Tampines Brothers & Parental Responsibility

[Shepherd]

So, my conclusion is that the mixer truck driver was either on the mobile phone, masturbating while turning or DREAMING

Driver was probably racing against time plus fatigue and some other hazards on the road that made it a potential accident to happen. And it happened.

 

[soIsee]

How do you conclude that lorry driver is not responsible for the deaths of the two children?

Lorry driver was making left turn. Concrete truck turning on left lane having a small turning radius, has to go slow.

Jack ass goon brothers chiong pedestrain crossing. Green man could be already flashing and going red.

They could have hesitated at junction and this gives the lorry man a wrong signal they are not crossing.

Of course, all these are just likely scene. But lorry was definitely slow and could have stopped but the way the boys behave on the road was the issue that caused their demise.

I could tell morons like you hardly have a Class 4 license let alone a Class 5.

And lastly I should end with a ...

You twit!

 

[watchman8]

Lorry driver was making left turn. Concrete truck turning on left lane having a small turning radius, has to go slow.

Jack ass goon brothers chiong pedestrain crossing. Green man could be already flashing and going red.

They could have hesitated at junction and this gives the lorry man a wrong signal they are not crossing.

Of course, all these are just likely scene. But lorry was definitely slow and could have stopped but the way the boys behave on the road was the issue that caused their demise.

I could tell morons like you hardly have a Class 4 license let alone a Class 5.

And lastly I should end with a ...

You twit!

Your description is lacking in logic. If the driver have seen the kids, he should have slowed. If the brothers had seen the truck coming into their path, they would also have slowed. How then did the accident happen? What's more the driver did not even realise that he had ran over the kids and had to be stopped by other motorists? The only reasonable conclusion is that he did not check blind spot and turned fast, directly running over the brothers who were already on the road crossing. Take note, the brothers had to be on the road already before the truck ran into them.

 

[peppertail]

Your description is lacking in logic. If the driver have seen the kids, he should have slowed. If the brothers had seen the truck coming into their path, they would also have slowed. How then did the accident happen? What's more the driver did not even realise that he had ran over the kids and had to be stopped by other motorists? The only reasonable conclusion is that he did not check blind spot and turned fast, directly running over the brothers who were already on the road crossing. Take note, the brothers had to be on the road already before the truck ran into them.

He could have looked "over" them due to the high sitting position in a truck, especially when looking out through the far end of the cabin while turning left. Most trucks have additional mirrors for a better view of the area below the cabin.

 

[LeMans2011]

I agree that parents have responsibility, but where do we draw the line in terms of what a 13 year old can or cannot do? When I was eight years old, I was already crossing suburb roads on my own. Is singapore roads that unsafe today that a 13 year old teenager still need to be handheld by an adult to cross a traffic junction? If situation is that unsafe today, then the solution should be to reinstate the roads safety standard to that befitting a developed nation.

I don't think the bike or pillion riding has anything to do with this case. The brothers could be on foot and still get run over by the reckless driver. In fact that reckless driver could have knocked down any adult pedestrian that day had one been unlucky to be at that junction at that fateful moment.

Completely agree with Watchman8. The incidences of accidents are on the rise. Authorities are too self-absorbed in making money and meeting economic KPIs to ever give a thought about the balance of infrastructure, population, skills and character of workers, teaching kids survival skills. One thing for sure is there are too many workers with poor character, both blue and white collars. When you have bad hats driving a truck it becomes a dangerous road killer.

When i was 10, i was swimming in the river naked with my schoolmates - no life vests no adults. Even today in Malaysia you see 12 year olds riding motocycles without licence, hence to say that 13 is too young to ride a bicycle is telling me this generation of kids are made of tofu?

 

[jubilee1919]

Caption should be "Tampines Brothers, Parental Responsibility And Public Decency." I just realised there are a number of people with sick minds that enjoy seeing images of bodies with brains and innards splattered all over the place. To top it all, they want to share such images with others even though they can put those images as wallpaper slides on their desktops and smartphones.

