CHRONICLE - Nanyang Technological University

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OPINIONS
CHRONICLE
Driving beyond the COE
ALOYSIUS LAI
easier than weaving around car
parks for at least 15 minutes. This
an you imagine having time can be better spent blissfully
to ferry younger siblings sipping a cappuccino at Starbucks.
from one extra-curricular
activity to another? from the edge of Singapore to the
In fact, taking public transport
COr being the designated central areas can be quicker than
driver when your friends go clubbing?
I would much rather be stuck such example—the newly-opened
driving during peak hours. One
in a crowded train.
Circle Line, has greatly increased
It is easy to understand why accessibility across the country.
many would desire a vehicle of Regardless of traffic conditions,
their own. A car offers better mobility,
greater travelling comfort, place in Bishan now last 45 min-
my trips from NTU to my aunt’s
and shorter waiting time. However, utes, down from an hour previously.
buying a car in Singapore is no
simple undertaking and I am certainly
glad I am not driving one. port seems like the better option, I
However, even if public trans-
Not only do we have to consider
the price of the vehicle, but with the cost of public transporta-
still face a dilemma as a commuter
also the cost of the Certificate of tion going up as well.
Entitlement (COE), Electronic Road A price hike in transport costs
Pricing (ERP), road taxes, customs of one per cent has recently been
duty and fuel prices.
approved in August this year.
To make matters worse for This came at a time when congestion,
service disruptions, and
prospective car owners—especially
undergraduates like us—owning a erratic arrival times were matters
car is almost guaranteed to become of much debate among citizens.
costlier in the future.
Before the purchase of a new
GRAPHIC | GOH WEI CHOON
vehicle, a potential buyer has to bid Taking public
for a COE according to the vehicle’s
CLARA CHAN
town in your own car might take $1,100. Factoring in miscellaneous
category. The COE allows the buyer transport from
a while.
expenses such as fuel and parking
to use the vehicle for 10 years, after the edge of
When the latest rates were announced,
my friends and I were left tain a car hovers around $2,000
charges, the total amount to main-
which it has to be scrapped or have
t’s 6pm and you just escaped
its COE renewed. This is a major Singapore to the
from an agonising meeting feeling frustrated.
a month.
cost component of a Singaporeregistered
car. For instance, the
You drag your exhausted not help but question—how can I sum, most of us would be enjoy-
with a demanding client. All things considered, one can-
While it is a rather extravagant
central areas can
COE of a 1600cc Honda Civic is at be quicker than Iself to the train station, afford a car? And we’re not even ing bonuses and a healthy raise
least $50,000—almost the price of
only to squeeze your way into an talking about the vehicle itself, after working for two years, which
the car itself.
driving during
already packed train.
but a Certificate of Entitlement—a would ease the burden.
Besides cost of purchase, vehicle
maintenance is also an is-
of starting your car’s engine and anywhere else in the world, just made only after being certain of
peak hours.
Contrast this with the feeling piece of paper that is unheard of Furthermore, if the purchase is
sue. ERP was introduced in 1998
being greeted by your favourite to own a car.
having the ability to cope with the
to control traffic in the Central
song on the radio. Obvious choice, Let’s take a step back and be monthly payments, this rather significant
expenditure is definitely
Business District, along expressways
and busy roads.
This choice became even more pected? Definitely not. COE prices
isn’t it?
honest: was the rise in cost unex-
Frequent ERP rate increases There has been some concern apparent during my 10-week have never remained low for long.
and expansion of ERP area coverage
have been a thorn in the delays and disruptions are becom-
summer. I was more than willtedly
exorbitant levels, this does carefully planned
side for many local drivers. As of ing more frequent this year, deing
to work overtime on several not mean that cars are a luxury
that Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) internship at Tanjong Pagar this Despite the rates reaching admit-
I believe that with
August 2011, ERP rates have been spite the increase in fares. On the
occasions, just so I could avoid reserved only for the wealthy. and prioritised
increased at two gantries and other hand, there has been marked
the peak hour crowd and have a To me, the ability to afford a
decreased at a third after a quarterly
traffic review by the Land public transport infrastructure.
