I am quite amused when people complain that setting up new gantries or raising charges just pushes the jams to arterial roads - which then get crowded and end up attracting their very own gantries. The goal isnt to make your driving experience better - it is to deter you from driving where possible. Road space is a scarce commodity in Sg and therefore it is priced to allow only those who can afford it.
Why this mentality? Cos ease of transport affects your attractiveness as a business destination. And anything that helps the economy grow (even at the expense of the happiness of your citizens) is instituted in Sg.
My issue is that you cant tell people to stop driving when you haven provided acceptable alternatives. No need to repeat grouses on the infrequent, hub-and-spoke bus systems and overcrowded infrequent trains here.
As the saying goes, when the only tool in your box is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. However, apart from punishing an undesired behaviour, what about incentivising desired behaviour? How about making public transport really attractive so people will actually want to switch from driving?
So, what’s with the reduction in road tax recently? If govt wants people to stop driving, then why this incentive that gives a mixed signal?
Thing is, govt is not asking you to stop driving. Just not drive at the places and times that it doesnt want you to drive. Which happen to be all the times and places when you actually want to drive! Most of our lives revolve around work. So, if i cant drive to work, then have car for what?
Having a car is part of the Sg dream. So, govt makes it conducive for more people to get a car. This way, you cant complain that you cant afford a car. You can only complain that you cant drive your car to congested areas at crowded times - which sounds reasonable?
Part of Sg policy making seems to be to targetted at achieving a very fine-tuned and nuanced outcome - which is about trying to meet all the various goals (which can be contradictory) at the same time. When you try to please everyone, you usually end up pleasing noone.