
Mr Lim added: 'If I was driving my car, this wouldn't have happened because I always have the CashCard inside the IU.'
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/printfriendly/0,4139,163364,00.html?
Emphases mine. I knew Singaporean drivers typically have depressed IQ but to go against Highway Code rules, I think Lim and Tiong ought to have both their licenses revoked. Stopping on the expressway and riding in the extreme right lane... what were they thinking? And why did no one die?
Saturday, November 03, 2007
A letter of complaint to a taxi company
This is a feedback regarding on 3 Nov at about 12.35pm.
My friend was driving along (road) when we saw the above cab travelling along the right lane near the SPC fuel station, in the direction towards (road).
As we needed to make a right turn further ahead, my friend changed lane and went behind the cab in the right lane. Once he did that, the cab slowed down considerably.
The cab driver slowed so much that my friend tooted his horn at him. Only then did he stop at a road opening, switch on his right signal light (it was off all along), move the cab forward by a bit and suddenly stopped. This is despite the other side of the road being entirely clear.
Your driver must have hoped that my friend would follow the cab very closely, fail to stop in time and then hit into his rear.
Seeing that my friend moved into the left lane to drive on, the cab driver carried on driving.
I tried calling your (hot) line to lodge a complaint right after the incident but after being told your customer service officers are busy for 4 min 22 sec, the call was abruptly cut off.
We are very disappointed with the way (company name) hires drivers and with your hotline service. Nonetheless, I'll leave you to decide the best way to remind your drivers on good driving habits and road courtesy.
After all, in this case, cabs are equipped with signal lights, the main function of which are to signal INTENTION in ADVANCE.
A driving theory test for your drivers might really help improve their habits, for when you punish them, they cannot feign ignorance on what is expected of them for driving behaviour.
Please do not cause the cab driver to lose his job for this is not my intention when I write this feedback.
I just hope that if your cabs can't make our roads safer, at least they don't make them unnecessarily more dangerous.
Yours sincerely,
My friend was driving along (road) when we saw the above cab travelling along the right lane near the SPC fuel station, in the direction towards (road).
As we needed to make a right turn further ahead, my friend changed lane and went behind the cab in the right lane. Once he did that, the cab slowed down considerably.
The cab driver slowed so much that my friend tooted his horn at him. Only then did he stop at a road opening, switch on his right signal light (it was off all along), move the cab forward by a bit and suddenly stopped. This is despite the other side of the road being entirely clear.
Your driver must have hoped that my friend would follow the cab very closely, fail to stop in time and then hit into his rear.
Seeing that my friend moved into the left lane to drive on, the cab driver carried on driving.
I tried calling your (hot) line to lodge a complaint right after the incident but after being told your customer service officers are busy for 4 min 22 sec, the call was abruptly cut off.
We are very disappointed with the way (company name) hires drivers and with your hotline service. Nonetheless, I'll leave you to decide the best way to remind your drivers on good driving habits and road courtesy.
After all, in this case, cabs are equipped with signal lights, the main function of which are to signal INTENTION in ADVANCE.
A driving theory test for your drivers might really help improve their habits, for when you punish them, they cannot feign ignorance on what is expected of them for driving behaviour.
Please do not cause the cab driver to lose his job for this is not my intention when I write this feedback.
I just hope that if your cabs can't make our roads safer, at least they don't make them unnecessarily more dangerous.
Yours sincerely,
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