 

[QXD]

They should outright ban such heavy vehicles from coming into the city without the correct permits showing proof of safety training, emergency response, consistent safe driving record and proof of mandatory rest hours.

Construction companies and easily afford this level of heavy regulation, the whole fucking industry itself is so filled with sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-sub-contracting that such regulation would only force them to stop using the cheapest labour and most unreasonable work demands to feed the maximum number of snouts in the trough.

But how typical already that I read news on ST that the cement company already trying to distance itself by saying the truck driver was another subcontractor. Fuck these motherfucking low-life scum-sucking bastards, justice must be served on all the pigs lined up in the same trough.

I see kids here in Australia as young as 10 cycling to school and back, along the way, there are "safety houses" where the kids can seek shelter or an adult if they need help. So why the hell can we not assure the same level of safety for our children in Singapore?

I just can't imagine that with a population of 7mil, deaths like this might just skyrocket and that public civility might become so desensitized by scenes like these that the first thing people do is not call for help but to complain to LTA that the bangla road sweeper did not sweep up the human remains fast enough. First world living standards, third world conscience.

I know this will be politically incorrect and insensitive to some but I have issues where children are not accorded the proper protection and guidance.

The reality is that the victims are the 2 brothers. Also understand that it is an accident and possibly negligence on the part of the driver but the level of traffic at the location is a red flag at the best of times. I know many parents will not allow their kids to ride a bike let alone carry a pillion in such an environment.

We might not have helped with this situation but we can help further avoid such accidents or reduce it if we are prepared to see it for what it is.

I have no doubt that authorities could have and should have played a path. 1st World countries limit speed at school zones. Special cycles path ways including traffic signals for bicycles have been done. Its worth every penny to invest in our our young and our future. It will be a boon for those who can't afford maids and bus fares.

Lets be considerate, lets be sensitive but lets also recognise that the 2 kids are the actual victims. Peer and society pressure will force parents and guardians to re-look and assess the situation when it comes to looking after their wards.

Some people have made similar comments but have been marginalised. I just felt that adults should realise that they have a responsibility for whoever they bring into this world.

 

[watchman8]

He could have looked "over" them due to the high sitting position in a truck, especially when looking out through the far end of the cabin while turning left. Most trucks have additional mirrors for a better view of the area below the cabin.

Exactly, which is why in taking driving lessons, one of the most important thing is check blind spot when turning and changing lane. Also to turn slowly, especially when there is pedestrian crossing.

TP and AGC better not let this reckless fellow off lightly. There must be a series of heavy sentences on reckless driving to make our roads safe again. Unless their aim is to turn our roads into those of China and India, to help the new citizens feel more at home?

 

[winnipegjets]

Exactly, which is why in taking driving lessons, one of the most important thing is check blind spot when turning and changing lane. Also to turn slowly, especially when there is pedestrian crossing.

TP and AGC better not let this reckless fellow off lightly. There must be a series of heavy sentences on reckless driving to make our roads safe again. Unless their aim is to turn our roads into those of China and India, to help the new citizens feel more at home?

Current sentencing is totally inadequate to be deterrent. If lives mean anything, a mandatory life-imprisonment or death penalty would be necessary to shock drivers into respecting other users of the road. If we are harsh on eating gums which caused material damage, why is the government going so easy on errant drivers killing other innocent road users?

 

[scroobal]

Have the same concern. We can code and designate "good class bungalows" to preserve the locale and retain the value but we struggle to look after our young.

I see kids here in Australia as young as 10 cycling to school and back, along the way, there are "safety houses" where the kids can seek shelter or an adult if they need help. So why the hell can we not assure the same level of safety for our children in Singapore?

I just can't imagine that with a population of 7mil, deaths like this might just skyrocket and that public civility might become so desensitized by scenes like these that the first thing people do is not call for help but to complain to LTA that the bangla road sweeper did not sweep up the human remains fast enough. First world living standards, third world conscience.

