Experience Drive-8

Lesson 8. Covered the topics about the types of pedestrian crossings and left turns. That was the first time I had my lesson in the evening. Started at 6.15, and ended at 7.55 in the evening. The drive at 6.15 was under normal daytime conditions, though traffic starts to get heavy along some roads. At 6.30pm, had to switch the position lights on. 30 minutes later at 7pm, the headlights were switched on. It feels cool to be able to drive with the lights on at night. However, there was an additional challenge. Although here in Singapore, you have street lights and reflective signs to guide you, there are still places that are dark and it's not as easy to spot pedestrians crossing the road. However, one great advantage of driving at night, is that looking out for vehicles before making a turn is way easier. All you have to do is look out for the beam of a vehicle's headlights, before making the turn. No light is as good as no vehicle present, though there is still a need to look out for pedestrians crossing the road.

Pedestrian crossings. There are 2 types. Traffic light and zebra crossings. These 2 types can be further classified into another 2 types. Traffic light crossings. The first type is commonly found at road junctions and T-junctions. The green men are automatically activated when the green light for same direction is on. The second type is found on 2-way roads, commonly found near schools and bus stops in neighbourhoods. However, these crossings are activated by a pushbutton that can be pressed by the pedestrian who intends to cross the road. Even if the pushbuttons are not activated(as shown by a small red light above the pushbuttons), it's good practice to prepare to stop at the crossing.

The second type of pedestrian crossing is the zebra crossing. The first type has markings on the road. The second is made up of a combination of a hump and crossing. Also known as a raised zebra crossing, there's a need to shift down to the second gear(since it's a hump). The zebra crossings are usually a combination of speed regulating stripes. They're easy to spot, and make sure you don't stop on the crossing and obstruct the path of a pedestrian, and you'll do just fine.

Next, left turns. The left turn is rather easy. As for all turns and bends, the second gear is usually used. Most left turns at uncontrolle junctions require one to stop before making the turn, so as to prevent one from making the turn as soon as he or she reaches the junction and forgets to look out for any possible danger and react to them before making the turn. At junctions, be sure to give way to pedestrians crossing the road on the left before making the turn.

That evening, I nearly caused an accident. It was at the zebra crossing near Hong Kah North Community Club. Just we came to the crossing, I failed to look out for a pedestrian, dressed in black who happened to step into our path just as I went up the raised zebra crossing. He jammed the brakes. The engine stalled. We stopped on the hump, just in front of her. A little more, and I would have caused an accident. That was scary. That was the first and only time the engine stalled that evening.

Somehow, I prefer driving in the evening compared to driving in the morning, though my mind is fresher at 10am in the morning. In the evening, there is a greater need to be able to react faster to any situation happening ahead.