When a Singapore registered vehicle leaves the country it reduces congestion on Singapore roads which is what our transport policy makers wish to see.
Hence I do not see LTA’s logic of tripling the exit toll from $1.20 to $3.80 on October 1. Neither do I see the logic of imposing another $2.70 on a Singapore car returning to its country of origin when previously it was free. It’s presence on Singapore’s roads would have been factored in by LTA and the vehicle owner would have paid all the necessary duties, road tax and COE for the right to own and use the vehicle on Singapore roads. Why is he being charged for exercising his right of return to his own country?
Why is he required to pay triple the old rates when the causeway has never been improved or widened in the last 50 years and congestion remains the motorist’s bane?
It is spurious for the LTA to justify its imposition of the new tolls based on a “monkey see monkey do” logic. If a neighbour wishes to “cut its nose to spite its face“ we should never follow suit for in the end it is the ordinary people who suffers.
Yours sincerely,
Patrick Low