By Zaihan Mohd Yusof

THE last 1km drive to work is literally a "tight squeeze" for Mr Peter Hoi, a workshop manager at an oil field company.

His problem: lorries and cars parked illegally on a short stretch of road to his office on Benoi Lane.

Illegally-parked vehicles often slow down or block traffic near his office.

Said Mr Hoi, 58: "With (illegally parked) vehicles on both sides, it takes only an on-coming lorry to block traffic. The parked lorries also block the visibility at the bend.

"Sometimes drivers have no choice but to drive onto the opposite lane, even when there are double white lines painted on the centre of the road."

Mr Hoi is not alone in being inconvenienced by the illegally parked vehicles. Some drivers making deliveries have complained that they are delayed by the inconsiderate motorists.

While the issue of illegal parking is not new, recent figures suggest more motorists are ignoring parking rules (refer below).

Notices were given for expired coupons, indiscriminate parking along double yellow lines or in no-parking zones, and parking without valid season parking tickets, said an HDB spokesman.

At Benoi Lane, the illegal parking situation remains despite Mr Hoi's many complaints to the authorities.

Said Mr Hoi: "I have spoken to parking wardens who have seen the illegally parked vehicles, but they say there's nothing they can do because it's not their jurisdiction."

Vehicles are parked all along Benoi Lane even though there is a single white line dividing the two-lane road. The single white line means no parking is allowed at any time on either side of the road.

Motorists also park on double yellow lines, despite it being an offence at all times to do so.

Why flout?

Why do drivers persist in flouting parking rules?

A former delivery driver, Mr Manoj K, 27, explained that sometimes drivers do not "have a choice".

Said Mr Manoj, who has been driving a lorry for six years: "When delivery drivers arrive at their destination early, they have to wait and park illegally outside as some companies do not receive deliveries during lunch time or allow delivery lorries onto their premises.

"We don't want to break the law, but what to do when it's the company's policy?"

Of course, there are times when drivers are just too lazy to find proper parking lots.

Some drivers park illegally when buying food while others do so when waiting to pick up workers, Mr Manoj said.

At HDB estate carparks, the reasons for illegal parking can be different.

Mrs Au, a resident of Block 245, Tampines 21, has seen cars parked on double yellow lines overnight in her estate.

In September, she was issued a ticket for doing the same, but her excuse was that the carpark was full.

Said Mrs Au, a marketing executive: "I had returned late from work one night and didn't feel safe walking home alone from the next carpark (10 minutes away).

"I have no issue paying the fine but sometimes other people get away with parking illegally when they do not get fined by the wardens."

A biker living on Ubi Avenue 1 felt the same way. Mr Deep Singh said sometimes he "genuinely forgets" to put a parking coupon.

Other riders escape the $8 fine by parking at void decks and on the roadside near his estate carpark, he said.

Said Mr Singh, a technician: "They (illegal parkers) know the parking wardens will not bother, so they continue to park at the void decks. If that's the case, I might as well park illegally."

But one lawyer cautions against going for the "free" void deck parking option. Lawyer S Balamurugan said the culprits "have been lucky, so far".

He said: "If everybody parks illegally, it would be chaotic. It takes civic-minded residents to inform the police or town council of such illegally parked vehicles. The authorities can't be there 24/7 to catch those who park illegally."

Residents can call HDB's Car Parks Telephone Answering Service at 1800 272 1409 to report on illegal parking.

See also:
Parking in loading/unloading bay is an offence
More "parking lots" at taxi bays and bus stops

This article was first published in The New Paper on Oct 28, 2008.