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PHVDriver Stories by Sugi, 330 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, Singapore (2026)

29/08/2026

🚗 PHVDRIVER STORIES — WHEN CAMPING BECOMES WORSE THAN RENOVATION 😂

Just now, I picked up a couple who told me that their home is currently undergoing the Home Improvement Programme.

And you know how renovation can be lah — dust everywhere, drilling, hacking, noise… the whole house probably looks like a construction site.

So instead of suffering through it, they came up with what actually sounded like quite a nice idea.

“Why don’t we go camping at East Coast Park?”

Wah.

Sea breeze.

Tent.

Nature.

Relax.

Escape from renovation.

Sounds perfect, right?

Unfortunately… Singapore weather had other plans. 😂

According to them, the whole day was TOO HOT.

Not just hot.

Too, too, too hot.

And when nighttime finally came, they thought maybe at least now can relax and sleep peacefully.

Nope.

Apparently, somewhere nearby, a group of people decided to bring along their musical instruments and started playing.

So instead of peaceful sounds of waves…

🎶🎸🥁🎶

FREE LIVE CONCERT.

🤣🤣🤣

After enduring the heat in the daytime and the noise at night, the couple finally surrendered.

Pack tent.

Pack bags.

Abort mission.

And where were they heading?

Back home.

Back to the renovation.

Back to the dust.

Probably back to the smell of cement and drilling.

😂

I couldn't help feeling sorry for them.

Imagine leaving home because your house is too uncomfortable…

only to discover that your camping trip is even more uncomfortable.

Sometimes in life, you really have to choose your suffering.

Renovation dust or East Coast Park sauna with live music?

Apparently…

Renovation dust wins. 😂

Poor thing lah.

🚗 Another little story from behind the steering wheel.

Sometimes passengers don't just bring us from Point A to Point B.

They bring along little stories of Singapore life too.

— The PHVDriver

28/08/2026

A BOY FROM SENTOSA COVE WHO TAUGHT ME SOMETHING ABOUT MONEY

A couple of months ago, I picked up a young boy from Bugis.

I don’t think he was local, but he struck me immediately as a very polite and intelligent young man.

The moment he entered the car, he greeted me nicely.

His booking was a cash payment, and somewhere during the journey, he checked his wallet. Then he apologised to me.

“Uncle, I don’t think I have the exact amount with me. When we reach my house, I’ll go in and get the correct fare for you.”

No attitude. No entitlement. Just a very polite apology.

I told him, “Okay, no problem.”

Now here is the interesting part.

His destination was Sentosa Cove.

So naturally, somewhere in my head, I thought, okay… this young boy probably comes from a rather well-to-do family.

Along the way, we started chatting.

And what he told me surprised me.

Apparently, his parents give him a fixed allowance.

No unlimited spending card.

No “just tap first and Daddy settles later.”

Whatever he wants to buy, wherever he wants to go, it comes out of his own allowance.

Once the money is gone, it is gone.

Even that Grab ride from Bugis back to Sentosa Cove was something he had thought about.

He told me that normally he would take public transport home.

He only books a Grab when he really feels he needs to, and only if he has enough money left from his allowance to afford it.

That night, he had saved enough and decided to splurge a little by taking a Grab home.

I remember thinking…

Wow.

Here is a boy living in Sentosa Cove, probably surrounded by a lifestyle many people can only dream of, yet his parents are still making sure he understands that money does not magically appear from nowhere.

And I respect that.

Because giving your children a comfortable life is one thing.

Teaching them the value of that comfort is another.

Sometimes parents who can afford to give their children everything choose not to — not because they are stingy, but because they want their children to learn budgeting, patience, priorities and consequences.

“If I spend this today, will I still have enough tomorrow?”

That is a very important lesson.

And judging from the way this young boy spoke, greeted people and handled the situation with me, I think his parents were teaching him more than just financial responsibility.

They were teaching him humility too.

Eventually we reached his residence.

True to his word, he went in, came back out and paid me the exact fare.

A very small encounter.

But one that stayed with me.

Sometimes, while driving PHV, you meet people who remind you that having money does not necessarily spoil a child.

What matters is what the parents teach them about it.

