Road Rules: Yellow Boxes

[Foxes]

I discovered the hard way yesterday that yellow boxes mean nothing here. Even in congested stationary traffic, you can be fined and have demerit points against your licence if you hit someone while turning across it. Yesterday a Malaysian motorcyclist came out from between two lanes of stationary traffic to cross the yellow box while I was on it. He's fine as I was going so slow.
The 9 demerit points and $200 fine I incurred for being as careful as I could driving into Clementi Crescent from Clementi Road at peak hour morning time is my reward for a motorcyclist's inattention to the traffic conditions. I'm charged with "inconsiderate driving" - that's the law.
I also learned at the police station that it is not illegal for motorbikes to weave in and out of traffic. So I had to ask the investigative officer the obvious: is there a different set of rules for vehicles and another for motorbikes? "No," he said. So why didn't he have to stop at the yellow box like all the other traffic? "Because he's small and can weave between the cars..." he replied. "So long as he doesn't touch the cars, he is free to move between them..." He also said that we hope that they look at the traffic conditions for their own safety.
And if they don't, then the fault is not their own!
So can anyone tell me what the point is of a yellow box on the road if it's there for some and not for others? Sounds like anyone can shoot through between cars (if you're small enough) and risk life and limb, and it will never be their problem. Aside from their physical vulnerability, what's to stop them from driving with complete disregard to any other road user?

[cutiebutie]

Yellow box?

Perhaps ask SMS, I'm sure he did some R&R during his Vietnam days and heard his friends talk about them.

[sundaymorningstaple]

CB

As a matter of fact.

But as we progressed southwards that became lbfm's don't ask.....

Regarding our posters version however, as it is not illegal in Singapore to weave in and out of traffic down the lane dividers (it is in the US however), the yellow box is designated for traffic once stopped they should not stop within the designated box. However, if there is nothing to impede the flow of traffic one does not have to stop. This gives rise to the fact that if Motorbikes are allowed to travel legally using the lane dividers then there traffic flow has not yet been impeded for them and they still have the right of way. If you are pulling out of a side street into the yellow box it is still up to you to give way to approaching traffic on your right. 'fraid they are right.

[cutiebutie]

lbfm's? The mind boggles and the acronym search begins!

[durain]

Yellow box?

Perhaps ask SMS, I'm sure he did some R&R during his Vietnam days and heard his friends talk about them.

yellow box or orange agent in nam?

[ksl]

lbfm's? The mind boggles and the acronym search begins!

Can I play this game too! IBFM's International Boxes For Motor Vehicles

[sundaymorningstaple]

ksl,

If you're gonna play the game at least get the letters correct!

It's not IBFM (ibfm). It's LBFM (lbfm)!

[ksl]

ksl,

If you're gonna play the game at least get the letters correct!

It's not IBFM (ibfm). It's LBFM (lbfm)!

Ooops eyesight failure, even with glasses on! Oh sweet jesus, I cannot repeat, it...I just had a flash back to 38 years ago... First word Little, last word Machine Bugis St at midnight! Military police used to raid the place often...

[Plavt]

ksl,

If you're gonna play the game at least get the letters correct!

It's not IBFM (ibfm). It's LBFM (lbfm)!

Ooops eyesight failure, even with glasses on! Oh sweet jesus, I cannot repeat, it...I just had a flash back to 38 years ago... First word Little, last word Machine Bugis St at midnight! Military police used to raid the place often...

.................................................

[durain]

better check the acetic acid level...

[ksl]

better check the acetic acid level...

I have enough inside me now, that i glow in the dark!

Just wait for SMS to reply, I guess i got it right this time!

...38 years ago, the Americans used to come to Singapore for R&R, from Vietnam, we used to party down there in Bugis St..Midnight was the time it started, after all the market stalls had been cleared it closed at 6 a.m...

It really was like the wild wild west, and an experience i will never ever forget, with the most wildest of male animal behaviour, you could ever imagine, but mostly high spirits and a very good time...The place was illegal at the time, for serving alcohol and partying, so was often raided by military police.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I though maybe we'd have crossed paths but I was there on R&R back in '67 so predated you by a couple of years.

[ksl]

I though maybe we'd have crossed paths but I was there on R&R back in '67 so predated you by a couple of years.

Now your showing your age! I hadn't even joined up then, I was just thinking about it