 

[sleaguepunter]

From the Press, the cement mixer driver have 20 years of experience & is mentoring the younger drivers in the company & emphasis is safety. The father of the boys, taught them road safety. What went wrong? both are taught to be safe, then who is reckless? who is to be bless, who is to be blame?

It is every parents responsibility for their children, I believe that, many do, teach their children but they are so busy making a living that they have no time to supervise the children & see that what they have been taught are observed.

In other words, it is the fault of the society!

i had not seen the pictures or read newspapers regarding this accident. but i think it not the time to point finger to blame whose fault. it easy to blame the driver of the cement truck but has any of you ever driven a commercial vehicle before? the experience totally different from driving a normal car. the left side blind spot had no way to counter, even fixing a small blind spot mirror is not total 100% foolproof. i admit i also never driven a cement truck but i drive the company van quite often and i nearly have accident with motorcyclists overtaking on my left side on more than a few occasion. it not being reckless but the driver may not be able to see the boys. considering how high the driver cab is and the bike the boys rode may not even reach the height of the truck tire, it difficult for the driver to notice them. i know it tragic the boys are dead but it a series of conditions that cause the accident.

and pls lah, why blame the parents? the parents of the boys already so sad liao yet ppl want to put blame on them for not fetching the kids from school. of course it easy to blame when one got "ah mat" but not everyone ah gong got "lui". the boy already 11yo, surely the parents had trained him to be independent. let the TP investigate the accident first before laying blame on anyone.

 

[scroobal]

Excellent point.

Road safety should not be the sole responsibility of motorists. Pedestrians and other road users need to be aware of their surroundings as well.

 

[scroobal]

This is probably the best point put forward. Its our responsibility as parents and adults to teach situational awareness to our young. How to be aware of our surroundings and to take one's safety as the first priority.

Like you, from P1 onwards, I was already walking a couple of kms to and from school by myself. However, I think our generation was brought up with a lot more common sense and situational awareness than today's kids. It is not that the situation is more unsafe today than when we were kids. It is simply a case of today's young people being more self-absorbed. Have you seen people walking around busily twiddling with their phones and gadgets and not bothering to be aware of their surroundings? Have you seen people crossing roads with their eyes glued to their phones? I often have to make detours around such people when I walk around on this island. Have you seen kids on bikes weaving in and out of traffic on .

 

[peppertail]

i had not seen the pictures or read newspapers regarding this accident. but i think it not the time to point finger to blame whose fault. it easy to blame the driver of the cement truck but has any of you ever driven a commercial vehicle before? the experience totally different from driving a normal car. the left side blind spot had no way to counter, even fixing a small blind spot mirror is not total 100% foolproof. i admit i also never driven a cement truck but i drive the company van quite often and i nearly have accident with motorcyclists overtaking on my left side on more than a few occasion. it not being reckless but the driver may not be able to see the boys. considering how high the driver cab is and the bike the boys rode may not even reach the height of the truck tire, it difficult for the driver to notice them. i know it tragic the boys are dead but it a series of conditions that cause the accident.

and pls lah, why blame the parents? the parents of the boys already so sad liao yet ppl want to put blame on them for not fetching the kids from school. of course it easy to blame when one got "ah mat" but not everyone ah gong got "lui". the boy already 11yo, surely the parents had trained him to be independent. let the TP investigate the accident first before laying blame on anyone.

That is why you need a different driving license for trucks. Having a blind spot is not an excuse for causing an accident. If you are not comfortable driving your company van you should not touch it. You are reckless if you turn without knowing exactly what is beside you.

 

[QXD]

I beg to differ with regards to kids having better situational awareness back then.

Kids back then (like me) would be walking to school come rain or shine. At times, we would be up to our waist in floodwater happily wading our way to school, and not a care in the world should even a flea bitten, disease ridden, bloated, decomposing rat float past us. Sadly, once in a while some poor kid might take that wrong step and get swept away by the undercurrent of a monsoon drain and drown.

Pretty sure if this "situational awareness" buzzword existed back then, someone would have definitely used it to describe our generation's lack of it.

