http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,200550,00.html?
Pay for not giving way
Grace period over, motorists blocking buses to be fined $130
By Desmond Ng
May 01, 2009
YOU could soon be fined $130 if you are caught not giving way to buses exiting 180 designated bus stops across the island.
After a successful pilot trial of the new 'Mandatory Give Way to Buses' rule, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) plans to implement it islandwide over the next two years.
During the three-month trial, which began last December at 22 bus stops at three locations including Bukit Batok East Avenue, Toh Tuck Road and Ang Mo Kio, 1,522 motorists were warned for not observing this rule.
LTA chief executive Yam Ah Mee said this number is small.
'By and large, motorists are gracious enough to give way. People are adjusting to the pilot trial. Considering that the total car trips is 6.8 million per day, this 1,522 number is very small and it's spread over a few months,' he said.
On average, the number of motorists straying into bus lanes is about 2,000 a month.
Under this rule, motorists travelling along affected roads are bound by law to give way to buses exiting a bus stop.
This is akin to motorists stopping just before a yellow box on the road and letting other vehicles through.
But a number of motorists either didn't understand the rule or just couldn't be bothered.
The LTA said yesterday that these motorists were warned and given advisory notes to inform them of the new scheme.
None of them was fined, but when the scheme proper kicks off, offenders face a $130 fine (no demerit points).
No negative motorist feedback
LTA said it had not received any negative feedback from motorists regarding this scheme.
Indeed, it was such a success that LTA is extending it islandwide over the next two years.
Some 180 bus stops have been identified for this scheme, which will cost some $1 million to implement.
The bus stops were selected based on the time taken by buses to exit the bays in areas such as Choa Chu Kang, Tampines and Ang Mo Kio.
There are more than 2,000 bus stops in Singapore.
LTA said that based on data from the three trial locations, buses were able to exit the bus stop faster, with time reduction of up to 73 per cent in some cases.
The total journey time for bus services that ply the three locations also improved by up to 7 per cent.
LTA said the average vehicular speeds at the three roads showed no significant changes.
SBS Transit executive director Gan Juay Kiat said: 'Since the introduction of the scheme, we have seen an improvement in the time taken for our buses to exit bus bays.
'This benefits busloads of commuters who do not have to wait several minutes at each bus stop as the bus captain tries to get back onto the main road.'
Pay for not giving way
Grace period over, motorists blocking buses to be fined $130
By Desmond Ng
May 01, 2009
YOU could soon be fined $130 if you are caught not giving way to buses exiting 180 designated bus stops across the island.
After a successful pilot trial of the new 'Mandatory Give Way to Buses' rule, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) plans to implement it islandwide over the next two years.
During the three-month trial, which began last December at 22 bus stops at three locations including Bukit Batok East Avenue, Toh Tuck Road and Ang Mo Kio, 1,522 motorists were warned for not observing this rule.
LTA chief executive Yam Ah Mee said this number is small.
'By and large, motorists are gracious enough to give way. People are adjusting to the pilot trial. Considering that the total car trips is 6.8 million per day, this 1,522 number is very small and it's spread over a few months,' he said.
On average, the number of motorists straying into bus lanes is about 2,000 a month.
Under this rule, motorists travelling along affected roads are bound by law to give way to buses exiting a bus stop.
This is akin to motorists stopping just before a yellow box on the road and letting other vehicles through.
But a number of motorists either didn't understand the rule or just couldn't be bothered.
The LTA said yesterday that these motorists were warned and given advisory notes to inform them of the new scheme.
None of them was fined, but when the scheme proper kicks off, offenders face a $130 fine (no demerit points).
No negative motorist feedback
LTA said it had not received any negative feedback from motorists regarding this scheme.
Indeed, it was such a success that LTA is extending it islandwide over the next two years.
Some 180 bus stops have been identified for this scheme, which will cost some $1 million to implement.
The bus stops were selected based on the time taken by buses to exit the bays in areas such as Choa Chu Kang, Tampines and Ang Mo Kio.
There are more than 2,000 bus stops in Singapore.
LTA said that based on data from the three trial locations, buses were able to exit the bus stop faster, with time reduction of up to 73 per cent in some cases.
The total journey time for bus services that ply the three locations also improved by up to 7 per cent.
LTA said the average vehicular speeds at the three roads showed no significant changes.
SBS Transit executive director Gan Juay Kiat said: 'Since the introduction of the scheme, we have seen an improvement in the time taken for our buses to exit bus bays.
'This benefits busloads of commuters who do not have to wait several minutes at each bus stop as the bus captain tries to get back onto the main road.'
