We should be looking at a combination of events that have led to
the increase in malcontents.
Having a bus lane was done with the most noble of intentions. With
the aim to free up one lane specifically for buses during peak
hours, it worked beautifully at the beginning. However, it failed
to take into account the increase in traffic over the years and how
to adjust the bus lane concept to match the demand.
In addition, an increasing number of beligerent drivers have been
misusing the bus lanes, prompting the TP to take punitive action.
Unfortunately, this decline in road ethics has been on the rise
exponentially, and the TP do not seem able to cope.
Hence the outsource to traffic wardens which is sparking outrage
among law-abiding drivers. With uncertainty over how these wardens
are trained or whether the number of summons issued is related to
their year-end bonuses, people have written to the press with much
disappointment, directing their fury at both the traffic police and
the LTA.
On the flip side, traffic light improvements such as the 'B' signal
allows buses to move ahead of traffic and prevents cars from
cutting their path early on. This is a step in the right direction,
and should be developed further. Road designs should be reviewed
and more emphasis should be made by LTA officials and traffic
officers to perform on-site inspections instead of dreaming up
fantasy senarios in their 'nerve centre'.
