Previously we reported on a number of animals that had somehow made it onto Malaysia’s highways and were strangely enough following traffic (even if the ostrich kept changing lanes). It is sad therefore that where animals can, many human drivers cannot even drive the correct direction.
After the recent crash involving a Mercedes that U-turned and drove against traffic, leaving one dead and three injured, discussion about this kind of dangerous driving has come to the fore.
While that high profile case, and the rise in use of in-car or action cameras may help explain why more reports are surfacing, the notion that some people might, by choice or mistake, drive against traffic and risk people’s lives is still shocking.
For instance, it was recently revealed that since December 28, several more cases of drivers going in the wrong way have happened, and even been caught on camera.
According to the Singapore Motorcycle Safety and Sports Club, while wrong-way driving on expressways is “rare”, “drivers taking short cuts in HDB estates or on smaller, two-way traffic roads”, apparently out of convenience, is a common sight.
Such convenience is of course quickly invalidated by an accident, which is substantially more deadly than other kinds of crashes. Needless to say, the chances of getting into an accident also increase, as such accidents involve two vehicles speeding toward each other, cutting short the time to steer clear.
As to why they’re getting more prevalent, some theories include:
Inadequate enforcement (plus no camera to catch them going in the wrong direction),
Foreigners who got confused,
Even new Uber drivers driving by GPS.
Still, before we all mount our moral high horse and go after irresponsible drivers, it’s important to note that everyone already does something like this, just not on the road: specifically, when was the last time you were walking and texting, and nearly bumped into someone? If you’re like me, the answer is: last week. Now just scale that up to include two tonnes of steel whizzing 50kmh down a road.