So, to me, we cannot accuse this generation of any lapses when we ourselves faced our own challenges back then.

The only difference is now is that we are supposedly a more civil and sophisticated society to prevent such harm from happening.

Like you, from P1 onwards, I was already walking a couple of kms to and from school by myself. However, I think our generation was brought up with a lot more common sense and situational awareness than today's kids. It is not that the situation is more unsafe today than when we were kids. It is simply a case of today's young people being more self-absorbed. Have you seen people walking around busily twiddling with their phones and gadgets and not bothering to be aware of their surroundings? Have you seen people crossing roads with their eyes glued to their phones? I often have to make detours around such people when I walk around on this island. Have you seen kids on bikes weaving in and out of traffic on roads and weaving around pedestrians on walking paths? How did these people end up like this? Brought up with lots of attention showered on them but very little common sense. I think this is part of the gist of what the TS is saying and I fully agree.

 

[LeMans2011]

To sum it up, with one motherhood statement "Multiple factors contributed to the fatalities" If the driver had been more careful, if the boys had been more careful, if the parents had been more careful, if the govt has been more careful... etc... any of these IFs could have saved the boys.

As a driver, i constantly remind myself, no matter how much i enjoy treating the road like a race circuit... have some regards for life. That means anywhere near junctions, filters, unbarricaded roads, anywhere that could potentially have a human traffic => drive with care.

IN this instance, if the kids are killed in that manner, i am SURE the truck was not moving from standstill. It definitely came from far at high speed. So even if the kids contribute to their own death... the driver deserve to spend the rest of his life regretting his actions.

 

[QXD]

In the estate where I live in Perth, most of us adults came back from work around 5-6pm.

This is the time that young kids (3-12) are either playing on the pavement or walking/cycling home for their bath time and dinner.

It is an unwritten rule amongst all dwellers of the estate that when there are kids on the pavement, driving speed reaches a crawl, literally at 20km/h maximum and we give way to any child that wants to cross the road for any reason at any time.

And it has been like this since the estate got populated, with not a single impatient horn ever being sounded.

That is first world civility that Singaporeans should have theoretically achieved eons ago, considering its impressive GDP per capita numbers.

To sum it up, with one motherhood statement "Multiple factors contributed to the fatalities" If the driver had been more careful, if the boys had been more careful, if the parents had been more careful, if the govt has been more careful... etc... any of these IFs could have saved the boys.

As a driver, i constantly remind myself, no matter how much i enjoy treating the road like a race circuit... have some regards for life. That means anywhere near junctions, filters, unbarricaded roads, anywhere that could potentially have a human traffic => drive with care.

IN this instance, if the kids are killed in that manner, i am SURE the truck was not moving from standstill. It definitely came from far at high speed. So even if the kids contribute to their own death... the driver deserve to spend the rest of his life regretting his actions.

 

[winnipegjets]

Lorry driver was making left turn. Concrete truck turning on left lane having a small turning radius, has to go slow.

Jack ass goon brothers chiong pedestrain crossing. Green man could be already flashing and going red.

They could have hesitated at junction and this gives the lorry man a wrong signal they are not crossing.

Of course, all these are just likely scene. But lorry was definitely slow and could have stopped but the way the boys behave on the road was the issue that caused their demise.

I could tell morons like you hardly have a Class 4 license let alone a Class 5.

And lastly I should end with a ...

You twit!

You have a great imagination. Why don't you volunteer to be the truck driver's witness? I am sure you will have a good time under cross-examination.

 

[winnipegjets]

This is probably the best point put forward. Its our responsibility as parents and adults to teach situational awareness to our young. How to be aware of our surroundings and to take one's safety as the first priority.

And you assume that the victims were not taught?

 

[winnipegjets]

While road safety should not be the sole responsibility of drivers, they bear a bigger onus to drive cautiously. Their mistakes could kill. Until drivers are cognizant of the heavy responsibility when driving, pedestrians and motorcyclists are at their mercy.

Mandatory jail time of at least 20 years or the death penalty is the best reminder for drivers to buck up or not drive.