And whoever raised this young man…

I think they are doing something right.

24/08/2026

FROM THE UBER DAYS… TO JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE

Every now and then, I will bump into an old PHV kaki or even passengers who are ex PHVDriver.

Some of them are no longer driving anymore. They have found full-time jobs, moved on to something else, and somehow, whenever we meet, the conversation will always go back to those early days.

The Uber days.

Wah… those days really different.

Back then, car rental could be around $35 a day. Today? Try finding one at that price. Most rentals now are easily $70 and above.

And earning was different too.

There were days when driving three or four hours could bring in $200 to $300. Of course, not every single day was like that, but compared to now, the difference is really quite dramatic.

Today, some drivers can spend 10 to 12 hours on the road and still struggle to hit $150 or $200.

And that is before rental, petrol, ERP and all the other expenses.

Sometimes when we old-timers talk, we also laugh about how PHV was still so new back then.

There was a time when we did not even have that blue PHV decal on the windscreen.

Passengers sometimes simply opened the door of the wrong car thinking it was their Uber.

Imagine somebody sitting inside waiting for his wife or children, then suddenly…

“Hello, Uber ah?”
😂😂😂

Eventually, the blue decal came in.

Then came the PDVL requirements.

I still remember having to attend the course — two full days of lessons — and then sitting for the examination at the end. Pass the exam, then only can get the licence.

At that time, taxi drivers were also making plenty of noise.

“PHV stealing our rice bowl!”

There was tension between taxi drivers and PHV drivers because suddenly this new industry disruption appeared and everything was changing very quickly.

Today, after all these years, the PHV industry has matured.

But whether it has become better for drivers… that one is another question altogether.

Personally, I would never encourage someone to become a full-time PHV driver unless circumstances really require it.

Maybe you lost your job.

Maybe you need flexible working hours.

Maybe you are taking care of somebody at home.

Maybe you simply need something to survive while figuring out your next move.

Then yes, PHV can become a lifeline.

But if someone asks me,

“Bro, should I quit my job and become a full-time PHV driver?”

My answer would probably be…

Think very carefully.

Because sitting inside a car for 10 to 12 hours is no joke.

People sometimes think driving is easy because you are “just sitting down”.

But your eyes are constantly watching the road.

Motorcycles.

Pedestrians.

Traffic lights.

Navigation.

Passengers.

Junctions.

Cars suddenly cutting into your lane.
And after many hours, your mind gets tired.

Even for me, although I mostly drive at night for several hours, there are moments when I can feel my concentration dropping.

When that happens, I know I have to stop, stretch, drink something, walk around or rest.

Because no passenger, no incentive and no fare is worth risking your life or somebody else's.

Alhamdulillah, so far Allah SWT has kept me safe, and I pray it continues that way.

Sometimes I look back at those early Uber days and smile.

We were there when PHV was still something new in Singapore.

Before the blue stickers.

Before PDVL became part of our lives.

Before everyone knew what Grab was.

Before car rentals became what they are today.

We laughed.

We complained.

We chased incentives.

We waited at hotspots.

We compared earnings.

And somehow, without realising it, years passed.

Some of the kakis have already left the road.

Some are still driving.

And whenever we meet again, for that short moment, we become those old Uber drivers again, remembering the crazy days when everything seemed possible.

Then we say goodbye.

They go back to their jobs.

I go back to my car.

And reality returns.

Those were the days.

Now?

We just need to survive.

🚗💨
Stories From Behind The Steering Wheel

Just sharing another little story from my life as a PHV driver.

Some stories make you laugh. Some make you angry. Some make you think.

And some simply remind you how much things have changed.

Stay safe on the roads, everyone.

Especially my fellow PHV and taxi kakis.

No fare is ever worth your life.

23/08/2026

MY PHV STORIES: YOU CAME INTO MY CAR LOOKING PRESENTABLE… BUT LEFT YOUR MANNERS BEHIND

🚖 From the driver’s seat… every ride has a story.

There are certain things that have happened in my car on separate occasions that still make me shake my head.

And strangely enough, all these particular incidents involved female passengers — locals as well as expatriates.

