Car Reversed & Knocked onto Lady & Kid; Netizens Debate Over Who’s at Fault

If you’re someone who drives, you’d know two things:

  • People would walk in the car park like they’ve just bought the land
  • Cars are never driving within the speed limit in the car park

And pertaining to #1, it’s an unspoken rule that humans have the right of way even when it’s an area meant for vehicles.

So when an accident happens?

You bet it’s going to spark a conversation.

 Car Reversed & Knocked onto Lady & Kid; Netizens Debate Over Who’s at Fault

On Thursday (27 August 2020), Facebook Page SG Road Vigilante – SGRV posted a viral video.

27aug2020bukit timah food centre#SLE1152X mazda 5 wagonlady driver failed to keep a lookout for pedestrian while reversing & knocked down an elderly and a school kid.the whole vehicle have so much sunshade on, how to check blindspot ?didnt even came down to check on them.shame on you.https://youtu.be/JPvta4Wa2w0

Posted by SG Road Vigilante – SGRV on Thursday, 27 August 2020

The premise is simple: two people, a lady and a child, walked on the car park like they’ve just bought the land, and a car reversed onto them, knocking the both of them down.

Both the pedestrians had their eyes to the left as the car reversed in from the right.

And to echo what the highly excited commentary in the video said, both of the pedestrians and vehicle didn’t see each other.

Image: Facebook (SG Road Vigilante – SGRV)

The pedestrians appeared fine after they were knocked down, and the lady even used her umbrella to hit the car after that.

Image: Facebook (SG Road Vigilante – SGRV)

While it’s a 3-minute video, there’s no conclusion after that because the video repeats itself and even have many irrelevant parts.

Reader Bao: Why ah?

The same reason why you’re seeing so many Facebook videos that are at least three minutes lah: you can insert an in-stream ad if the video is three minutes or longer.

The video has since been shared by over 1,000 people.

Netizens Debate on Who’s in the Wrong

In fact, if you’re having coffee with your friends and saw this video, you’d do the same thing, and it’s split into two camps.

A small group thinks the driver should’ve been more careful, and wondered why the reverse sensors didn’t pick up the two people:

However, most people sided with the driver because the car park doesn’t belong to the two fellows:

This is one of the reasons why Singapore announced its first-ever code of conduct for pedestrians early this month.

You can read more about the code of conduct here, but here’s a concise guide for pedestrians:

  • stick to footpaths and pedestrian crossings when available
  • stay off shared paths
  • keep left on all paths
  • stay alert when walking on public paths

According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), pedestrians should also “refrain from using a mobile communication device or operating any of its communication or other functions – such as listening to music – in a manner as will prevent the pedestrian from detecting danger or oncoming obstacles.”

Reader Bao: Isn’t that common sense?

Well, yes.

Reader Bao: Or are they laws?

Well, no.

It’s just something you’re encouraged to follow, but if they’ve been followed religiously, like how we always keep to the left of the escalator when we’re not in a rush, this could eventually lead to fewer incidents like the one mentioned in this article.

Reader Bao: No law, no talk.

No wonder we need laws to enforce the COVID-19 rules.