One of the highlights for the Year 2014 was getting my driver's license on my first try! I was so glad and thankful I didn't have to go through the whole process again since I was paying for it on my own. It has been a good 6 months of being a new driver as things are obviously more convenient since Bernard and I get the car. Well, with good things comes responsibility - paying for petrol, parking, ERP and fines (squints) but of course we have grown and learnt so much over the past months.
I passed with 14 points. I started off as a good driver I would say. The day after I got my license, I was brave enough to drive all the way to the airport to send Bernard off for his trip (speeding at 100 km/h because he was late). I cut lanes well and had no fear of other cars except parking... lol I parked really badly!! The guys had to tell me to turn the steering wheel left or right all the time and if I were to finally get a lot after a 15 mins wait but can't park the car, I will give up and just drive off. Everyone would scream at me hahaha ok everyone is just Bernard :>
So everything was all well until three major things happened:
1) I beat the red light. And, it got caught on camera.
I was on a familiar route so I was driving quite fast. The traffic light was turning amber and I was quite confident I could go pass it before it turns red but nope.. #fail. When I told people about it, everyone's like "no lar, won't be so suay one.. you probably over reacted" or "maybe the camera no more film.. don't worry". In my mind I was like SIAO?!?! DON'T WORRY?! First of all, the camera flash is SUPER obvious. It's as though lightning struck me!! SUPER BRIGHT! And also, check out the consequences for beating the red light:
12 Demerit points and a fine of $200. It's not even abt the money by the way... If you refer to the 4th photo of this post, it is stated at the bottom "your license will be revoked if you... or have accumulated more than 12 demerit points within the first 12 months". In other words, if I were to commit any more offences from then till July next year.. my license will be gone. GONE. REVOKED. I went totally crazy. I waited for weeks and months, checked the mailbox everyday and guess what?? THE LETTER DIDN'T COME. OMG. How am I not the luckiest person on earth? I lived in fear for three months before finally telling my dad.. "Dad, I tell you smth ah but you cannot scold me! Actually.. I beat the red light BUT THE LETTER NVR COME!!!" Surprisingly, he wasn't angry though. I mean if the letter really did come he'd probably be angry lar but ya it was a lesson learnt. I'm still really afraid of traffic lights now but it's not as bad anymore :-)
2) I got into a car accident. WITH A MERCEDES! (picture for reference only.. lol)
I was driving with a GPS and I was checking if this was the right place to turn and then the Merc in front of me jam break and I couldn't stop in time so I hit the back of his car. I was so traumatised. A man in his 50's came out and I apologised like crazy! All he did was asked if I had a workshop for him to send his car to so I called my dad as he has a workshop and my dad settled everything for me. The next day he went down to the workshop and my dad apologised on my behalf and he was like "ai ya never mind one lar... she's still young". Who ever says that when they get into a car accident?? Especially when it's not their fault. What's even better was he wanted to buy a car from my dad and he said if he can find the model he wants, he doesn't need to get the car fix. Is this what they call a blessing in disguise?? Haha!
After the accident I was really shaken. I hated driving so much. It was so hard to be behind the wheel and I really rather take the bus but I had to force myself because I know if I don't, I will never drive again. All in all, I am thankful that the accident wasn't serious. No one was injured, neither vehicle was too badly damaged and the uncle was so kind. Luckiest person on earth part 2. Yet another lesson learnt.
3) I met a road bully (at this exact car park, right smack in the middle of Somerset).
This happened just two days ago and it's the whole reason I wanted to do this blog post. It is by far the most appalling and awful road experience I had thus far. I briefly posted it on my private account and many people has been asking me about it so i'm going to explain it here in detail.
Yes, YET ANOTHER MERCEDES.
This is what happened:
I entered the Grange road car park and saw that nobody was waiting for a lot at this particular section so I decided to park at the side and wait for a lot.
5 mins later.. Note: there was a car behind me (not in sketch) who came second, the random car in front of the crazy man came third and the crazy man came fourth.
