Money, one of the key factors in order to survive.
I guess most of you have heard of recent reports about the 5 newly operating ERP gantries. These ERP gantries are built so as to improve the traffic flow and encourage drivers to use alternative roads if there is any. Well, it is indeed effective with the traffic flow improving by 25% just on the second day. To avoid paying the extra charges, drivers increases their speed and drive pass these gantries before the operating hours.
Question, do these ERP systems really bring more benefits to people in Singapore? I don’t deny the good intentions of Singapore building these. But let’s take a closer look.
From one of the articles 2 days ago, one of the companies helped out its employees by allowing them to arrive at work 15minutes later just to help them save the extra unnecessary expenses from the ERP. It’s good to have such boss of course. But is it necessary if the ERP has not been built? No. From most citizens’ view, the government is just trying to make money from the ERP. But if this is really the motive behind these systems, I would like to comment that each individual company in Singapore can earn a lot more in these precious 15minutes and perhaps the tax drew from the 15minutes of profits a day for a year and result in double, twice, or more than the amount they earn from the poor citizens paying for the ERP everyday.
Next, from the situations seen at expressways near the existing ERP systems, there are motorists and drivers stopping by the side of the expressway to wait for the “evil” ERP lights to off before they “dare” to cross the holy gates. These people are merely waiting for the ERP to end to save that few dollars. Question again. What if they get hit by fast moving vehicles which didn’t notice them at the side? This is especially dangerous for motorcyclists. It’s no difference from playing with their lives.
Reports shown that the newly set-up ERP systems are effective as the traffic flow increased by 20+ %. From what I see, people are driving with extra speed so that they will not meet the ERP opening hours. I was like thinking, what is wrong with the usual speed? These people should not be rushing and speeding off to work if they had planned their time well. I would agree that the slow jams in the morning will be very irritating for people who are rushing their way. But let’s look at the usual people. Certainly they would not like to start off with haste early in the morning isn’t it? Traffic flow improving does not mean that it is good. It just mean that either people are waking up earlier and moving off before the ERP starts to tick or they are speeding their cars away. Which means DANGER and not driving as safe as before. Good? I don’t think so.
Money, seemed so important. Prices are rising every now and then. First, oil prices rise. This is much of headache for people who drive. Motorbike, which has always been seen as money saving self-own vehicle, isn’t one anymore. Motorcyclists frown over the petrol prices each time they enter the station.
A wave comes after another, the prices of flour start to rise. Many of you might think of flour as a minor among all things. But lets look at it carefully. Flour is needed for many uses. Bread, noodles, cakes and even your tasty fried chicken needed to be covered with flour. Still okay isn’t it? You may not like flour related food. Well, take a look at our dear rice then.
Now we say bye to our reasonable rice prices. They are like friends turning back on each other. Prices soar. Rice, I say rice. It is the most most most most basic need in each and every of our life. Almost every family cooks and most meals consists of rice as their main course. Hawker centre needed rice in nearly every stall. Now I wonder, as the prices of the rice rise constantly, will the usual 30cents per bowl of rice in coffee shops increase to 50cents? And from 50cents to 70cents? If this trend starts, lets welcome more complains from us, the citizens.
Who will save us?
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