Yishun old man on PMD rides across busy road as cars manoeuvre around him
An elderly man riding a personal mobility device (PMD) in Yishun was filmed making his way across a busy road while vehicles continued travelling around him.
The footage was shared on Facebook on Aug. 26 by a group called PHV Community – Drive Smarter Together, where it quickly attracted attention from commenters.
The post’s caption read, “Why? Uncle why? ‘Old habits die hard.’” while the accompanying video showed the elderly rider travelling across the road with vehicles nearby.
The footage has since prompted discussion among Singapore social media users about road safety and the risks of using a PMD around moving traffic.
Elderly rider travels across road on PMD
In the video, the elderly man can be seen riding his PMD across a road in Yishun.
Rather than waiting for a clear gap in traffic, he appears to continue moving while vehicles approach the area.
Several motorists can be seen adjusting their movements as they pass the rider, with some appearing to slow down or manoeuvre around him.
The video does not show a collision, and it is unclear from the footage whether the man was crossing at a designated location or what the traffic signal was showing at the time.
No information about the elderly man’s identity or whether any enforcement action was taken was provided in the Facebook post.
Netizens react to PMD rider’s road behaviour
The unusual scene drew a mixture of concern and jokes from commenters.
Some users criticised the rider for appearing to put himself and nearby motorists in a potentially dangerous situation.
Others joked about the man’s apparent confidence while travelling through traffic. One commenter quipped that he was using “the best mobile vehicle on earth”, while another joked about avoiding the cost of a Certificate of Entitlement (COE) and road tax.
A number of commenters also compared his movements to those of a driver, with one joking that the elderly man seemed to be behaving as though he was driving a vehicle despite being on a PMD.
Others took a more serious view, saying that motorists could face difficulties reacting if a PMD rider suddenly enters their path.
PMD users urged to stay alert around traffic
The incident highlights the potential safety risks faced by PMD users when travelling around roads and other areas shared with vehicles.
PMD users need to remain aware of surrounding traffic and follow the applicable rules governing where such devices can be used. Motorists, meanwhile, need to remain vigilant for vulnerable road users and be prepared to slow down when necessary.
For an elderly rider, travelling near moving vehicles can be particularly risky because PMDs have relatively limited protection compared with cars and other motor vehicles.
Although no accident was shown in the footage, a sudden movement by a PMD rider can leave motorists with little time to react, particularly on a busy road.
The video has therefore sparked renewed online discussion about responsible road behaviour, with many commenters urging both motorists and PMD users to exercise greater caution.
It remains unclear when exactly the footage was recorded and whether the elderly rider had been travelling from or towards a designated crossing. The Facebook post also did not state whether the incident had been reported to the authorities.