Now, before anyone gets defensive, this is not a post attacking women. 😅

You want to touch up your makeup, brush your hair or take your supplements during the journey? No problem.

But please remember one very simple thing:

My car is not your dressing room, and the side pockets are not rubbish bins.

On one occasion, a passenger was brushing her hair during the journey.

Okay lah. Brush your hair.

But when she left, there were strands of hair on the seat and floor.

Aiyoh.

If you see your hair dropping everywhere, just pick it up before you leave. It is still your hair, right? 😂

Then came another passenger who decided that her PHV journey was apparently the perfect opportunity for a manicure.

Clip… clip… clip…

She was cutting her nails inside the car.

My question was: Must cut now ah?

Never mind. Maybe urgent manicure emergency. 😂

But please don't leave the nail clippings behind on the floor for the driver to discover later.

Then came what I consider the champion.

I picked up a lady from a neighbourhood heading towards town.

The moment she got into my car, I heard:

Scrrrch… scrrrch… scrrrch…

Nail filing.

And it continued.

And continued.

Almost throughout the journey.

Inside my head I was already thinking:

"Please… please don't let me find all the nail filings later."

She reached her destination, got out…

I checked the back.

There it was.

Residue from her filed nails on the seat and floor.

😑

That one really turned my stomach.

Then there are passengers who take their supplements or vitamins in the car.

Nothing wrong with that.

But after taking them, they conveniently stuff the empty packaging into the side pocket of my door.

Since when did PHV drivers provide rubbish bins there? 😂

And then there are the makeup sessions.

Touch up foundation.

Lipstick.

Powder.

Everything nice-nice before reaching the destination.

Then the used tissues conveniently get left behind in the car.

Ladies…

Please.

You entered my car carrying all these things.

Surely you can also carry them out when you leave.

This isn't about being glamorous, beautiful, sophisticated, local, expatriate, male or female.

It is simply about basic consideration for another person's space.

A PHV driver's car is our workplace.

Another passenger will be sitting there after you.

And yes, somebody eventually has to pick up that strand of hair, that used tissue, that supplement wrapper, those nail clippings and that nail dust.

Guess who?

The driver.

So groom yourself if you need to.

Touch up your makeup.

Take your vitamins.

Brush your hair.

But please…

TAKE YOUR RUBBISH WITH YOU.

Because sometimes you can be beautifully dressed, perfectly made-up, hair nicely done and nails looking fantastic…

…but still leave behind a very poor impression.

You came into my car looking presentable, but you left your manners behind.

🚖 FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT… EVERY RIDE HAS A STORY.

— SUGI
PHV DRIVER BY NIGHT • STORYTELLER BY DAY

21/08/2026

🚖 𝐏𝐇𝐕𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒: 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐁𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐄

As PHV drivers, I think some of us need to learn something that sounds very simple, but can actually be very difficult:

When to stop.

Since returning to driving, I have noticed many postings among drivers celebrating good earnings.

“Peak today!”

“$300!”

“$400!”

“Huat ah!”

And there is absolutely nothing wrong with celebrating a good day.

We all have bills.

Rental.

Petrol.

Parking.

Food.

Family commitments.

Everyone is trying to make a living.

And yes, there are exceptional days when demand is strong and a driver can earn $300 or $400.

But sometimes we forget to mention what happened behind that figure.

Maybe the driver had been on the road for more than 12 hours.

Maybe he barely stopped to eat.

Maybe his back was aching.

Maybe his eyes were already heavy.

Maybe he was mentally exhausted from hours of concentrating on traffic.

The screenshot shows the earnings.

It does not show what the body paid to earn them.

And this is where I think PHV drivers can sometimes unintentionally create a toxic environment for one another.

One driver posts $400.

Another driver sees it and thinks:

“Why did I only make $180?”

Then he drives another two hours.

Then another.

He skips his break.

Ignores his tiredness.

And tells himself:

“One more trip.”

Someone else says:

“Bro, peak now! Don't go home yet!”

And suddenly exhaustion becomes something to be proud of.

Driving 14 hours becomes a badge of honour.

Sleeping less becomes proof that you are hardworking.

But it shouldn't be.

We should never glorify exhaustion.

