Ride-hailing driver and Singaporean passenger die in Johor car crash
Ride-hailing driver and Singaporean passenger die in Johor car crash
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Behind the wheel too long? How to stay healthy and beat fatigue if you drive all day for work
It doesn't take a road trip overseas to experience driver's fatigue. If you're a private-hire driver, taxi driver or delivery rider, the regular nine-to-five routine is definitely out of the window for you. In fact, platform workers typically work about 59 hours per week, according to a 2022 study on nearly 1,000 workers by the National University of Singapore's Institute of Policy Studies. While there aren't any official statistics on the daily hours, it is not unusual to find, for instance, delivery riders spending 10 to 12 hours on the road. And with about 70,000 platform workers in the ride-hail and delivery service sectors as of 2023, they make up 3 per cent of Singapore's workforce. That could be a lot of tired drivers and riders out there hustling to make ends meet. Anyone who has spent a considerable amount of time behind the wheel will know that driver's fatigue is a very real thing. 'Drivers experiencing fatigue may show signs such as frequent yawning and blinking, difficulty keeping their eyes open, and decreased concentration and vigilance,' said Dr Licia Tan, an associate consultant with Sengkang General Hospital's Department of Occupational Medicine. 'Passengers might also notice the driver becoming fidgety, veering off the lane or driving erratically,' she added. When does driver's fatigue set in? How can you combat it and get home safe? Let's put the gear into drive. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR DRIVER'S FATIGUE TO SET IN? One to two hours of continuous driving, according to Dr Tan. 'Driving is a cognitively demanding task that relies on sustained attention, quick reflexes and decision making – all of which would decline when a driver is tired.' Of course, the rate of deterioration depends on many factors, she said, citing 'individual differences in sustained attention, fatigue, sleep sufficiency, psychological state, mental sharpness and environmental conditions'. And on those especially hot days, the brain drain is even more pronounced. 'Intense weather conditions, such as a high environmental temperature, show a positive association with fatigue symptoms and have been linked to poorer decision making and road traffic accidents,' said Dr Tan. Now, not many people drive for 18 hours straight (and you shouldn't). But if you do, know that the prolonged wakefulness that impairs your brain function, is comparable to alcohol intoxication. 'Being awake for 18 hours is similar to having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05 per cent, and 24 hours equate to 0.10 per cent, which exceeds Singapore's legal limit of 0.08 per cent,' said Dr Tan. WHAT KINDS OF DRIVING CONDITIONS TEND TO SAP YOUR ABILITY TO FOCUS? There are two types of fatigue, explained Dr Tan. 'In active fatigue, there is high mental effort required to navigate harsh external conditions such as poor weather, hazardous road conditions and heavy traffic. 'On the other hand,' she continued, 'passive fatigue results when there are prolonged periods where drivers have little to do. This can occur when driving on the expressway on cruise control, for example. Being awake for 18 hours is similar to having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05 per cent, and 24 hours equate to 0.10 per cent, which exceeds Singapore's legal limit of 0.08 per cent. Both will drain you mentally but in different ways. In active fatigue, a high mental effort is required to maintain attention and that will lead to an eventual decline in vigilance, she said. Meanwhile, 'the monotony of driving may uncover underlying sleepiness and drowsiness with consequent negative effects on performance'. WHAT ELSE CAN IMPAIR YOUR REACTION AND FOCUS WHILE DRIVING? You only need to scroll through a couple of road-rage videos online to know that your psychological status such as stress, anxiety and anger, said Dr Tan, can impair your judgement from behind the wheel. Of course, the classic disruptors include alcohol and using the mobile phone. 'Alcohol is certainly a major contributor to road accidents as it reduces alertness, impairs judgement, impacts motor coordination and slows reaction time,' said Dr Tan. 'Distractions such as using the mobile phone increase the risk of accidents by consuming your visual and mental attention.' WHAT IMPACT DOES DRIVING HAVE ON HEALTH IN THE LONG RUN? Despite the high mental load, driving is, after all, a sedentary activity. It 'involves long hours of sitting, irregular meals and breaks, and limited access to physical activity – all of which increase the risks of chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity', said Dr Tan. 'There is also strong evidence on the contribution of risk factors such as poor ergonomics and prolonged hours in a seated position with the development of musculoskeletal disorders such as lower back pain,' she said. Whole-body vibration (WVB), experienced by heavy-vehicle drivers, is another concern, said Dr Tan. Some studies have linked repeated or long-term exposure to such vibrations to negative health effects such as nerve damage, spinal degeneration, loss of balance, and vascular damage in the arms and hands. And that's not even including the job stress and abuse from demanding passengers and customers, said Dr Tan. SO, WHAT CAN DRIVERS DO? Dr Tan has four tips for better health: Maintain a balanced diet and keep to regular meal-times Pack nutritious snacks like fruits and unsalted nuts for when food access is difficult. Drink at least two litres of water daily. Keeping a water bottle filled with cool water in the vehicle will help ensure you are adequately hydrated. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, headaches, and reduced concentration. Take regular breaks Got for a five-to-10-minute break every hour, if possible. For example, you can do it after dropping off a passenger or package. Do body stretches, clock some steps or do some light stretches to improve blood circulation. Driving more than 12 hours increases the risk of fatigue-related errors and long-term cardiovascular harm. WHAT IF YOU CAN'T STOP AND TAKE A BREAK? Try simple seated exercises like neck rolls, shoulder shrugs and upper limb stretches while waiting in traffic, suggested Dr Tan.
