Homepage
PR Newswire
15-05-2012, 07:08 AM
Seriously, they should just ban all these supercars! Let the rich express themselves in other ways!
The Straits Times
May 15, 2012
Sales of supercars on the rise
Some drivers say they prefer to take the cars out for spin at night
By Cheryl Ong & Felicia Choo
SALES of supercars here have accelerated over the years, and some drivers of these high-powered automobiles say they prefer taking them out for a spin at night when the roads are clear.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) had on its records 4,149 Porsches, Maseratis, Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Aston Martins last year, up from the 3,376 the year before.
The German-made Porsches seem the most popular, with 584 registered last year; Ferraris came in second, with 92 models registered the same year.
Even as these buyers vroom out of the showrooms, the question of whether they can handle these cars safely at high speeds may be another matter.
In the wee hours of last Saturday, a red Ferrari got into a three-way crash with a taxi and a motorcycle at the junction of Rochor Road and Victoria Street.
The crash has killed the Ferrari's driver, the taxi driver and his female Japanese passenger, and left two others injured and still in hospital.
The Traffic Police have been, however, unable to give a breakdown of the number of speeding tickets issued by type of vehicle, but one thing is clear - more such tickets have been issued with each passing year.
Last year, there were 225,550 speeding offences; the year before, there were 205,000, and in 2009, 173,000.
The owners of fast cars and driving clubs say they have seen more fast cars here in the last few years.
Sports Car Club Singapore president Rosalind Choo, 31, who organises night drives here for members, said that if there are more such cars, then it stands to reason that more of them will get into accidents.
She said that discipline and safety are the watchwords in the night drives she organises.
'It's dangerous to have people who don't follow instructions,' said the insurance agent, who drives a Mercedes Benz SLK.
The club sets up driving trips at 11pm twice a month for up to 30 cars, but, she said, they never go above the speed limit.
A 25-year-old sales executive who declined to give his name admits to taking his parents' Jaguar XF out after midnight when he feels the need for speed.
He said: 'I let my mind go blank. It's very relaxing. My average speed is about 130 to 140kmh, but I've hit 190 before when the road was clear.
'I slow down when I see another vehicle, and always drive on the right-outermost lane.'
Taxi drivers, who are on the roads more than most people, say they have seen more cars busting the speed limit.
Relief taxi driver M. Salim said races usually take place late on Saturday night and go on until early on Sunday.
'I was driving my taxi six months ago when these sports cars zoomed by at speeds of around 110kmh, from Orchard Road to Changi Airport and back again,' he said.
Some self-confessed speedsters say they favour expressways or roads with fewer traffic lights like Lim Chu Kang and Lornie roads.
But most like Mr Alvin Chan, 38, who drives a BMW Z4 convertible, do not think the risk is worth taking.
He said: 'I never ride at night on my own, or speed. I go to the race tracks at Sepang every month and go as fast as I like. It's legal and safe.'
ongyiern@sph.com.sg
feliciac@sph.com.sg
The Straits Times
May 15, 2012
Sales of supercars on the rise
Some drivers say they prefer to take the cars out for spin at night
By Cheryl Ong & Felicia Choo
SALES of supercars here have accelerated over the years, and some drivers of these high-powered automobiles say they prefer taking them out for a spin at night when the roads are clear.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) had on its records 4,149 Porsches, Maseratis, Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Aston Martins last year, up from the 3,376 the year before.
The German-made Porsches seem the most popular, with 584 registered last year; Ferraris came in second, with 92 models registered the same year.
Even as these buyers vroom out of the showrooms, the question of whether they can handle these cars safely at high speeds may be another matter.
In the wee hours of last Saturday, a red Ferrari got into a three-way crash with a taxi and a motorcycle at the junction of Rochor Road and Victoria Street.
The crash has killed the Ferrari's driver, the taxi driver and his female Japanese passenger, and left two others injured and still in hospital.
The Traffic Police have been, however, unable to give a breakdown of the number of speeding tickets issued by type of vehicle, but one thing is clear - more such tickets have been issued with each passing year.
Last year, there were 225,550 speeding offences; the year before, there were 205,000, and in 2009, 173,000.
The owners of fast cars and driving clubs say they have seen more fast cars here in the last few years.
Sports Car Club Singapore president Rosalind Choo, 31, who organises night drives here for members, said that if there are more such cars, then it stands to reason that more of them will get into accidents.
She said that discipline and safety are the watchwords in the night drives she organises.
'It's dangerous to have people who don't follow instructions,' said the insurance agent, who drives a Mercedes Benz SLK.
The club sets up driving trips at 11pm twice a month for up to 30 cars, but, she said, they never go above the speed limit.
A 25-year-old sales executive who declined to give his name admits to taking his parents' Jaguar XF out after midnight when he feels the need for speed.
He said: 'I let my mind go blank. It's very relaxing. My average speed is about 130 to 140kmh, but I've hit 190 before when the road was clear.
'I slow down when I see another vehicle, and always drive on the right-outermost lane.'
Taxi drivers, who are on the roads more than most people, say they have seen more cars busting the speed limit.
Relief taxi driver M. Salim said races usually take place late on Saturday night and go on until early on Sunday.
'I was driving my taxi six months ago when these sports cars zoomed by at speeds of around 110kmh, from Orchard Road to Changi Airport and back again,' he said.
Some self-confessed speedsters say they favour expressways or roads with fewer traffic lights like Lim Chu Kang and Lornie roads.
But most like Mr Alvin Chan, 38, who drives a BMW Z4 convertible, do not think the risk is worth taking.
He said: 'I never ride at night on my own, or speed. I go to the race tracks at Sepang every month and go as fast as I like. It's legal and safe.'
ongyiern@sph.com.sg
feliciac@sph.com.sg
My Value Investing Blog: http://sgmusicwhiz.blogspot.com/
