Quite a few
people were late getting into the office today. There was a jam apparently. A
massive jam in fact. It was on the ECP.
The ECP is the
East Coast Parkway. It is one of the main highways in Singapore. It runs from
the City to the East Coast. Or from the East Coast to the City - depending
which direction you are coming from. It goes all the way to Changi which is
where Singapore’s famous airport is.
Changi is also
where the Japanese constructed a prison camp during the Second World War. The
Japanese army occupied Singapore during the war and tens of thousands of allied
soldiers from Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and the US were
held prisoner there. Thousands died there. Conditions in the prison camp were
reported to be horrific.
They were
atrocious.
They were unthinkable.
There are
electronic notice boards mounted on most of the major highways in Singapore.
Messages flash up on these signs informing motorists of road conditions. It is
not uncommon to see warnings of a "Jam" - or even worse a
"Massive Jam" on these signs. They literally read "WARNING -
MASSIVE JAM AHEAD".
I am not
really sure of the difference between a "Jam" and a "Massive
Jam'. I have been caught in both before. Traffic virtually stops and at best it
crawls. It can take an hour to move a kilometer. There is no real need to have
these "Jam" warnings flashing for when you are in a "Jam"
you know it.
You are stuck.
The vast
majority of these "Jams" are caused by traffic accidents. They occur
frequently here because the Singaporeans drive like they walk. They unknowingly
drift. They meander. Then they crash into each other. There appears to be
little spatial awareness. When I first moved to the island I lived on the East
Coast and I had a car. I drove every day to my office.
I have been in
many a "Jam".
The
Singaporean is generally a discourteous driver which is surprising really as
they are normally very courteous and polite people. It is an anomaly.
Attempting to change lanes is difficult as there is a reluctance by the
Singaporean drivers to let other vehicles in. Putting one's indicator on seems
only to offer a challenge to other drivers. They will speed up to prevent other
cars getting in front of them.
I don't know
why.
The indicator
is not often used. Cars swerve suddenly to change lanes.
Unpredictably.
Suddenly
Causing
collisions.
Resulting in
"Jams".
Sometimes
massive ones.
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