One driver's body is not another driver's body.

One driver's financial circumstances are not another driver's circumstances.

There will always be someone earning more than you.

Let them.

There will always be somebody prepared to drive longer than you.

Let them.

Your responsibility is to recognise when your own body has had enough.

Driving is not simply sitting comfortably inside an air-conditioned car.

For hours, your brain is working.

Watching the vehicle ahead.

Checking mirrors.

Watching motorcycles.

Looking for pedestrians.

Following navigation.

Finding pickup points.

Managing passengers.

Making decisions every few seconds.

That exhaustion accumulates quietly.

Sometimes you do not realise how tired you are until your concentration begins to disappear.

And no peak fare is worth reaching that stage.

But I think there is something else we PHV drivers need to remember.

Life outside the car.

Singapore has a public holiday.

National Day.

Hari Raya.

Deepavali.

Christmas.

New Year.

Everyone is making plans.

Families gather.

People eat together.

Children go out with their parents.

People watch fireworks.

Photographs are taken.

Memories are made.

And sometimes we drivers look at that same public holiday and think:

“Public holiday. Demand sure high.”

“Good time to drive.”

“Peak fare.”

So we work.

And work.

And work.

There is nothing wrong with working on a public holiday if you need or choose to.

But we should be careful that it does not become automatic.

Because sometimes we tell ourselves:

“Never mind. I'll spend time with the family another day when it's quieter.”

But when exactly is that quieter day?

Tomorrow there are fares.

Weekend there is demand.

Month end there are bills.

Next week another incentive appears.

There will always be another reason to go online.

And slowly, we can become so busy earning for our families that we forget to actually be with our families.

That is something worth thinking about.

Providing for your family and being present with your family are both important.

Neither should completely erase the other.

And passengers?

Most passengers will never know what you gave up to drive them that day.

They probably do not know that your family is having dinner without you.

They do not know you missed the fireworks.

They do not know you have already been driving for ten hours.

And that is not necessarily because they are uncaring.

To them, you are providing a service.

They booked.

You accepted.

You picked them up.

You brought them safely to their destination.

They thanked you and went on with their lives.

So perhaps we should not sacrifice everything while secretly hoping strangers will appreciate that sacrifice.

We have to value our own time too.

Take the break.

Take the holiday sometimes.

Have dinner with your family.

Go out with them.

Join the crowd.

Watch the fireworks.

Switch off the app.

The fares will still be there.

The passengers will still be there.

The next peak period will come.

Money can be earned again.

But time is different.

Parents grow older.

Children grow up.

Families change.

Friends move on.

And some moments simply cannot be recreated later when it is more convenient.

So yes, work hard.

Earn your money.

Celebrate the good days.

Be proud when you achieve your target.

But do not allow an app, an incentive, another driver's earnings screenshot or the promise of the next peak fare to decide when you are allowed to rest or when you are allowed to live.

If you are tired, stop.

If your body needs rest, rest.

If it is an important day for your family and you can afford to take that day off, take it.

There will always be another fare.

There will not always be another moment.

🚖 From the driver's seat… success should not only be measured by how much we earned at the end of the day.

Sometimes success is knowing when enough is enough.

Going home safely.

Resting properly.

And still having enough time and energy left for the people we are working so hard for in the first place.

Earn your living.Protect your health.Take your rest.Make time for your family.

Celebrate the earnings — but never glorify exhaustion.

— SUGI | PHV Driver by Night • Storyteller by Day

21/08/2026

🚖 𝐏𝐇𝐕𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐊 𝐃𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐃

A while back, during one of my early drives — not my usual night shift — I picked up a passenger from a restaurant around Dempsey Road.

He was travelling with another gentleman.

And throughout the first part of the ride, he seemed perfectly pleasant.

His tone was gentle.

His manner was calm.

The way he spoke to the other gentleman was polite and almost soft.
Nothing unusual at all.

Then the other gentleman reached his destination and got out.

And suddenly…

I met a completely different person.

The passenger made a phone call to an airline to confirm a reservation.

At first, I was not paying much attention.

Then the volume started going up.
And so did the language.

“Shut the f* up and listen to what I’m saying!”**

Then more F-words.

