SBS TRANSIT bus captain Tan Kian Guan used to wait up to two minutes to pull out of the bus stops along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8.

But last Saturday, he started noticing a difference. Motorists actually slowed down to let him into traffic, instead of speeding up to head him off. "Driving is less stressful now and some motorists will actually stop to let us go," said Mr Tan, 31.

Drivers like him are having an easier time along the busy Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 since a new mandatory rule took effect on Saturday for motorists to give way to buses.

It is part of a series of changes, including the addition of more bus lanes, that are meant to shave time off trips. An earlier Land Transport Authority (LTA) study showed buses spend about 10 per cent of their journey times trying to exit from bays.

Most motorists have abided by the new regulation so far, said an LTA spokesman yesterday. However, 55 people were still caught for not giving way last weekend.

"We are encouraged by what we see and would like to urge motorists to continue to give way to buses so as to speed up the journey of the majority of bus commuters," said the spokesman.

At least eight bus services ply Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, which links Ang Mo Kio and Yio Chu Kang MRT stations. A Straits Times check yesterday at the bus stop outside Block 422, near the Ang Mo Kio MRT station, found that most motorists gave way to buses. From 8am to 9.30am, only one car did not stop for a bus to pull out of the bus bay. Motorists who are caught not yielding to buses may be fined $130. The LTA, though, said it will be flexible since the rule has just taken effect and may issue only advisory letters.

Besides the 11 bus stops along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, the rule will also be implemented at 12 other bus stops in Toh Tuck Road and Bukit Batok East Avenue 3 from this Saturday. The LTA said the rule might be extended to other areas.

Drivers travelling along these roads will come across blue signs 100m before bus stops to remind them that they have to give way.

When they approach the bus stop, they will see triangular markings and yellow boxes on the left-most lane, indicating where they have to stop if necessary.

Read also:
» Must give way to buses

This article was first published in The Straits Times on Dec 23, 2008.

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