I agree that road hogging is irritating and inconsiderate. However, I beg to differ on one important point. Are the people whom we perceive as road hogging really road hogging?

Any driver can tell you that the speed limit for most roads in Singapore is 50kmh and for expressways, 80kmh or 90kmh. For the KJE, it is 70kmh.

If you try driving at these speed limits, give or take 5kmh either way, you will be honked at, stared at and generally made to feel embarrassed about your speed.

Anybody in doubt of this need only look at L plate learners on the road and you will understand what I mean. L plate learners are the only ones who truly adhere to the speed limit and they get overtaken easily. So, are road hoggers really posing a danger or are they law-abiding citizens adhering to the traffic rule?

On the other hand, I have often been tailgated by vans and small lorries in particular. Will the commercial vehicles, heavily laden, be able to stop in time if I have to stop suddenly?

Given a choice between driving behind a road hogger or driving in front of a tailgater, I will take the former any time. At least the road-hogger can teach me a thing or two about respecting traffic rules.

Jeffery Phoon Peng Yeow