MOTORISTS are creatures of habit. Just ask the bus captains at the Bedok interchange.

It has been three months since no-entry signs were put up, yet drivers are still turning into the carpark next to the interchange from Bedok North Street 1.

This happens, despite the two no-entry signs at the junction, and another two at the carpark entrance.

And because of this, buses have to wait for the cars to reverse out of the carpark.

Earlier, cars could enter and exit the carpark at this point, opposite Princess Cinema.

Now, the lane has been changed to one way, exit only. Vehicles can enter the carpark only from New Upper Changi Road.

According to a spokesman from the Housing Development Board, the changes were made on 8 Jan to clear the lane for buses and ease the traffic situation.

The New Paper observed the spot for an hour at lunch time recently and found 12 motorists trying to enter through the exit lane.

Local resident Sharon Wang, an accounts assistant in her mid-30s, has even tried to direct the cars away from the carpark entrance.

She said: "Cars were stuck there and honking, because they couldn't enter and had to reverse out."

She is concerned this might cause an accident, especially with buses trying to enter the interchange.

DANGEROUS

Bus driver Liow Kok Soo, 26, said he has had to look out for cars reversing out of the lane before entering the bus interchange.

He said in Mandarin: "It has been like this for months, yet there is still the same problem. There's nothing I can do about it."

According to some Bedok residents, jams are a common occurrence, especially during the early morning. This could potentially be dangerous for pedestrians.

Ms Aida Rohaidah, 35, owns a stall next to the carpark entrance. She said: "There are jams here from 6 am to 7 am. Because the cars just reverse quickly, it's definitely dangerous for customers."

Madam Nor Isha, 40, a retail assistant at a Cheers outlet, said: "Three or four cars are usually involved during the morning congestion.

"It gets messier when taxis drop passengers off. Then even the buses have to wait for them! Don't drivers know how to read (the signs)?"

Ms Wang said there were traffic police preventing motorists from entering the carpark two months ago.

And some drivers have noticed the new signboards.

Mrs Violet Seah, 57, a housewife, now uses the New Upper Changi Road entrance.

She told The New Paper: "When I tried to enter via the Bedok interchange entrance, I noticed the sign from a distance. It's quite obvious."

She said that if drivers were more observant, they would be able to see the no-entry signs before turning the corner into the carpark.

- By Chermaine Goh, newsroom intern

This article was first published in The New Paper on Apr 4, 2008.