Magnetic turning beacon light on vehicle roof top

[Mikeyeo]

I do not know how many members have a magnetic turning beacon light place on vehicle roof top either plug into the cigarette lighter charger or battery operated in their vehicle.

 

As for me, all my cars has one each and I find them very handy. I would not hesitate to provide assistence to the driver whose vehicle either breaks down or vehicle collisions. This is despite sustaining a permanent and chronic injury on my left foot from a fall 2 years back at the Bird Viewing Tower in Pasir Ris Park 2 while descending from a flight of steps.

 

The above incident occurred due to irregularity of the 1st step height which is very much lower than the rest. Being in the building industry myself, I am well knowledgeable in the building regulations and bye-laws. All attempts by a team of specialists to save my left ankle for the last 2 years were unsuccessful. I still have to undergo various physiotherapists, orthopaedic consultations to monitor my left ankle condition, having to put on an ankle brace to minimise movement and pain at the ankle joint and use of a walking stick to support myself when walking.

 

Anyway, I have taken a civil suit against the government and the case is ongoing in court.

 

Despite my foot condition, I would park my car behind the back of the last vehicle and place the beacon light on my car roof and provide whatever assistence they needed.

 

Last evening peak hour was an example. While driving along the ECP outermost lane towards Changi Airport just before the ERP gantry, there was a massive traffic jam resulting from 3 cars collision and no drivers border to stop their vehicle behind the last collided car to provide any assistence.

 

All vehicles were horning away as they either want to change lane and other vehicles refused to give way.

 

But as for me, I just drove slowly until I reached the back of the rear vehicle involved in the collision and place the beacon light on my car roof. The vehicle drivers involved in the collision were surprised to see a car stopping behind the last car involved and placed a beacon light on the roof.

 

As the beacon could be seen from far as it is placed on the car roof, it is effective as vehicles can see the turning light from far away and give ways to a certain extent.

 

The respective drivers involved in the collision contacted their tow truck company and AAS but the latter 2 were unable to reach the scene due to the packed jam. They thanked me for my assistence but I told them that I always stopped my car in any traffic accident to help in whatever I can

 

A few minutes later, a traffic police in white uniform on motorbike rode towards my car. He thought that my car was involved in the collision but I told him that I was not but stopped to render assistence.

 

He told me and the drivers involved in the collision that he was riding on the opposite lane towards Keppel Road and my beacon light caught his attention and turned around somewhere infront of him.

 

If not for my beacon light, he thought that it was just a typical enening traffic congestion. The traffic police than radioed his traffic police station for backup and several on motorbikes arrived.

 

The traffic police team thanked me for helping the drivers of the vehicles involved in the collision and told me that the roof top beacon light that I have is a very good idea and that vehicle owners should have it in their vehicles.

 

Who knows, if one's vehicle will to break down, this beacon light would be very effective.

 

Thereafter, the traffic police team stopped all vehicles to enable me to drive out and I drove home.

 

A month back, I was driving my Porsche during an evening peak hour massive traffic congestion and all vehicles were horning away. As I suspected that there might be an accident or something, I just drove along the lane where all vehicles were attempting to get out of that lane.

 

Realised that a taxi had broken down and an old man was moving from one vehicle to another which I suspected was the taxi driver, to seek assistence but none bordered to do so. The old man looked like he was at a loss as his 2 hands were on his head.

 

I then drove my Porsche behind his taxi, placed the beacon light on my car roof and told him that I have stopped my car to help him. He mentioned to me that he was involved in an accident earlier and was on his way to the taxi operator's workshop to have the taxi repaired. The bonnet was wreaked

 

I found that he is 71-years old, deaf on one ear, doesn't speak English and does not carry a handphone and in a confused state. He kept telling me that he doesn't know what to do as no drivers bordered to help him despite his approaches, worried that he has to pay S$1,000k to his taxi operator and earned very little on that day. It was only after assuring him that I will help him and accompany him until assistance arrived, he began to calm down.

 

I contacted his taxi operator's tow truck company and the receiver thought that I was the taxi driver. She sounded very surprised when I mentioned that I have stopped my car to help this old man.

 

Due to the traffic congestion, the tow truck was unable to reach the scene and we waited for more than an hour. By then, it was already dark and the old man was worried but I told him that I would be with him regardless of the time.

 

Out of nowhere, a traffic police on motorbike approached us with siren on. The traffic police told me that while taking a road bend to another road, he saw my beacon light. He then turned on his bike beacon lights, siren and managed to meanuvour to reach us.

 

I could see the relieve on the old taxi driver's face and kept thanking me for standing by him. What the traffic police told me that surprised him was that a Porsche owner who is handicapped, could border to stop and help someone in trouble whereas other drivers don't even border to do so. He thanked me for helping someone in need and my innovative idea of having a beacon light instead of the triangular emergency reflective signage.

