In a bizarre twist of events at ComfortDelGro Driving Centre (CDC), a routine driving lesson turned into a collision comedy as a driving instructor, Seah Choon Chai, found himself facing fines and a driving ban.
The incident involved a collision with another student while navigating the CDC premises, leaving both parties in an unexpected pitstop, according to Channel NewsAsia.
Parking Practice Turned Comedy of Errors
Seah, a 57-year-old driving instructor, had just completed teaching a student the art of parking at CDC’s driving circuit.
As the lesson concluded around 10:05 pm, Seah decided to drop the student off at the nearby train station before intending to park the vehicle and head home.
Upon reentering CDC, Seah’s comedic misadventure began as he failed to keep a proper lookout for oncoming vehicles or, in this case, a pedestrian.
Executing a right turn without the due diligence of checking his surroundings, Seah collided with a 34-year-old woman undergoing driving lessons at the centre.
Witnessing the unexpected encounter, Seah’s vehicle struck the victim, leaving her on the ground with an injury to her left arm.
The Drama Unfolds
Seah, realizing the unfolding drama, stopped his vehicle and rushed to check on the victim, who was understandably upset.
As emotions ran high, Seah’s colleague called for an ambulance, while the victim’s husband swiftly dialed the police.
The entire incident was captured on CDC’s closed-circuit television, providing an inadvertent recording of the collision performance.
The Post-Collision Act
The victim was promptly taken to the hospital, reporting pain in her elbow, limited movement in her shoulder, and a swollen arm with a mild deformity.
Seah took a step towards reconciliation by compensating the victim with S$819.33 for the medical costs incurred in August 2023.
Seah faced the music in court, pleading guilty to causing hurt by a negligent act endangering personal safety.
The 57-year-old driving instructor received a S$2,500 fine on 24 January, coupled with a six-month driving ban. The court opted for the maximum fine for causing hurt by a negligent act, with a potential jail term of up to six months.
ComfortDelGro Driving Centre promptly reassigned Seah to a non-teaching role post-incident.
The centre is working closely with the National Transport Workers’ Union to determine the appropriate administrative actions to be taken on Mr. Seah.