A Singapore-registered Mercedes was involved in a collision with a motorcyclist at the Johor Bahru (JB) checkpoint on Monday (10 Aug), after the car suddenly moved into another lane.
The incident reportedly happened at around 6.06pm and was captured on the dashcam of another vehicle travelling nearby.
Footage of the accident was subsequently shared on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page, showing the Mercedes waiting in a queue before making the unexpected manoeuvre.
Mercedes moves into lane without signalling
Based on the video, several cars were waiting in a queue on the right-hand lane leading towards the JB checkpoint.
The Mercedes was initially stationary with the other vehicles as traffic appeared to be moving slowly.
At one point, a motorcycle travelled along the empty lane to the left of the queue. The Mercedes then appeared to accelerate and move towards the same lane after the motorcycle had passed.
The car’s lane change appeared to happen without the use of a signal, according to the footage.
As the Mercedes was moving across, another motorcycle approached from the left.
Motorcyclist crashes into Mercedes
The approaching rider seemingly had little time to react to the Mercedes entering the lane.
The motorcycle subsequently struck the side of the Mercedes, sending the rider off the bike following the impact.
The footage showed the motorcyclist falling onto the road while the motorcycle came to a stop nearby.
The Mercedes also stopped after the collision. The driver and passenger were then seen getting out of the vehicle and approaching the motorcyclist.
It was not immediately clear from the footage whether the rider sustained any injuries or whether medical assistance was required.
Netizens criticise apparent queue-cutting manoeuvre
The incident attracted criticism online, with several commenters questioning the Mercedes driver’s decision to move out of the queue.
Some netizens pointed out that drivers should check their surroundings carefully before changing lanes, particularly in an area where motorcycles frequently travel between lanes.
One commenter said drivers attempting to change lanes should check their rear-view mirrors first.
Another questioned whether the lane was intended for cars in the first place.
The video does not independently establish the driver’s intentions, and it is unclear from the footage whether the Mercedes driver was deliberately attempting to bypass the queue.
The incident serves as another reminder for motorists heading towards the JB checkpoint to remain alert when changing lanes, especially amid heavy traffic involving both cars and motorcycles.
Motorists should also ensure that they signal their intentions clearly and check for approaching vehicles before moving into another lane.
At busy checkpoints, where traffic can become congested and motorcycles may move through gaps between vehicles, sudden lane changes can leave other road users with little time to react.