 

He then contacted his station for back-up and with minutes, 3 traffic police on motorbikes arrived and controlled the road congestion. While talking with the traffic police on the taxi driver's behalf, a tow truck managed to arrive at the scene from a different direction after one traffic police freed the road in front of the taxi for the truck driver to reverse the truck towards the taxi's front.

 

Again, the traffic police stopped all vehicles to enable me to reverse my car and drive home.

 

I simply do not understand why our road users are not civid minded. Is it so difficult as to to stop their vehicles to help someone in need of help. Why shunt away someone who approaches them for help.

 

How will one feel if their vehicle will to break down on the road and no one borders to stop and provide assistance in one way or other.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MLS]

We need to learn from you

 

But what is this Magnetic turning beacon light all about? Can post a pic?

[Parkingidiot]

Good post, even though a bit long-winded.

 

Come to the point of the whole story:

1. How much for this beacon light?

2. Where to get it?

[Elfenstar]

I don't have a beacon, but if I'm one of the first few, I always stop to see if help is needed.

 

I think that there are more than enough people that do. The last time was at 3am when I saw a bike lying on the road. No rider.

I quickly pulled over and just as I did, the next car also did. Then we went to look for the rider, found him, moved his bike, put him into the ambulance etc.

 

I've come across accidents where there are 4 or 5 cars who have stopped already, so I figure I won't be needed, and don't stop.

[Mustank]

i don think Mike is selling beacons because you can get it in sim lim tower, mustafa.....

[Seaweed]

great...you are contributing to make our society a better one...I don't have a blinker so I never do like u...But I would always try to warn pple whom forgotten to switch on their front light at night which seem to happen more often nowadays...Probably because their instructment panel is those illu type...so it will light up once start even if headlight is not on...Once I followed a car from Yishun MRT till SLE...finally they understood what I am pointing to and not because I am trying to rob them....ha ha ha...Yes...One good deed done...I am happy about it...

[Mikeyeo]

We need to learn from you

 

But what is this Magnetic turning beacon light all about? Can post a pic?

 

You can buy them from Autobac and Sim Lim Tower. Mustafa's price is more costly.

 

Autobac has a cheap one which is quite big with cable like our telephone stretchable cable that plug into the cigarette lighter at S$11.00. I do not know if they still have them but can call them up and check.

 

There are few shops at Sim Lim Tower where they sell the battery operated ones which is round in shape and smaller at about S$40.00 and does not need cabling.

 

I use both of the above.

[Babyt]

u must be very 'eng' to follow the car all the way just to ask him to turn on headlight....it just weird to go all the way for that.

[Seaweed]

i was going the same direction...it is just that without them...I would have already gone faster ahead instead of following their speed....

[Parkingidiot]

I wonder if can stick on the beacon like Starsky and Hutch, and scare road-hoggers!

[Watwheels]

As you had mentioned it's evening peak hour. Everyone wants to go home & have dinner, probably hungry & tired. I applaud your actions cos to be frank I would want to get home rather dan to stop and see anyone needs help. After a hard day's work, I just wanna fill my stomach and get home. I dunno what exactly you do in your work but it's encouraging to see someone as helpful as you on the roads.

[Altivo]

question here

 

Can we use this beacon light for emergencies like rushing to hospital etc? Put it on the dashboard and then turn it on - machiam like some emergency vehicle.

 

I'm asking this is because my 6 week old baby had a very very high fever a few weeks back. Lucky the traffic on CTE was light at it was 2 am and most cars - majority cabs gave way and let me pass on the right lane after i flashed my headlights. I was going very fast for local standards but still, i encounter 2 fellows who refused to let me thru despite me horning and flashing the lights. As my baby's med condition indicates it could recur again, i'm wondering if using some beacon light would help.

Edited September 2, 2009 by Altivo

[Mustank]

if it was me in your shoes, i use first, ask questions later

[Mustank]

i recall a few days back on sle, there was one guy (i think big problem already) flash and horn, everyone gave way.

 

he chiong very fast...........one van see him chiong, follow him

[Altivo]

if it was me in your shoes, i use first, ask questions later

 

ya... have the same thinking too. Cos if touch wood need to go hospital again and it's during day time, i believe i will have a hard time rushing to hospital.

 

 

[Icyfreakass]

Thumbs up to you TS

 

Hard to find someone like u in singapore.

 

 

My company is in the process developing a becon using two T10 LED strobe lights.

 

I believe u can find such beacons in Sim Lim Tower.

Edited September 2, 2009 by Icyfreakass

[Mustank]

if day time, beacon can be seen by evern less people unless you put on top of the roof, machiam hong kong polis show

[Altivo]

i recall a few days back on sle, there was one guy (i think big problem already) flash and horn, everyone gave way.

 

he chiong very fast...........one van see him chiong, follow him

 

that's very good. I think drivers can tell if the fellow is having genuine emergency or not. Surprisingly, for me that nite, the cabs actually gave way pretty early when i flash the lights at some distance from them... i didn't had to slow down. Really thankful.