SBS Bus “Blindly” Followed Another Bus & Went Straight to Woodlands Checkpoint

The usual consideration when you’re taking the bus is if you’re getting off at the right stop—we trust that bus drivers are familiar with the route they drive, after all.

However, this bus driver did not even drive past the right stop—he instead blindly followed another bus straight to Woodlands Checkpoint, resulting in a passenger spending an extra 45 minutes trying to get home.

Missing your stop is unfortunate, but it happens. A bus driver missing multiple stops, though, is a much rarer occurrence.

Man Stranded At Woodlands Checkpoint

46-year-old Huang Shaoxiong got on Bus Service 170, hoping to go home as usual.

However, he found himself stuck at Woodlands Checkpoint instead, without his passport, and had to spend an additional 45 minutes finding his way home.

In an interview with Shin Min Daily News, Mr Huang revealed that he had got on Bus Service 170 on 14 April at around 6.30 pm, at the bus stop outside King Albert Park MRT station.

He intended to get off at Block 25, Woodlands Centre Road, one stop before Woodlands Checkpoint. 

However, the bus did not follow its usual route. 

Typically, the bus would pass by the bus stop at Woodlands Train Checkpoint, then to Block 25, and finally, to Woodlands Checkpoint. 

According to Mr Huang, however, after the bus passed by Woodlands Train Checkpoint that day, it deviated from its set route and drove directly towards Woodlands Checkpoint.

When Mr Huang realised what was happening, he immediately pressed the bus stopping bell. The bus, however, did not stop, and he was ferried straight to Woodlands checkpoint, the border between Singapore and Malaysia.

Was Not Carrying His Passport

Making matters worse, Mr Huang did not have his passport with him, since he naturally did not anticipate this detour. Because of that, he made the journey home apprehensively, fearing that he would be unable to produce the document if asked and hence, be seen as breaking the law.

“It usually takes me around 40 minutes to get home, and I typically return by 7.15 pm,” he said. “That day, I struggled to find my way back and returned home exhausted at 8 pm.”

He pointed out that the bus should not have suddenly changed its route, thus inconveniencing him and other passengers on board. “If there are any changes in the route, passengers must be notified early,” he expressed.

SBS Transit Apologises; Says Driver Blindly Followed Other Bus

Vice President of SBS Transit’s Customer Experience and Communications Grace Wu replied to Shin Min Daily News, explaining the situation.

According to her, the driver of Bus Service 170 had blindly followed the bus in front of him, Bus Service 170X.

170X does not stop by Block 25 and instead drives directly to Woodlands Checkpoint. Since he followed 170X, the bus driver of 170 mistakenly rerouted his bus and missed the stop. 

“We are deeply sorry about the inconvenience and distress caused to affected passengers,” she said. “We have taken action to ensure that this will not happen again.”

Mr Huang had also submitted a complaint to SBS Transit, and was given an apology as well, but he does not plan to accept it.