Drivers flout rules on road near Changi's Terminal 5 worksite

The construction of Changi Airport's Terminal 5 is proving a hazard to motorists, with drivers of heavy vehicles along Changi Coast Road flouting traffic rules to get in and out of the worksite, reports The Straits Times. Apart from speeding, many drivers have also been caught making illegal U-turns.

Work at the site began about two years ago and, last year, the Traffic Police recorded 129 traffic violations - two to three cases a week - by heavy vehicles along the more than 6km stretch.

With works in full swing, the Traffic Police are aware of motorists' concerns and have been carrying out regular monitoring and enforcement actions against heavy vehicle drivers in the area. The police will continue to adopt "a tough enforcement stance" against errant heavy vehicle drivers, the spokesman said.

However, drivers continue to flout the rules. When The Straits Times visited the site a week ago, the driver of a van had just tried to execute an illegal U-turn and hit a lorry coming from the opposite direction. While there were no serious injuries, project manager Heng Ngee Seah, who was driving the lorry, was visibly shaken. He said in Mandarin, "I travel along this road regularly and it's very common to see vehicles speeding and making illegal U-turns. It's really dangerous and today, I've been hit. I'm lucky I'm okay but I really hope the police will do something about this."

Apart from enforcement, education is also key to ensuring that heavy vehicle drivers observe safe driving habits. The Traffic Police, for example, organise regular road safety talks for such drivers to reinforce their awareness of road safety, including the dangers of speeding.

The spokesman added, "Traffic Police will continue our road safety efforts on heavy vehicles, given their propensity to cause serious injuries or even deaths, and will continue to actively engage this group of drivers to practise safe driving habits."