SINGAPORE : If you think you
are seeing things blinking at some signalised junctions in Toa
Payoh, don't worry your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.
New intelligent road studs and pedestrian signs have been put up to
enhancing pedestrian safety, especially for the elderly.
They are part of a three-month trial by the Land Transport
Authority, which, if successful, will be implemented
islandwide.
Last year, 23 elderly pedestrians were killed in road accidents, so
the Land Transport Authority is not taking any chances.
It has installed intelligent road studs at two junctions in Toa
Payoh.
Once a pedestrian presses the button and the green man comes on,
the road studs are activated to warn drivers of pedestrians
ahead.
Other signs also alert motorists to give way to pedestrians.
Passers-by welcomed the move.
"It's safer for the elderly when they walk slowly," said one
pedestrian.
Toa Payoh has a high proportion of elderly residents, so the LTA
worked with the Singapore Action Group of Elders (SAGE), Central
CDC and the Traffic Police to make the roads more friendly for
them.
Said Ho Seng Tim, head (road safety and engineering) at LTA, "We
spent three months examining how other countries deal with this
situation, visiting the US and Japan, and we found that this was
effective, so we decided to try it out."
Also under consideration is giving elderly pedestrians more time to
cross the road.
The trial will be on till January, before the Land Transport
Authority decides whether to implement the changes islandwide. -
CNA /ct
KNN....what LTA know is buying more new toys and wasting
our tax payer monies.. Common sense will tell you that this bloody
sh.it is just a waste of time and it wont work.
WHY? Because pedestrian dont always use traffic light junction when
crossing the road. The most dangerous people are the
jaywalker.
Instead of trying to protect pedestrian with new toys and device, I
think they should spend more time teaching pedestrian and motorist
about good road manner and how to cross the road.
KNN... 9 out of 10 people who cross the road at traffic light and
zebra crossing never border to even take a glance to check if the
bloody cars are slowing down etc.