It was an operation with the best intentions.

The traffic police conducted an island-wide operation called "Spot the Conscientious Motorists" on Jan.8, 2014 to reward road users who display good driving habits (like those you can surely find in the Road Safety Community Park in East Coast Park) with a certificate (erm), plush toy (double erm) and vouchers (yay!).

The results, however, were nothing short of a disappointment.

In the nine-hour operation, only seven motorists were identified and rewarded. That, in statistics-crazy Singapore, is akin to failing to get that Hello Kitty plush toy.

To add insult to injury, only 391 motorists have been identified and rewarded since the programme started in October 2013.

That's like an average of approximately 26 motorists a month, or less than one a day. Come to think about it, the recent operation was, in comparison, a rousing success.

No wonder some motorists interviewed by The Straits Times were surprised and panicked a little.

A quick glance at the mainstream media coverage revealed that the reporters have all been charmed by the traffic police were utterly impressed by the creativity of such an operation. You can read the stories here and here.

Maybe the authorities could watch this video and ask for witnesses who were there when the impossible happened in Singapore. Or perhaps the authorities should up the frequency; make it as many and frequent as those pesky midnight road blocks. You know, cast a bigger net to get more fish. And then the fish could get more vouchers.

But then again, there's no limit for summons but there's always a limit for vouchers.

Top photo from here.

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