Then he called the telephone agent a “fer.”*

Wah.

I was sitting in front thinking:

Bro… this person on the other end is just doing a job.

Maybe the agent was repeating something.

Maybe there was a misunderstanding.

Maybe the call centre script was frustrating.

I don't know.

But the language was harsh.

Very harsh.

And what struck me most was the contrast.

A few minutes earlier, he had been speaking so gently to the gentleman beside him.

Now that he was speaking to somebody through a phone line — someone he could not see — all that courtesy seemed to disappear.

That bothered me.

Because no matter how angry I am, I don't think I could bring myself to speak to a service worker like that.

You can be firm.

You can say:

“Please listen to what I’m trying to explain.”

You can say:

“I’m frustrated because this issue has not been resolved.”

You can even ask for a supervisor.

But why humiliate the person?

Why swear at them?

Why make somebody else absorb all your anger simply because they are the one who answered the phone?

Call-centre staff.

Customer-service officers.

Cashiers.

Cleaners.

Drivers.

Delivery riders.

Frontline workers.

They are all human beings doing a job.

And sometimes, they are the easiest people to abuse because we know they are expected to remain professional while we lose our temper.

Maybe that is the real test of character.

Not how politely we speak to people we respect.

But how we speak to people when we are angry, frustrated, or when we think there are no consequences.

That passenger remained in my memory because the change was so dramatic.

Gentle voice with one person.

Then minutes later:

F-word.

F-word.

F-word.

Aiyoh.

This fella really took the cake.

🚖 From the driver’s seat… frustration is understandable.

Humiliation is a choice.

You can be angry without being cruel.

And the person on the other end of the line deserves the same basic respect as the person sitting beside you.

— SUGI | PHV Driver by Night • Storyteller by Day

17/08/2026

WAIT… DID I MISS A MEMO? GRAB CAN TAKE 30% NOW? 🤔

Tonight I learnt something new while driving Grab.

I completed a trip from Ang Mo Kio to Pasir Panjang. The fare shown was $27.50.

For years, somewhere in my head, I have always calculated Grab's cut at around 20%.

So naturally:

$27.50 minus 20% = $22.00

But when I looked at what I actually received, something didn't add up.

Calculator out.

Calculate again.

Eh???

It wasn't 20%.

The deduction was around 30%.

$27.50 minus 30% = $19.25.

And that's when I thought:

WAIT A MINUTE… DID I MISS A MEMO?

Apparently Grab's current system isn't simply a fixed 20% anymore. Their own driver information says the Grab Service Fee can vary from trip to trip.

Maybe I have been blur and this has been around for some time. 😂

But seriously, fellow PHV drivers — have you noticed this too?

Because 30% is not a small amount.

Remember, the driver is the one providing the car.

The driver pays the rental or instalment.

The driver pays for petrol.

The driver pays for maintenance.

The driver pays for tyres.

The driver deals with traffic.

The driver drives to the pickup.

The driver carries the passenger safely from Point A to Point B.

And after all that, seeing almost 30% disappearing from a $27.50 fare definitely made me stop and look twice.

I understand Grab provides the platform, technology, matching system, customer support and infrastructure. Of course a platform needs to earn money too.

But as drivers, I think we also deserve to clearly understand:

How exactly is the Service Fee calculated?

What determines whether Grab takes 10%, 20%, 25% or 30%?

And most importantly:

Is there a maximum percentage Grab can deduct from a trip?

I'm genuinely asking because tonight was the first time I actually noticed it.

Maybe the information has always been there and I missed it.

But if more and more drivers are seeing deductions approaching 30%, then perhaps we should start paying much closer attention to our trip statements.

Don't just look at the big fare shown.

Look at what actually enters your wallet.

Fellow Grab drivers — check your recent trips.

Am I the only one seeing this?

— A PHV Driver trying to understand where the money went. 🚗💸

16/08/2026

MY PHV STORIES: THE WORLD FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT 🌏🚗

Sometimes, as a PHV driver, you hear more about the world than you actually get to see.

Passengers get into the car and talk about their holidays.

New Zealand. Bali. Japan. Europe. Ski trips. Summer holidays. Family vacations. Meeting friends overseas.

