Traffic management can be a daunting task in bustling Singapore, where the combination of unpredictable weather, impatient drivers, and a common belief that everyone has the right of way can create tense situations on the road.
A recent incident in Siglap highlights these challenges, as a traffic warden found himself in a heated shouting match with a car driver and lamenting how there are a lot of “cb drivers” around.
The incident occurred on a Monday morning, October 16, at approximately 10:30 am and was captured on two cameras, one from another passing vehicle on the road and another from the traffic warden’s POV.
The Video Footage
The video shows a two-lane road undergoing some road works at the time with only one lane available for vehicles to pass, from both directions, creating a potentially chaotic situation.
From the dashcam footage captured from another motorist behind, a black Hyundai was seen on the right side of the lane.
It appeared to have driven forward and tried to go past the road works, but as there were oncoming traffic on the only lane available, had to drive to the side to let them through.
The video footage then switches over to the traffic warden’s POV, as he approached the driver, and thus began a heated conversation between the two.
“How I know your hand, which way you want?”
Warden: “Take note ah, again this stupid driver very incompliant. Doesn’t listen to instructions and want to cause an accident.”
*walks up to driver’s window* “Sir, can you see it’s two-way? contraflow on a single lane?”
Driver: “How I know where! I thought you say go that’s why I-“
Warden: “THAT’S WHY I SAID STOP! Then you try to come out. Are you trying to endanger the lives of your passenger and everyone here on the road? And now your buttock (back of the car) sticking out, you’re going to get into an accident”.
Driver: “You said go, then I go right!”
Warden: “I did not say go, I said stop.”
Driver: “How I know your hand, which way you want?”
Warden: “I said stop.”
Driver: “Okay, then I- can I go now?”
Warden: “I said stop.”
Driver: “Can I go now?”
Warden: “I didn’t say you can go yet.”
The warden then turns around and walks away, before the driver then proceeds forward after the lane is cleared.
The driver then continues the argument with the warden.
Driver: “YOUR HAND LIDDAT LEH!” *imitates traffic warden’s gesture*
Warden: “MY HAND WAS STOP!”
Driver: “YOUR HAND LIDDAT LEH!”
Warden: “MY HAND WAS STOP”
Driver: “YOUR HAND LIDDAT!”
Warden: “MY HAND WAS STOP!”
Driver: “YOUR HAND LIDDAT!”
Warden: “MY HAND WAS STOP!”
Driver: “LIDDAT!”
Warden: “MY HAND WAS STOP!”
*stares at each other for 5 seconds*
Warden: “My hand was stop ah.”
“Eh lately a lot of cb drivers you know!”
Following the argument, the driver then left the scene and the traffic warden then went up to another fellow warden and lamented the whole incident.
“EH LATELY A LOT OF CB DRIVER YOU KNOW, ALL F-ER! YOU KNOW WHAT HE DO OR NOT? HE WANT TO COME OUT YOU KNOW! F- HIM MAN CB!”
You can watch the full video here.