CNA
11 hours ago
- CNA
MOM looking into alleged fraudulent work injury claim against Sumo Salad; police investigating owner's death
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said on Monday (Jul 21) it was looking into an alleged fraudulent work injury claim made against EatGreen, the operator of eatery Sumo Salad. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) also said that investigations were ongoing into the unnatural death of Ms Jane Lee, Sumo Salad's owner. Ms Lee, who was in her 40s, died on Saturday after making two Facebook posts about an employee who allegedly faked a workplace injury to seek compensation from the company. "Just two days before her contract ended, she staged an incident – claiming to have slipped and fallen while taking the escalator to dispose of rubbish," Ms Lee wrote in one post on Friday. "On that day, she was supposed to leave work early, but she deliberately stayed back. It became clear to me that the accident was premeditated, likely as an attempt to file a false work injury claim." Ms Lee, a mother of two, added that she believed this was "a carefully orchestrated scheme" that the employee planned with the employee's husband. "I feel extremely unfortunate to have encountered this situation. I am deeply saddened – for myself, my husband and our dedicated staff – that because of an unfortunate gap in our insurance coverage, we are now being targeted by what I believe to be a fraudulent scheme," she said in the post. MOM said: "We were in communication with Ms Lee, and investigations are ongoing. The worker involved was covered under Work Injury Compensation (WIC) Act, and MOM is working with the insurer to assess the validity of the case. "MOM will not hesitate to take parties found culpable for abusing the WIC system to task. Employers can approach MOM for help if they have concerns over fraudulent claims by their employees." The ministry also extended its condolences to Ms Lee's family.
Independent Singapore
12 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Vapes on the rise: 16-year-old boy caught with 54 vape pods at home
SINGAPORE: The authorities have been cracking down on the use of e-vaporisers, also known as vapes, which are illegal in Singapore. A statement released by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) on Sunday (Jul 20) says that it is increasing its reporting channels for vape-related offences starting from Jul 21. 'The hotline service to report vaping-related offences will be expanded to operate seven days a week with extended hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. HSA will also be launching a new online reporting platform, making it more convenient for the public to report illegal e-vaporiser activities,' the statement reads. The statement gave several examples of incidents of people getting caught with vapes in their possession, largely due to public tip-offs on official feedback channels. Notable among these examples is that of a 16-year-old boy, who was found with a large number of vaporiser pods in his home. These pods are used in a smaller type of portable vaping device. Because they are easier to use than other types, many young users prefer them. The teenage boy was caught on May 22, when his home was raided by officers from HSA. The driver of a private-hire car reported the boy and his friend, another 16-year-old male, after they reportedly vaped in his car while travelling along the Bukit Timah Expressway on May 18. After the traffic police seized two vapes from one of the boys, his house was searched during a follow-up check by an HSA officer. They seized 54 e-vaporiser pods and three e-vaporisers. Fortunately, no vapes or pods were found in the home of the other boy. Alarmingly, some of the pods that were seized by HSA were found to contain etomidate, an anaesthetic which can cause addiction and physical dependence. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Sunday that Singapore is now working towards listing it as an illegal drug. 'Vaping, especially those that are laced with etomidate, is increasing. It is causing quite serious concern amongst agencies, including the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health,' he told reporters. At present, individuals who use drug-laced pods are subject to fines. However, when etomidate is listed under Singapore's Misuse of Drugs Act, users 'will be treated no differently from those who consume hard drugs and narcotics, such as cannabis or cocaine,' CNA reports Mr Ong as adding. HSA also said in its statement that a 21-year-old man who was allegedly distributing e-vaporisers and components in Bishan and Ubi was caught on July 11, and when the authority conducted raids, it was able to seize almost three tonnes of vapes. In May, HSA identified a 24-year-old man vaping in a lift at Sim Lim Square and conducted a raid at his home. Officers were able to seize two e-vaporisers from his residence. 'With effect from 21 July 2025, those who have information on the illegal advertisement, import, distribution, sale or possession of e-vaporisers can contact HSA to support our enforcement efforts through two convenient channels,' HSA said. Members of the public may submit information through the online reporting form found here or scan the QR code found at the bottom of this page. /TISG Read also: Man claims someone put a vape in his bag while he was traveling to SG from Japan
