Tank Collides with Traffic Light During National Day Parade Preview Show in Singapore

A video of the accident posted to Facebook page SGRV shows the traffic light standing slightly askew after the incident.

Mobile columns - where a country’s military hardware such as tanks are displayed during celebrations such as Singapore’s National Day Parade (NDP) - often attract attention, awe and admiration from members of the public.

However, one tank garnered more attention than its operators bargained for during a National Day Parade (NDP) preview show on July 5.

While making a right turn outside of Parliament House and the Supreme Court, the leopard tank ended up bumping into a nearby traffic light.

The video, which was posted at about 9.55pm on July 5, had garnered 472,000 views within 10 hours. It also amassed 2,400 likes and 738 comments as of 9am on July 6.

The NDP, which marks Singapore’s 60 years as an independent nation, will take place at the Padang on Aug 9.

Many netizens saw the collision as a minor hiccup and called for others to be more empathetic towards the tank driver.

Several commenters said they believed the accident arose due to a mechanical failure.

Many netizens praised the tank operator for reacting swiftly, noting that the accident could have had catastrophic consequences if the tank was not stopped in time.

The Straits Times has contacted the Ministry of Defence and Land Transport Authority for more information.

According to the source: The Straits Times.