Dhti Neutral Newbie June 25, 2004 Share June 25, 2004 http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstorie...,258187,00.html? New weapon to beat speeding All Traffic Police motorcycles to be fitted with radar guns which will allow cops to nab speeding motorists almost instantly By Ben Nadarajan SPEEDSTERS, take note. By next year, it will take the Traffic Police just a split-second to clock you when you break the speed limit - and you might not even notice. Advertisement Yesterday, Traffic Police commander Teo Kian Teck revealed the latest strategy to make Singapore's roads safer: Radar guns mounted on all patrol motorcycles. They will be fixed by early next year. Right now, police rely on speed cameras at designated locations, hand-held radar guns and laser cameras, mounted laser cameras on overpasses and patrolmen clocking a motorist against their own speedometers. These methods have their limitations. For example, drivers know where some of the speed cameras are, and slow down when they approach one. Once past, they step on their accelerators again. Others behave the instant they spot a policeman. The number of tickets issued for speeding has risen sharply, from 35,361 in 2002 to 48,667 last year. And in the first three months of this year alone, more than 13,000 motorists were booked for speeding. Worse, the number of speeding-related accidents and fatalities has gone up - 201 people died on the roads last year, 11 more than the previous year. But radar guns on traffic policemen's motorcycles should change things. For one, catching speedsters will be much faster. Traffic policemen now have to follow a car for about 400 metres to confirm on their own speedometers that the motorist is speeding before pulling him over. The mounted radar guns will give the motorist's speed almost instantaneously. This also means speeding drivers will not have time to react - the most important change of all, because it could motivate motorists to drive more carefully all the time, and not only when someone is watching them. Traffic Police chief Teo acknowledged as much. 'There was a loophole in our previous method for patrol bikes because some motorists slow down once they notice that they are being tailed,' he said. He unveiled the new measure at an interview yesterday to mark his promotion to Assistant Commissioner. He will be among 2,500 Home Team officers who will get new ranks at an official ceremony next week. Automobile Association of Singapore president Gerard Ee said that the new move could reduce the tendency to speed when no patrol vehicles are in sight. 'Getting drivers to keep within the speed limit is so hard to enforce. But when drivers realise that they can now be caught even before they spot the patrol bikes, they will think twice about speeding,' he said. He added: 'It is very visible that there's a lot of speeding. A lot of accidents are caused by speeding, which means many accidents could have been avoided.' The Traffic Police chief also revealed other moves aimed at making life for motorists easier. Among these are plans to computerise driving theory tests so that results are out within a few minutes. Now, results are only given out two weeks after the tests. Also, motorcyclists can now add a slight tint to their visors to shield their eyes from the sun's glare. But the move to mount radar guns on police bikes is the one that will grab the attention of motorists, and quickly. Already, some are saying that they will be forced to change their driving styles. Mr Anthony Lim, 47, who confessed that he sometimes drives up to 20kmh above the limit, said: 'I cannot keep looking at my rear-view mirror for these motorcycles, so the only way will be to drive within the speed limit to avoid getting caught.' ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acemundo Supercharged June 25, 2004 Share June 25, 2004 should they also force the road hoggers off the extreme right lane? no problem about keeping to the 90km/h as long as once in a while can overtake in the extreme right lane. but with this, the road hoggers will be more than happy to take up the extreme right lane at 90km/h or less. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soya Supersonic June 25, 2004 Share June 25, 2004 juz another lousy excuse to generate revenue. at this rate, i might as well juz buy a 600cc car. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acemundo Supercharged June 25, 2004 Share June 25, 2004 must be one of those scholar in the midst of TP again who thinks "fast is bad, slow is good" i think we all should give up owning a car. with not enough revenue from COE, ERP think they will definitely give more leeway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redz Clutched June 25, 2004 Share June 25, 2004 agree!! btw, fitting all this gadgets oso using public tax money!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soya Supersonic June 25, 2004 Share June 25, 2004 yeah, typical simpleton assumptions. accidents are not onli caused by speeding. by their books, those kayu drivers who road hog are probably model drivers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redz Clutched June 25, 2004 Share June 25, 2004 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dhti Neutral Newbie June 25, 2004 Author Share June 25, 2004 (edited) Minor roads will be worse..it is difficult to drive around in 50 to 60 kph... i sympathize with those driving big horses... drive at 80 kph on the expressway will make me sleepy...serious! again, i believe there are already bikes fitted with the new radar guns on the prowl, even news says next year then begin... they will sure run some trials to test equipment...so they should be out there already.. Edited June 25, 2004 by dhti Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acemundo Supercharged June 25, 2004 Share June 25, 2004 actually more accidents are caused by those hoggers....especially those who suddenly jam brake on the eway. sheesh, they should focus on those hoggers instead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soya Supersonic June 25, 2004 Share June 25, 2004 at 90kmh, my engine doing onli 1800rpm. lidat i better take out the turbo and put back in the wrapper. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoppe Clutched June 25, 2004 Share June 25, 2004 have to be more careful..from next year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soya Supersonic June 25, 2004 Share June 25, 2004 they oredi hv it on some bikes. i saw it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redz Clutched June 25, 2004 Share June 25, 2004 what next year.... think now oso hv oready Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dhti Neutral Newbie June 25, 2004 Author Share June 25, 2004 it should be now! as i said i think some already fitted on the prowl for trials. only see who "suay" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrianie Neutral Newbie June 25, 2004 Share June 25, 2004 Sigh... there goes my hope of exercising my darling! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redz Clutched June 25, 2004 Share June 25, 2004 go NSH and test the power Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acemundo Supercharged June 25, 2004 Share June 25, 2004 wah really pity u..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrianie Neutral Newbie June 25, 2004 Share June 25, 2004 Feeling so angry + sad today ah....... Yesterday wash car, realised my sports rim got one big scratch. Very the obvious & the worst thing is its only 2 weeks old!!!!!!!!!!!!! ↡ Advertisement Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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