For ages, the whole cyclist vs driver debate has raged on like hellfire.
We’ve even seen the intervention of celebrities such as Tay Ping Hui, who had his own altercation with a group of cyclists.
But at the end of the day, we still have no clear winner, though both factions would surely argue otherwise.
14YO Cyclist Involved in a Hit & Run Along Telok Blangah
Yet in light of an incident like this one, does the debate genuinely still matter?
On 4 September 2021, a 14-year-old teen was cycling along the roads of Telok Blangah with his friends when a silver car rammed into him.
Apparently, the teen had attempted to move out of the lane to avoid potholes, and had been hit by the car in the process.
The impact allegedly sent him flying onto the road.
After the collision, the male driver allegedly stepped out of the car. But instead of helping the boy, he allegedly retrieved his broken license plate number and proceeded to drive off.
Apparently, the male driver had appeared flushed at the time, and smelled of alcohol.
If it was a case of drink driving, that would certainly explain his hurried escapade.
Injuries
As a result of the impact, the teen had to undergo admission to the hospital, and sustained visible bruises on his forehead, right eye, hands and feet.
They’re also looking for eyewitnesses now. Back then, they were allegedly too shocked and traumatised to record the driver’s particulars.
Other Instances
Though the aforementioned case may imply that the driver was in the wrong, that’s not always the case.
Cyclists have, too, been chewed out for supposed “irresponsibility” on the roads.
And to mitigate the risks of such instances, one Netizen had previously come up with a rough “guide”.
According to him, some cyclists do not have the habit of looking around to check for traffic or give way to buses when approaching a bus stop.
Furthermore, they often place themselves in the blind spots of vehicles—areas that cannot be viewed by any of the mirrors in a vehicle.
Hence, with drivers being unable to get a clear view of cyclists in their mirror while driving, accidents and collisions are likely to occur.
He pointed out that cyclists could lose their lives over “[one] small stumble” while the drivers who hit them would lose employment and “suffer for the rest of [their lives]” for having inadvertently killed someone.
Finally, Mr Nooraidil encouraged cyclists to educate themselves on the dangers of large vehicles and “the vast number of blind spots they have”.
He suggested the use of visual aids rather than text as he insisted no one would read textual guides.
In addition, he encouraged them to borrow the Basic Theory Test (BTT) and Final Theory Test (FTT) materials from others to read up on.
While hit and run incidents such as the aforementioned ones do occur, that’s not always the case.
Cyclists should always take precautions on the roads, while drivers should make it a habit to check thoroughly.
In the end, it’s not so much of the driver vs cyclist debate that’s the issue.
It’s the safety of both factions that truly matters.
BTW, do you know that cyclists have to follow a set of safety rules when cycling in Singapore? Check out the video here:
Read Also:
- Man Who Allegedly Threatened to Rape & Hurt His Wife Will Be Charged
- 30 People Evacuated After Grease Fire Started in an Indian Stall in Newton Food Centre
Featured Image: Kwangmoozaa/shutterstock.com
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
Read Also:
- Salon Allegedly Charged $880 Treatment Package to Elderly Who Has Hearing Difficulties
- Man Replaces M’sia-Registered Car With a S’pore Plate & Drives It Without a Driving Licence
- Confirmed: Allianz Withdraws Its Offer to Buy Income Insurance
- 10th Floor Resident Leaves Baby Stroller On Air Conditioner Compressor
- $400 Worth of Durians Delivered to Customer; Customer Allegedly Takes Durians Without Making Payment
- Woman Borrows Touch ‘N Go Card From S’pore Driver to Cross JB Checkpoint & Didn’t Return Card
Advertisements