Car A was going to exit so it was very obvious that the crazy man was blocking his way. Car A honked at him for 2 minutes and all he did was to move in front a little but to no avail because there is a car waiting in front of him. Honestly, the right thing to do is just move off cause 1) you're hogging the road and 2) you came the last, the lot is not yours. After a good few minutes, Car A managed to exit and I was moving forward to park when the crazy man REVERSED into the lot super quickly almost hitting into me. He KNEW that I was right there, there wasn't anything blocking his view.
Stunned, I came out of the car, knocked on his window and said "Uncle, this is my lot. I was the only person waiting here just now." You know if he said something like oh sorry sorry I didn't know or I am in a rush I really need the lot.. I might have just let it go but this stupid bully SHOUTED at the top of his lungs (mind you we were at somerset, very near 313's walk way and there was a whole bunch of people looking at us. Cars stopped to watch the commotion). "NO! I CAME (into the car park) FIRST! IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE, GO CHECK THE GANTRY TIMING." I assumed he made rounds in the car park and couldn't get a lot so he thinks that since he entered the car park first, the lot is rightfully his. I'm like "Uncle, the fact that you couldn't get a lot after making so many rounds in this car park IS NOT MY PROBLEM. This is my lot." He clearly didn't understand my statement because his reply was plainly blabbering nonsense "THIS IS ALSO NOT MY PROBLEM IT'S YOUR PROBLEM. My face literally:
UNCLE YOU SIAO??
I figured that I will be the one with the bigger heart so I went back into the car. Not until he came out of his car, took out his phone and attempted to take pictures. I wind down the window and asked him "Do you have a problem with me?" His reply? "YES. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOU STUPID YOUNGSTERS. YOU ALL NEED TO LEARN HOW TO GROW UP!" Wow. He was clearly picking on me because I was a "stupid youngster" with a probation plate. "SO YOU'RE PICKING ON ME BECAUSE I'M A YOUNGSTER?" "YES! I CAME IN FIRST!! THAT IS MY LOT" He sounded like a ten year old kid whose toy got snatched away. Bernard got down the car (I honestly thought he was going to punch his face or something) and explained to him nicely that we were the first car here but it's ok.. we will just let him have the lot. Crazy man wasn't pleased and THREATENED TO CALL THE POLICE. ABSURD. Bernard said "What's the point of calling the police? You already have the lot, just leave. Have a nice day." I screamed "MERRY CHRISTMAS" and he left.
The moment he left I was like:
I cried inconsolably. Out of anger, fear, embarrassment and sadness I think. By all means he could've called the police. I was not at fault. Or perhaps I was, I shouldn't have picked on him. Anyone who knows me will know that I wouldn't go down without a fight (especially when i'm not at fault). BUT THIS MAN is absolutely RIDICULOUS and SICKENING. First things first, he almost hit my car. Second, he took my lot and still insists that it's his. Third, he called me a STUPID YOUNGSTER.
Yes uncle, I am a youngster. In fact, I am a 6 months old driver. I don't know a lot of things and i'm not extremely familiar with the "driving world". You on the other hand is different from me. You are at least twice my age and is probably very experienced on the road. Best of all, you drive a very nice Mercedes CLS. However, shouldn't the fact that I am young give you more reason to be lenient to me? Right now we are talking about etiquette, respect and hierarchy. You as a grown man think lowly of me because I'm young. I do not understand why such an adult exist. Just because you are older, does not mean you are wiser. And just because I'm young, does not mean I'm a push over neither does it give you the right to pick on me. The whole reason why a probation plate is displayed is so drivers will give way and be courteous but in Singapore it's the opposite. At least 70% of drivers takes the opportunity to cut your lane while not allowing you to cut theirs.
This is what happened:
I entered the Grange road car park and saw that nobody was waiting for a lot at this particular section so I decided to park at the side and wait for a lot.
