Whose fault?

[gorgonitz82]

Hi.... I have encountered this a few times and would like to see if any of you thought of this before.

 

Many times I will see those big big trucks with the crash barrier attached behind. They stop along the roads to do either construction or pruning or whatever. The thing is most of them do not put hazard signs way before the truck to warn motorists.

 

There was once I was travelling along the flyover/underpass near bukit timah plaza ... it is a two lane road .... the section of the road i m talking about is bending left and sloping down at the same time. I was travelling on the left lane ... saw a car in front so keep right... then seconds later... got one big truck with crash barrier infront .... have to swerve left to avoid the truck. Note that there is no way in knowing there is a truck there due to the left bend and downslope. No advance warning hazard also. And somemore the truck is on the right lane. I was lucky partially because i slowed down due to bend. But the most crucial factor is i react in time and there is no car on the left lane, hence i can swerve over. Almost shitted in my pants.

 

I was actually quite angry. If somebody crashed into the truck, whose fault?

[compfused]

Yours? Partially maybe..Coz you're supposed to keep left after overtaking the car by using the right lane..

[snowman]

That strech of the road speed limit is 60 km/h partially because of the limited visibility on that left turn. I've seen big trucks parked there few times, but still at 60 km/h should be enough time even to make to a full stop.

[jkaiser]

they would have cones b4 that rite...

 

in any case, you shouldn't be going that fast there...

[ah_tee]

call the hotline n complain, they shld be contracted by LTA for road works

[gorgonitz82]

aiyoh ... no warning or watever before tt .. ... actually i was slowing down liao ... coz i thot the 60km/h limit starts when u emerge form the underpass .... yep agree can avoid the incident if i go slow ..... but i still think the truck is a hazard .... imagine i travel

[keratsini]

This is where the diffencive driving comes into the picture. No point asking who's fault. You are on 2 weels you have to protect yourself and slow down. Let's assume you complaint to LTA and they impose strict rules to those trucks. Will that help you if, assumable, there was a colission on the very same spot? Is it possible for 2 collied vehicles to put any cones or whatever after an accident?

 

I hope you get my point. Riding bike is a wonderful experience but riding safe it will be an expirience that can last long.

 

Do not forget Singapore roads are the safest but NOT completely safe. Humans riding/driving on the roads. They are not perfect, mistakes are made. Accidents happens, usually, because of mistakes not because of the roads.

 

Ride safe.

 

Cheers

 

P.S.: I'm riding for many years. I thought I was perfect till my licence revoked and I had to retake everything. All my licences taken at SSDC. There was the place that I realized how wrong I was on many issues.

[gorgonitz82]

point taken .... must ride defensively ..... but just thinking that we have to pay fines and summons if we park in the way the authorities say is not right...... then how come gov linked vehicles can do whatever and get away with fines and summons .....

[keratsini]

So sorry but I'm not aware of any government linked vehicles get away with fines or they are paying fines. Honestly I do not care for either case as has nothing to do with me. There is no any difference to me if they pay or not. If your concern is about safety, then you should inform the proper authorities and rest asure action will be taken. However you have to consider the practicality of each case. For example if there is a slow moving vehicle due to watering the plants then practicaly is impossible to use cones or anything similar. Most of them they have warning lights in place. Now there are, rather rare, occasions that safety precautions are ignored. Well, what to do, no one is perfect. Defensive driving is for that occasions.

 

Please do not misunderstand me, my comments are general and purely my own opinion, I'm not pointing at you. All I want to make the point of safety. The rock bottom is, if someone is killed on the road accident, no complaints or fines or whatever can bring him/her back.

 

Cheers, enjoy your riding.

[gorgonitz82]

no hard feelings ... understand what u are getting at .. hmm dun want to complicate issues .. just want to let others know that the least expected could be round the bend .... so take care ...