My 1st Drive in Singapore!
Posted on February 20, 2006
Filed under Travel
It may impossibly to accept as true that I finally driving in foreign country (Although it’s only Singapore.) Well, the feeling is kind of hard to put in words, but I definitely try the max to illustrate the experience that I gone through…
Driving in Malaysia and driving in Singapore is slightly different. You will see some kind of odd drawing on the road. (If you own a Singapore Driving License, you definitely know what does the odd-symbol means.) Well, overall I shall say not so difficult when come to drive in Singapore. As Singaporean is very courteousness into this. Of course this is meant for comment of majority, not to mention the minority issue. Most car rider are follow by-the-book, for instance, 90km/h meaning 90km/h, you hardly see 120km/h speeding on the highway, especially with the sign board stated “Camera Ahead”.
There is something called “Pocket” on the road. Well let me explain this, the purpose of pocket is to move on vehicle a little bit ahead while awaiting the Turn Right Signal to be prompted. There will be likely pocket shape drawn on the road which the Traffic lights turn Green, only vehicle heading to straight are allow to, meanwhile if there is no vehicle crossing straight to our end, we can turn right at the opposite side even though the Right Turn signal has not ready to given. We can still across! Amazing? I was shocked by once when the first time I was in the taxi and the taxi driver did what I mentioned above, I was thinking this is gonna be a crazy driver, how could he turn right when there is NO RIGHT TURN signal given, yet there was some cars are heading far towards. After I found out from my friend, it is a standard rule in Singapore; the driver has to be confident to cross over to right if he/she ensures there is no other vehicle heading to or far distance.
I’ve been driving from North to West, West to East, East to Central, nearly all over the places in Singapore during the first attempt, next round will be discover more to site basis.
Not really familiar with the highway, such as ECP, SLE, BKE, PIE, AYE and etc. but at lease, I know from my place to West side will be via PIE (Changi Air Port) not PIE (Tuas). Or from West to central will passing by CTE and look for the exits, many short-term will need to be familiar with. I bought the latest Street Directory 2006 to ensure the way goes and back for reference.
Let’s talk about IU (In-vehicle Unit) system with cash card, well, I give two thumb up for this system. In Malaysia, probably you can see it on the highway tolls which a special lane called “SMART TAG”. However, this isn’t the whole idea. Malaysia SMART TAG technology, where you have the IU system with cash card or maybe known as Touch N Go, when you pass-by the toll you will still need to slow down your vehicle to ensure gate is open widely and also auto-deduction of your cashcard value. In Singapore there will be convenient compare to Malaysia. They called it ERP, Electronic Raod Pricing which the reader machine built on the height distance to scan each and every vehicle pass-by that express way during the stated timing. With the “In Operations” or timing stated on the board, meaning you are about to enter the express way during the peak hour and your cash value will be deducted depending on which area you are in. And you need not to slow down your vehicle, because the machine up there can detect and deduct! Efficiency and Effectiveness, this is to built for good mankind. Eh, what about Malaysia?
Another good advantage of IU. Do you ever know when you parking at those shopping complex in Singapore, you are not require to winding down your windows. Unlike Malaysia, winding down windows, press button to collect the card, and wait a few second for the gate open. It is same thing happen as I describe ERP technology, there will be a device to detect your IU, and your vehicle entrance is based on the IU cashcard with value. I am not sure the value is determining the entrance, but I guess even you have zero value, it will still allow you to enter. Because, I believe you can top-up your cashcard in the complex somewhere.
This is only the 1st Drive, will tell more if there is a next round!
More snap-shots at My MSN Spaces.
Correlated: Comfort Driving Centre Pte Ltd
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Your first drive in Singapore … and my first drive in Australia … it was very exciting! Especially I know nothing about car.
Hehe … i still got 15 hours to go. Hopfully I can get my driving licence done in Sep.
All the best and drive safe.