So you’ve finished binge-watching Netflix’s horror catalogue and exhausted our list of ghost stories. Now what? For those still in need of a thrill, Devil’s Bend Road is one of the most haunted locations in Singapore that you can still visit today.
Once part of a racing circuit, the road is infamous for its sharp bend that has claimed many lives. So if you’ve already grown immune to the scare of checking your bank account at the end of every month, read on for the chilling history behind Devil’s Bend.
Image credit: Memories of Singapore
Before it gained its notoriety as a hantu hotspot, Devil’s Bend was known for being one of the most challenging stretches in Singapore’s Grand Prix in the 1960s and 70s. As part of the Sembawang Circuit located at Old Upper Thomson Road, the bend was shaped like the letter “V” and pushed many pro-drivers to their limits.
Image credit: Singapore Memory Project
While other parts of the circuit also had menacing names like “The Snakes” and “Murder Mile”, none of them caused as many accidents as Devil’s Bend. The bend itself is extremely narrow and tight, meaning that the racers would have needed to make an extremely sharp swerve while still maintaining top speed.
The poorly lit road makes even the trees seem menacing at night.
Image credit: Foursquare
In fact, part of the reason for the Grand Prix’s eventual cancellation was due to safety concerns. The circuit claimed the lives of 7 racers over the course of 11 years.
Image credit: @purplelightsg via Instagram
After the end of the Singapore Grand Prix, Old Upper Thomson became just like any other regular road and has largely remained unchanged over the years. Drivers and cyclists still navigate through the area largely undisturbed, although many have reported feeling uneasy when going through the Devil’s Bend in particular.
Even during the day, there would be reports from cyclists and joggers of ghostly sightings and light-headedness. Of course, this could have just been caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain from some intense exercise, but who knows?
The most “famous” spirit along the road, however, is most commonly experienced by cab drivers. The story would go that cabbies driving past the road at midnight would encounter a young lady dressed in white.
After dropping her off at her destination, the driver would realise that her payment for the cab fare – which initially appear as normal banknotes – are in fact hell notes.
With more modern forms of payment now, the worst thing a ghost can do to you is to cancel their GrabHitch at the last minute. But in the past, inexperienced drivers were warned to avoid the road at all costs lest they bump into her – or worse, get hurt.
Unfortunately in 2008, 2 polytechnic students lost their lives after driving into a ditch at Old Upper Thomson Road. Where did the accident take place? You guessed it – right along the Devil’s Bend.
Image credit: @littlerain_littlemoodz via Instagram
One may question if all the accidents over the years were actually caused by how inherently tough the road is to traverse. Yet with so many creepy tales over the years, it’s hard not to let our minds wander into the realm of the supernatural.
So the next time you find yourself driving near Old Upper Thomson Road after dark, perhaps it’s best to err on the side of caution and take a different route instead.
For more spooky stories, check out:
Cover image adapted from: Memories of Singapore, Foursquare
Originally published on 27th July 2021. Last updated by Joycelyn Yeow on 2nd August 2024.
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