progress in the expansion of the
spending, coupled
comfortable trip home.
car is based on our ability to manage
our finances. Tough as it may with regular
I relished the rare occasions
Transport Authority (LTA). With the introduction of the Circle
when I was allowed to use the be, I believe that with carefully
Despite layman complaints, Line, there is hope for better travelling
experiences for commuters.
family car instead of the dreaded planned and prioritised spending, healthy savings,
there is good reason for constraining
vehicle population in Singapore. If you compare monthly ex-
being a car owner
public commute. Despite the coupled with regular healthy savings,
being a car owner is possible,
heavy parking charges and massive
jams, the comfort more than regardless of the price hike. is possible.
When roads can no longer penditure on transportation between
a car owner and a com-
handle the increasing vehicle load,
made up for it.
the only option left is to expand muter, I anticipate that they would
Let’s do the math: according
Having your own wheels
road networks. LTA is already cost me at least $1,000 and at
to a survey conducted by the
widening the Central Expressway most $200, respectively. With
spells freedom, convenience and Ministry of Manpower, a fresh
and has approved construction of Singapore’s good public transportation
infrastructure, it is more ment you desire. Craving prata af-
Arts (Hons) degree earns an aver-
After all, inflation is something
independence at almost any mo-
graduate armed with a Bachelor of within reach.
the North-South Expressway.
Property prices in the vicinity cost-effective to be a commuter. ter watching a late-night movie? age of $2,360 a month, after the that we constantly deal with, seeing
how much prices have risen for
of these road works will probably After all, should the need No problem. No need to forgo mandatory 20% Central Provident
decline, and residents will have arise, cab services are within easy supper and rush for the last bus to Fund (CPF) deduction.
food, utilities and accommodation.
to be relocated to make way for reach at the dial of a telephone. avoid paying the ridiculous 50% Based on my current spending, Owning our very own car is
these new roads. To minimise these It does not take much imagination
to figure out what my savings Yearning for a day trip away ary, after deducting portions for when we rush to get our driver’s
midnight taxi surcharge. and factoring in the higher sal-
something that we all dream of
problems, it is important to control
vehicle growth.
of a whopping $800 per month from the stresses of piling school our parents ($500), food ($400), license at the magical age of 18. I
Beyond all cost issues, car can do. I can easily save up to work? Easy! Drive across the transport ($300) and entertainment
($410), I can expect to save While it has been three years
certainly did.
ownership may be worth the $10,000 within a year and fly to causeway and feast on barbequed
money if it brings about sufficient Greece for a vacation.
seafood after shopping to your at least $750. This amounts to since I earned my legal right to be
convenience. However car owners
do encounter problems that a luxury than a necessity in a And my favourite reason for With this $18,000 serving rowing my parents’ car, it doesn’t
Car ownership is clearly more heart’s content.
$18,000 after two years.
behind the wheel, I am still bor-
commuters usually do not, such small and highly-urbanised country.
Personal transportation in 8.30am instead of 7.30am and still the cost of a car under 1500cc longer than I had initially hoped
owning a car? I can wake up at as down payment, this reduces bother me. It may now take even
as parking and traffic conditions.
For example, finding parking Singapore is not a viable option be early for my 9.30am lecture. to $81,500, inclusive of COE. for, but that isn’t going to stop
space within busy shopping areas for many, especially with recent However with COE prices going
at a whopping $50,000 mini-
year bank loan, monthly installing
one, and it shouldn’t stop
Factoring in interest for a seven me from working towards buy-
can be difficult on weekends. additions to the public transport
Taking a train to City Hall is a lot network.
mum, being able to zoom around ments would cost slightly under you either.
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