Think you saw a police car? Nah, it’s a ‘polite’ car
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Netizens were divided in their views, with some suggesting it is a good idea, while others said it is “intentionally misleading”.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF GOH YONG WEI
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SINGAPORE – From a distance, this white multi-purpose vehicle is easily mistaken for a police patrol vehicle.
But on closer inspection, the words on the vehicle spell “polite”, not “police”.
And when you scan the QR code printed on the side of the vehicle, you are taken to the website of an ice-cream shop.
The “Polite Car” has caught the eye of motorists, who put up photos of it on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page on June 15.
Netizens were divided in their views of the vehicle, with some commenting that it is a good idea, and others saying it is “intentionally misleading” as it looks like a police car.
Speaking to The Straits Times, the owner of the vehicle, businessman Goh Yong Wei, 32, said that since he pasted the decals on his Toyota Alphard in May, other motorists have been slowing down to give way to him on the road.
“As a driver and motorbike rider, I find that the driving culture in Singapore is not gracious, especially during peak hours,” he said.
“I want to be noticed. I want the attention. I want people to see me and slow down to avoid a collision.”
He said this is not the first time he has decorated his vehicle with decals. He previously owned a motorbike that sported white fairings – a protective shell placed over the frame of a motorcycle that also aids aerodynamics – and added blue and red stripes to them.
He said he has been involved in more than 10 car and motorbike accidents in the past four years, and he added these decals to help him prevent another accident.
“I feel safer and find it easier to drive around now. A lot of people in cars giggle when they drive by and give me a thumbs up,” he said. “It makes for a very positive driving experience for me.”
He added a QR code to direct people to the website of his ice-cream cafe and has recorded about 20 scans daily.
According to information on the Land Transport Authority’s website, the authority does not object to sticker advertisements or decals being displayed on vehicles – as long as they meet a list of requirements.
These include graphics and words that are not pornographic, obscene or vulgar, and not seditious or offensive to any religion.
In response to queries, the police said a report has been lodged and investigations are ongoing.
