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SINGAPORE: Killed more than twice as many lives on the roads as drunk driving last year.
There were 29 deaths due to speeding-related accidents (more than two deaths per month) and 13 fatal accidents from driving under the influence of alcohol.
Speeding is, in fact, Singapore’s top traffic offense. Between 2018 and last year, there were 2,212 speeding-related crashes that resulted in injuries or fatalities. In the most recent high-profile case, in Tanjong Pagar last month, five men were killed.
READ: 5 men killed in car accident in Tanjong Pagar, woman hospitalized with severe burns
Drivers caught exceeding speed limits by more than 40 kilometers per hour must appear in court, rather than simply paying a compounding fine.
Those who participate in a race face the possibility of going to jail, a fine and the impoundment of their car.
However, despite the casualties and penalties, some drivers love to go fast, with or without vehicle modifications that can put their lives in danger.
Still image from video showing Tanjong Pagar speeding-related accident on February 13.
Speeding is more dangerous than motorists may think for several reasons, according to the Talking Point program. And the risks are not only found in the underworld of sprinters.
READ: Don’t need more speed? Singapore’s illegal road racing scene fades despite concerns linger
LITTLE PROTECTION
At normal speeds, safety devices such as seat belts and air bags can minimize injuries in traffic accidents. But at high speeds, safety devices like seat belts can do some harm while trying to save lives.
An accident victim could have a “belt burn” to the chest, for example, or worse.
“I have to worry if there is a neck injury … or if the blood vessels inside the neck have been torn,” said Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s director of trauma services, Adjunct Assistant Professor Teo Li Tserng.
“And sometimes the heart can be bruised from hitting the breastbone.”
Survivors of a high-speed crash often have internal injuries that lead to prolonged hospital stays, as the impact of the crash may have caused significant damage to organs such as the liver, spleen, and intestines.
“If we were to take a box of soft tofu (and) shake it … look at the state of the tofu, that’s exactly what is happening to the liver,” quoted Teo.
When we collide with something, the seat belt pulls us back. Solid organs are like tofu in that box … and they just break.
The faster a car goes, the greater the force with which the seat belt restricts its user. “Without the seatbelt… you may have crashed into the windshield. He may not even make it to the hospital, ”he noted.
“(But) if you’re going to travel at very, very high speeds and … crash the vehicle, the speed now would essentially make the safety devices not very useful.”
For a seat belt to cause this burn in 20 to 30 minutes, the impact must have been quite severe.
JUDGMENT ERRORS
It is also not very easy to prevent an accident at the first sign of trouble. Of all the traffic accidents that Melvin Lum has investigated for nearly a decade, “98 to 99 percent” were due to “errors in judgment.”
“People have misjudged the speed of an oncoming car,” quoted senior forensic consultant and accident reconstructor at Koays Accident Reconstruction.
“There are also cases where they realize that the car has already lost directional control and they hit the brakes, which … would make the situation worse.”
During the day, the reaction time of a driver when facing an obstacle is approximately 1.5 seconds and approximately 2.5 seconds at night. But Lum cautioned that longer distances are needed to stop a speeding vehicle.
Mr. Melvin Lum.
During the day, a motorist driving at 50 km / h would need 34.9 meters to stop. At 90 km / h, the braking distance increases to 83.1 m. At night this increases to 108.1 m.
These distances apply to drivers in control of their vehicle. But if the driver loses control, the car can take a turn, “so braking when making a turn at high speed is never a good idea.”
Lum said: “The car would go off on a tangent and it would just slide. I would have lost any braking or steering momentum. “
POWER IMBALANCE
It’s fair to say that owners of fast cars, like sports cars, tend to drive faster than other drivers, thinks sgCarMart editor Julian Kho. And typical cars don’t compare to these machines.
Powerful machine: most sports cars can go from zero to 100 km / h in about four seconds.
Sports cars tend to give you that best answer. They are equipped for faster driving habits. They are more communicative in that sense, ”he said.
“You kind of have an idea of what exactly you need to do and how to do it, especially when you’re handling turns.”
However, the cost of a sports car may be out of reach for some drivers, so another way to go fast is to buy a low-end car.
This may include modifying the air filter system, suspension, tires and brakes, quoted Jason Lin, who is in charge of business development at Garage R Performance Center’s motorsports division.
Modifications under the hood.
He showed Talking Point the legal modifications made to a Suzuki sedan in his workshop, which could take the car from zero to 100 km / h in 6.9 seconds, compared to 7.4 seconds for the unmodified version.
But specific power improvements can cause a car to “throw off balance”, making it dangerous. “The handling would be different,” he said. “You can’t really control the car well.”
READ: LTA issued about 610 offense notices per month to owners of illegally modified vehicles: Amy Khor
A car is basically at its best when it leaves the factory, as its original components are designed to work together for safe driving. For example, the tires and brakes are adapted to the engine power of that vehicle.
So when customers ask Lin’s team to tweak their cars to go faster, the advice is to take a holistic approach to car tuning, as customers shouldn’t just change engine power. Some modifications are also completely illegal.
Customers looking for modifications to Jason Lin’s garage have increased by 20 percent in the last five years.
LACK OF SKILLS OR SPACE?
While sports car drivers may feel like they can handle their cars better, there’s more to speed management than just understanding the car, according to professional racer Andrew Tang.
“A lot of people think that you just sit in the car and turn the steering, and you’re fast. But there is much more skill in it … how you use your braking technique, your steering technique, “he quoted.
One corner is not the same as another … You are always applying different techniques for entry, middle and exit.
Therefore, high speeds require more than drivers learn before obtaining their driver’s license. “It requires a completely different kind of training,” he said.
Kho, for his part, acknowledged that he used to be “irresponsible” on the roads.
Mr. Julian Kho.
But he said he “absolutely” knocked it out of his system after driving his car to Sepang several times and putting full throttle on the Malaysian track.
“I was so satisfied that once I got back on the street, I said to myself, ‘You know what? I’ve been there, I’ve done that, ‘”he said.
That’s why former thrill seeker Sam (not his real name) thinks Singapore should have a similar place.
“I know (running) is illegal and not right. But I feel like people do it because we don’t have a space to express our interest in motorsports, “said the convicted sprinter who used to enjoy the” feeling of accomplishment “and the adrenaline rush he felt every time he ran.
“If the government can build a casino just for people to play, I don’t see why they can’t build a racetrack for motorsport enthusiasts.”
WATCH: The Full Episode – When Speeding Kills: What’s Behind Our Need for Speed? (22:54)
A “safe space” is essential to “push the limits” of speed, Tang noted. But it still takes more than that, like having the right gear, including helmets and racing suits.
“We have specific harness systems and everything we need to keep our neck in place, as well as braces. And then obviously cars are made with six-pin seat belts, so when you hit something you don’t fly away, “he said.
The fact is, most cars and roads here are not built for high speeds, summed up Talking Point host Steven Chia, and “most of us overestimate our driving ability.”
His suggestion on where to “eliminate that need for speed”: on a go-kart track.
Check out this episode of Talking Point here. The program is broadcast on Channel 5 every Thursday at 9:30 p.m.
Talking Point host Steven Chia karting on a Singapore track designed by a Formula 1 track designer.
