Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Driving to Singapore/Memandu ke Singapura

I always drive along Jln Tun Razak which stretch facing Woodlands and I always wonder how driving in Singapore would be. I heard people were saying the hefty fine for over speeding and etc. etc. that associates Singapore with fines and summon.

After doing some researches into various blogs and LTA website, I think driving into Singapore is not that frightening tough. What I need are just information (correct one) and some directions on how to pass the immigration and make further way down to their roads. The following are summaries of my researches:

1) Enough Singapore dollars - $100 would be more than enough (no shopping whatsoever).
2) More than enough fuel
3) For 1st timer - get an autopass
4) Make sure insurance and roadtax is current
5) If possible, get the white card in advance to avoid delay at the CIQ
6) Passport MUST be at least 6 months from expiring
7) GPS - Garmin should be enough
8) Check causeways traffic condition at onemotoring.com.sg, it helps

Enough information, on 25th Dec. 2011, I make my way to the Causeways along with my kids and wife. We pass the BSI at around 10.30am and proceed to the Malaysian Immigration counter. Just pass to the officer the passport and the officer will do some verification. Gantry up and proceed to the causeway. I asked the officer whether there is requirements to pay for toll at the booth, he replied no as at the moment, but starting January or February 2012, each car which passes the BSI need to pay toll using TnG (some RM 2 or so..) currently only cars coming in to Malaysia from Singapore need to pay for the toll. Its going to be both ways sometime next year so make sure there is enough balance in your TnG card.

I was 10.45am and the infamous crawl has started to build along the causeways. The causeways tarmac is my concern. Potholes are there somewhere in the middle of the causeways and due to rains, water has started to pond. It took us around 30 minutes to reach CIQ and we were greeted by a nice Singapore officer who looks very much helpful with the entry requirements. He passed me the white form and even help to fill in my son's details. The process took around 10 minutes and we were clear to pass at around 11.15am. Next the autopass, after the immigration booth, there'll be 2 lanes, green and red. Get into the red lane to get the autopass, there is a parking (and loo!) and an officer will approach to your car, get all your car detail through the roadtax slip and handed over a small paper complete with your car particular. The officer will show you the way to the autopass counter and there, There is another booth for you to fill in a form, fill in the form and pass it to the counter located inside a building together with $10. No question will be asked and shortly after that, you will receive the autopass. This card is important as driving without one, will cause you $300 dollars! upon exit. The card is preloaded with $4 and you may top up near Woodlands. Each of subsequent entry to Singapore, this card need to be inserted to a machine at the immigration booth, this act as a register of your entry into Singapore. and before i proceed, there is one lady at the autopass booth who explain to me how the card works, so helpful and immediately i fall in love with Singapore (hehe kidding.. that's how people in the frontline should be, congrats!). After the autopass booth, set gps to destinations - esso near woodlands for autopass top up but before that, pass a fierce looking guy, stop, open car boot for inspection and go. Immediately upon exit of the CIQ, note two junctions, one leads to Woodlands and Kranji and the other lead straight to BKE.

Driving in Singapore was a pleasure, the highways are good (5 lanes at some places) and directions are adequately given. Speed limit for highways are 80 to 90 at some places (no 110km/h) and trunk roads are below 60. I top up my autopass with $20 considering ERP non operating hours and free VEP on christmas day. That make up a total of $24 including the preloaded $4. Upon exit at Tuas I have another balance of $19.30 and used only $4.70 ($3.20 for exiting at Tuas, Woodlands only charge $1.20 and parking at the Esplanade $1.50 for less than an hour). I also bought parking coupon at esso for $10 (in 50cents denomination) for paking with coupon.

I think driving in Singapore is possible its easy and should you require assistance those officers are there and they proved to be very helpful.

Notes: Exiting at tuas is a breeze, but on Malaysian side toll is at RM 7.60 (exit) and Singapore side $3.20 (entry and exiting), no wonder people squeeze through Woodlands.

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