And while driving them to their destination, sometimes I quietly think:

“Wah… nice ah. I also wish I could afford to do that.”

I don’t think I’m the only PHV driver who feels this way.

There must be many drivers out there who spend their nights listening to passengers talk about their overseas adventures while thinking about their own families.

Maybe we wish we could bring our wife, husband, children or parents somewhere too.

To let them see something different.

To experience another country.

To create memories together.

But then comes the practical side of life.

You start calculating.

Air tickets.

Hotel.

Food.

Transport.

Spending money.

For a family, suddenly the amount becomes quite substantial.

So you tell yourself:

“Never mind. I save first.”

You drive a little more.

You put aside $50 here, $100 there.

After several months, maybe you finally have a few thousand dollars sitting there.

And then another thought comes.

“Eh… do I really want to spend ALL this money on one week overseas?”

😂

Because that same money could pay bills.

Car expenses.

Insurance.

School expenses.

Household expenses.

Emergency savings.

Or simply give you a little breathing space for the next few months.

Then you look at Facebook, TikTok and YouTube and think:

“Actually I can see New Zealand from here also.”

🤣🤣🤣

Of course, watching someone else’s holiday on a phone is never the same as actually standing there yourself.

But I think this is the dilemma many ordinary working people understand.

It is not necessarily that we don’t want to travel.

Sometimes we simply understand how hard it was to earn that money in the first place.

When you earn money hour by hour, trip by trip, every dollar has a story attached to it.

That $2,000 holiday is no longer just “$2,000.”

You start remembering how many nights you drove.

How many traffic jams you sat through.

How many passengers you picked up.

How much petrol you used.

How many hours it took to earn it.

And suddenly spending it becomes harder.

Maybe the answer is balance.

Set a travel target.

Save specifically for it.

And when that money has already been labelled “holiday fund”, perhaps we should allow ourselves to actually enjoy it without feeling guilty.

Because money is important.

Savings are important.

Responsibilities are important.

But occasionally, memories are important too.

I’m still learning this myself.

Somewhere between rehearsals, passengers, petrol stations and late-night roads, I’m slowly reminding myself that working hard shouldn’t only be about surviving.

Sometimes we should also be working towards something that makes us say:

“I’m glad I got to experience that.”

To my fellow PHV drivers — have you ever listened to your passengers talking about their holidays and quietly thought:

“One day… I also want to bring my family there.”

🚖 From the driver’s seat… every ride has a story.

— SUGI | PHV Driver by Night • Storyteller by Day

13/08/2026

🚖 𝐏𝐇𝐕𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒: 𝐂𝐀𝐍’𝐓 𝐖𝐄 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐁𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑?

Sometimes, I am genuinely disappointed with fellow PHV drivers.

There was one incident in Toa Payoh that I still remember from time to time.

I had a pickup near a school on a weekend.

Of course, the main gate was closed.

So I messaged the passenger and simply asked:

“Which gate are you waiting at?”

The reply?

“Wait!”

Wah.

That one word already had attitude.

I was seriously considering cancelling the trip.

Then suddenly, a local Chinese boy appeared and got into my car.

His destination was a condominium around Farrer Road.

Fine.

Passenger found.

Let’s go.

Except I couldn’t.

Because another PHV car was blocking the lane in front of me.

So I gave a short honk.

Not an angry honk.

Not one of those long:

“PAAAAAAAAAAM!”

Just a simple:

“Pip pip.”

Basically:

“Bro, there’s a car behind you.”

Apparently, he took it personally.

Very personally.

We eventually moved off, and when we reached a traffic light, I realised he had decided to teach me some kind of lesson.

He deliberately slowed down.

Slower.

Slower.

Slower.

Then, just as he reached the traffic-light line…

he accelerated through.

The light changed.

And I got caught at the red light.

As he drove off, he looked over and smiled at me before making his U-turn.

I was sitting there thinking:

Bro… what exactly did I do to you?

I honked because you were blocking the road.

I did not challenge your honour.

I did not insult your family.

I did not declare war.

I just needed you to move.

Sometimes I really wonder why we drivers make things difficult for one another.

We already deal with traffic.

