A Good Samaritan was captured on camera risking life and limb to singlehandedly direct rush hour traffic at one of the Europe’s busiest junctions following a traffic lights failure.
Public-spirited Steven Singh, 41, earned himself a free pint in his local pub after he jumped out of his car to come to the aid of stranded commuters.
The dad-of-one was on his way to the gym when he noticed the traffic lights failure causing traffic chaos at the Scott Arms junction, in Great Barr, Birmingham.
Steven said he decided to leap into action after spotting one female motorist in distress having been ranted at by an irate driver at around 5pm on Monday (5/2).
He then selflessly stood in the middle of the four-way junction calmly directing traffic for 25 minutes in order to make sure drivers could get home safely.
Steven has now been hailed as a local hero after a passer-by filmed him bravely risking his safety until emergency services and technicians could arrive at the scene.
The videographer was even bought a pint of beer by customers from the nearby Scott Arms pub who cheered on his courageous actions.
Steven, of Handsworth, Birmingham,said: “I was on my to the gym when I reached the junction and could see how chaotic it was and the lights weren’t working.
“I noticed this man shouting and swearing at this woman, so I pulled over car over to the side and got out of it.
“I walked over the woman and I could see she was distressed, so I knocked on her window and said ‘don’t worry’ and ‘everything is going to be fine.’
“I wanted to help her because she didn’t deserve the abuse, I though this is someone’s mother, daughter or sister.
“I then turned to the bloke and told him to shut it and calm down as there was no need, I could understand his frustration because he might have just wanted to go home.
“That’s when my instinct started to kick in, I thought I could clear another lane, so I put my hand out to stop one side and told the other side of the road to come forward.
“I started to build up a rhythm and it felt like I was playing a game, I respect the people who stopped and actually listened to me because they didn’t have to.
“I really did it to help that woman, I didn’t expect this sort of response, and people were giving me hugs, thanking me, and calling me a legend.
“I was there for about 25 minutes and by the end of it, I was really sweaty, I got my cardio in, but I still went to the gym after.
“People were taking videos of me whilst I was doing it and my mates showed me the video back.
“I did it just to help really, I will go out of my way to help anyone, I’m of the Sikh faith and a true Sikh would help anyone, it’s in our blood.
“When I was walking back to my car people from the pub came over and asked if I drank, I said I would love a cold pint.
“The technicians thanked me too, I really didn’t expect it, even people in the Aldi across the road were cheering me it was surreal.
“People told me what I did was dangerous because I didn’t have a hi-vis jacket on, but that didn’t matter to me, I just needed to help.
“My dream was to be a police officer, because I like to help people, I work with children at a charity, I want to be a motivational speaker, positivity is the way forward.
“I’m not a saint, I’m not perfect, I just did something that needed to be done.”
Pub customer Steve Bolton, 33, said: “He is a proper hero. All the lads wanted to buy him a pint.
“It restores your faith is humanity when you see people going above and beyond to help others.
“The junction is bad enough at the best of times but it was utter madness when the lights went. We were all cheering him on and everyone thinks he is a legend.”
The notorious Scott Arms junction is considered one of the busiest in Europe as it links Birmingham, West Bromwich, Walsall and Sutton Coldfield and sits one mile from the M6 motorway.