5 mins later.. Note: there was a car behind me (not in sketch) who came second, the random car in front of the crazy man came third and the crazy man came fourth.
Car A was going to exit so it was very obvious that the crazy man was blocking his way. Car A honked at him for 2 minutes and all he did was to move in front a little but to no avail because there is a car waiting in front of him. Honestly, the right thing to do is just move off cause 1) you're hogging the road and 2) you came the last, the lot is not yours. After a good few minutes, Car A managed to exit and I was moving forward to park when the crazy man REVERSED into the lot super quickly almost hitting into me. He KNEW that I was right there, there wasn't anything blocking his view.
Stunned, I came out of the car, knocked on his window and said "Uncle, this is my lot. I was the only person waiting here just now." You know if he said something like oh sorry sorry I didn't know or I am in a rush I really need the lot.. I might have just let it go but this stupid bully SHOUTED at the top of his lungs (mind you we were at somerset, very near 313's walk way and there was a whole bunch of people looking at us. Cars stopped to watch the commotion). "NO! I CAME (into the car park) FIRST! IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE, GO CHECK THE GANTRY TIMING." I assumed he made rounds in the car park and couldn't get a lot so he thinks that since he entered the car park first, the lot is rightfully his. I'm like "Uncle, the fact that you couldn't get a lot after making so many rounds in this car park IS NOT MY PROBLEM. This is my lot." He clearly didn't understand my statement because his reply was plainly blabbering nonsense "THIS IS ALSO NOT MY PROBLEM IT'S YOUR PROBLEM. My face literally:
UNCLE YOU SIAO??
I figured that I will be the one with the bigger heart so I went back into the car. Not until he came out of his car, took out his phone and attempted to take pictures. I wind down the window and asked him "Do you have a problem with me?" His reply? "YES. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOU STUPID YOUNGSTERS. YOU ALL NEED TO LEARN HOW TO GROW UP!" Wow. He was clearly picking on me because I was a "stupid youngster" with a probation plate. "SO YOU'RE PICKING ON ME BECAUSE I'M A YOUNGSTER?" "YES! I CAME IN FIRST!! THAT IS MY LOT" He sounded like a ten year old kid whose toy got snatched away. Bernard got down the car (I honestly thought he was going to punch his face or something) and explained to him nicely that we were the first car here but it's ok.. we will just let him have the lot. Crazy man wasn't pleased and THREATENED TO CALL THE POLICE. ABSURD. Bernard said "What's the point of calling the police? You already have the lot, just leave. Have a nice day." I screamed "MERRY CHRISTMAS" and he left.
The moment he left I was like:
And the next moment:
I cried inconsolably. Out of anger, fear, embarrassment and sadness I think. By all means he could've called the police. I was not at fault. Or perhaps I was, I shouldn't have picked on him. Anyone who knows me will know that I wouldn't go down without a fight (especially when i'm not at fault). BUT THIS MAN is absolutely RIDICULOUS and SICKENING. First things first, he almost hit my car. Second, he took my lot and still insists that it's his. Third, he called me a STUPID YOUNGSTER.
Yes uncle, I am a youngster. In fact, I am a 6 months old driver. I don't know a lot of things and i'm not extremely familiar with the "driving world". You on the other hand is different from me. You are at least twice my age and is probably very experienced on the road. Best of all, you drive a very nice Mercedes CLS. However, shouldn't the fact that I am young give you more reason to be lenient to me? Right now we are talking about etiquette, respect and hierarchy. You as a grown man think lowly of me because I'm young. I do not understand why such an adult exist. Just because you are older, does not mean you are wiser. And just because I'm young, does not mean I'm a push over neither does it give you the right to pick on me. The whole reason why a probation plate is displayed is so drivers will give way and be courteous but in Singapore it's the opposite. At least 70% of drivers takes the opportunity to cut your lane while not allowing you to cut theirs.
In conclusion, everything is a lesson learned. One thing's for sure, I ain't no pushover.
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