Long hours.

Difficult pickups.

Passengers.

Parking.

Fatigue.

Road works.

And everything else that comes with driving.

Why add ego into the mix?

A short honk is not always aggression.

Sometimes it simply means:

“Hey, look out.”

“You’re blocking someone.”

“I’m here.”

That’s all.

And strangely enough, the passenger from earlier did not exactly improve the mood either.

When we reached his destination, he simply got out.

No “thank you”.

No “bye”.

Nothing.

Just door open.

Door close.

Gone.

Maybe it was just one of those rides.

But it left me thinking about something.

Whether you are a passenger or another driver, basic courtesy costs nothing.

To my fellow PHV drivers:

We are all trying to make a living on the same roads.

We do not have to behave like every horn is a personal attack.

We do not have to race.

We do not have to punish one another.

We do not have to turn the road into a contest of ego.

Sometimes all it takes is a wave.

A nod.

A quick apology.

Or simply moving forward when someone behind you needs to pass.

🚖 From the driver’s seat… the road is already stressful enough.

We don’t need to make it harder for each other.

A little patience.

A little courtesy.

And a little less ego can make everyone’s journey better.

— SUGI | PHV Driver by Night • Storyteller by Day

12/08/2026

𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐘𝐄𝐀 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍… 👻🏮

It’s that time of the year again when many Chinese families, particularly those following Taoist and traditional Chinese practices, place offerings for the departed.

You will see joss sticks burning.

Joss paper being offered.

Food placed carefully by the roadside.

Sometimes oranges, cakes, rice and other offerings laid out neatly on the ground.

And if you grew up in Singapore, chances are your mother, grandmother or some elderly relative already gave you the annual warning:

“Don’t anyhow touch!”

“Don’t kick the offerings!”

“Don’t step over the joss sticks!”

And most importantly…

“Don’t pick up anything from the roadside!”

😂👻

Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, there is one very simple rule:

Be respectful.

When you are walking, especially at night, watch where you are stepping.

Those oranges on the pavement are not there because NTUC had a promotion and somebody dropped their groceries.

Those joss sticks are not decorations.

Those food offerings were placed there intentionally as part of somebody’s beliefs and traditions.

So don’t accidentally kick an orange and suddenly realise:

“Eh… whose orange did I just disturb?”

😳

During Hungry Ghost Month, you will also hear all the familiar advice:

Don’t stay out too late.

Don’t whistle at night.

Don’t disturb offerings.

Don’t pick up strange things from the ground.

And don’t turn around when somebody calls you from behind…

That last one ah…

I don’t know.

If somebody calls “SUGI!” behind me at 2 a.m., I think I will suddenly discover that I am capable of walking very, very fast.

😂👻

Jokes aside, traditions like these are part of Singapore’s multicultural landscape.

We may not share the same beliefs or practise the same rituals, but we can still understand that what looks like a few oranges, some food and burning joss sticks to us may carry deep meaning for somebody else.

Respect does not require us to believe the same thing.

Sometimes it simply means knowing when not to disturb something that does not belong to us.

And respect should work both ways too.

For those carrying out the offerings, please burn responsibly.

Use the proper burning bins or designated areas where available.

Be mindful of nearby homes, pedestrians, trees and anything that could catch fire.

And after the prayers and offerings are completed, do try to keep the surrounding area clean.

Tradition and respect for our environment do not have to compete with each other.

We can honour those who came before us while also taking care of the neighbourhoods we all share.

So during this season…

Watch where you step.

Don’t disturb the offerings.

Burn respectfully.

Clean up responsibly.

And maybe remember all those warnings your mother gave you when you were young.

Because frankly…

I am perfectly happy never finding out whether she was right. 👻😂

🚖 From the driver’s seat… Singapore is full of different beliefs, traditions and stories.

Your tradition, I respect.
My tradition, you respect.
Our shared environment, we all protect.

Everybody goes home peacefully.

Especially during Ghost Month. 😳👻

— SUGI | PHV Driver by Night • Storyteller by Day

PHVDriver Stories by Sugi

29/08/2026

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24/08/2026

23/08/2026

21/08/2026

21/08/2026

17/08/2026

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