Woman who drove off with cyclist on bonnet in Katong road rage incident pleads guilty

SINGAPORE: A woman who drove off with a cyclist clinging onto the bonnet of her car following an altercation in Katong pleaded guilty on Thursday (Feb 15).

Elaine Michele Ow, a 49-year-old Singaporean, admitted to one count of a rash act endangering the safety of cyclist Nicolette Tan Shi'en.

The court heard that Ow was driving her car along Still Road South on Jun 2 last year. The cooking instructor was going to i12 Katong mall to teach a class.

At the same time, Tan, a lawyer, was cycling along the same lane.

They both entered a slip road and at the apex of the bend, Tan felt that Ow's car was too close to her.

In footage played in court from her bicycle camera, Tan exclaimed: "Excuse me, watch it!"

This was audible from inside the car, as the rear left window was partially open, the court heard.

Ow continued driving until she stopped at a cross junction where the lights were red.

After catching up with Ow, Tan stood in front of Ow's car with her bicycle, and they got into a verbal exchange.

Ow wanted to leave and tried several times to veer around Tan and her bicycle, but could not as Tan positioned herself in a way that left Ow without enough space to drive off safely.

Ow wound down her window and told Tan that she was late for a class and asked her to step aside. In the ensuing exchange, Ow apologised to Tan.

Tan then told Ow: "Your behaviour is embarrassing."

Ow replied that Tan was "so aggressive", and again tried to drive around her.

However, Ow's vehicle came into contact with Tan's bicycle, and Tan shouted: "Excuse me, you just f***ing hit my bike!"

A more heated verbal exchange ensued. When Tan tried to open Ow's car door, Ow said: "Don't do that, don't f***ing touch my car!"

After this, Ow picked up Tan's bicycle and carried it to the side before returning to her car, again explaining that she had a class to get to.

Tan tried to call the police and stood in the middle of the second lane, obstructing the road.

Ow then inched her car forward and nudged Tan's legs, according to court documents. Subsequently, Tan jumped onto the bonnet of the car.

Ow muttered "ok" to herself and accelerated. She drove for about 100m with Tan clinging onto her bonnet, banging on the windscreen with her fist and screaming while holding on to a windscreen wiper.

When Ow stopped her vehicle at the entrance of the mall carpark, Tan slipped off, still holding the wiper.

She let go only after passers-by coaxed her into it. Tan later saw a doctor for muscle strains on her neck, shoulder and hip, and sought a follow-up visit for her injuries.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mark Chia said Ow has a past conviction from 2006 of drink driving, although he accepted that this was dated.

He sought a short detention order (SDO) and a driving ban for Ow. An SDO is a community-based sentence that detains an offender in prison for not more than 14 days. It is supposed to act as a deterrent by allowing an offender to experience prison life, but does not leave a criminal record.

"Although this (case) involved an antagonistic victim, a motor vehicle should be driven responsibly or not driven at all," said Mr Chia.

He said rash driving offences typically attract jail terms, and a fine as called for by the defence would not be suitable.

But he also said that to be fair, the driver did try to disengage. 

Ow will be sentenced at a later date.

Tan's case is at the pre-trial conference stage.