Van Driver Takes a Pavement Detour: A Singapore Traffic Tale
Oodles of trucks sat motionless on Woodlands Road in early September 2018, turning the stretch into a perfect snore‑inducing traffic jam. Picture this: a bright red van, the star of the saga, leaves the car‑lane and takes a bold detour onto the nearby pavement to get to the kiddie corner of Tampines.
The Comedy‑Cue Video
The clip posted by Roads.sg on its Facebook page shows the van’s left side hugging the sidewalk while cars sputter like steam‑powered caravans. Views already hit 37,000 and the video went viral in just five hours.
Who’s the Highway Houdini?
Self‑identified driver Jason Zy Cheong stepped into the spotlight, immediately firing off an apology to anyone whose patience was sorely tested. He said:
“I was on a mission to pick up my child from a childcare centre. The road was a snake‑pit of trucks that weren’t moving for 45 minutes. I’d not risk my licence if this wasn’t an emergency.”
He added, “Sorry for any inconvenience. I truly had no choice but to splash the pavement.”
How Netizens Reacted
- Pang Jun Heng—who called the situation “parent first, rule second”—said, “Everyone gets split ends in their own way. Let the driver be a little lenient.”
- Bing Dun Tan offered a cautionary tale: “Imagine if every person with an urgent errand chose this route—there’d be chaos for all.”
- Micheka Lee Suet Fong sympathised but reminded the van driver, “Parental duties are tough, but the law’s still law. Handle it carefully.”
- And then there was the round‑the‑clock chorus of “Sorry, but you’re putting us in a tight spot!”—a mixture of Empathy and Law‑mindedness.
What Matters Most
At the end of the day, the van driver’s heartfelt “apology” resonated with many and disappointed others. Whether it’s the palm‑shaking sound of the child’s laughter or the roar of city traffic, traffic jams in Singapore will keep presenting both challenges and funny stories.
