The driver of the Toyota Altis SKG5628P can be seen suddenly speeding up in close proximity to the cyclists and brake-checking in front of them in a fit of rage.
A video which shows a car brake-checking in front of a group of cyclist in a case of road rage has gone viral in social media. The video shared by SG Road Vigilante (SRV) has received 63,000 views on Facebook and over 13,000 views on YouTube since being shared on 12 March.
According to SRV, the incident happened on 12 March at 6.25 a.m. at Yishun. SRV said the Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) SKG 5628P, a Toyota Altis, cut-off and tried to run down the cyclists. The driver also failed to give way to the cyclists when he turned out from a petrol station.
The 1 minute 13 seconds-long video showed the driver acting out in road rage after being overtaken by the cyclists as he was coming out of a petrol station. The driver then speeds up and deliberately hit the brakes while in front of cyclists. After the cyclists skillfully avoid his brake checking, he sped-up again and swerved the car dangerously close to one cyclist. The video showed the driver of the Toyota Altis exiting via a side-road after driving in a threatening manner to hurt the cyclists.
Most social media users who responded to the video expressed their shock at the reckless and dangerous behaviour of the driver. They asked the Singapore Police Force to take action on the errant driver.
Frustration, exhaustion, and even anger are common when driving. Road rage, however, takes these emotions to another level. Drivers who exhibit excessive anger and aggressive driving are generally accused of road rage. The consequences of this behavior can prove tragic, even deadly.
Under the current law, motorists who commit road rage can be disqualified from driving if they meet certain conditions, including being convicted of a specified Penal Code offence within the context of road rage. These offences include voluntarily causing hurt, causing death by negligent act and wrongful restraint.
In June 2021, the Ministry of Home Affairs amended the provisions for disqualification for those who commit road rage to cover all offences under any written law committed in the context of road rage.
In November 2020, a Maserati driver was jailed seven days for hurling religious insults at an off-duty traffic police officer in a case of road rage. But the man’s offences – causing harassment and uttering words with deliberate intent to wound someone’s religious or racial feelings – meant he was not disqualified from driving. These offences are not part of that specific list of Penal Code offences.
From January this year, cyclists have to comply with new rules imposed by the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA). Cycling groups are now limited to a maximum of five riders in single file on public roads shared with other vehicles, keeping to the left wherever possible. For roads where riding double file is permitted, typically roads with two or more lanes, the maximum group size shall be 10 riders, while distance between groups should not be less than 30 meters.
Should a cycling group need to overtake another, this shall be done only where it is safe to do so. Meanwhile, motor vehicles should provide a minimum safe passing distance of 1.5 meters when passing cyclists.