A Youth Olympic lane will be introduced along selected
roads to facilitate travel for athletes and officials during the
Youth Olympic Games.
The traffic scheme which will be in place from August 5-26 is
designed to help ensure that athletes and officials get to their
competition venues on time.
It's based on a give-way concept, similar to what motorists would
do when they see emergency service vehicles like ambulances.
When you see the five Olympic rings, and the words "give way", it
means this is a Youth Olympic Lane.
During games time, the second left-most lanes are reserved for a
fleet of 700 Youth Olympic vehicles which will operate between the
youth Olympic village and the competition venue.
These vehicles have special YOG licence plates, the Olympic Rings
and the words 'Give Way' in white. They will also have their
blinker lights on.
The second left-most lane along seven expressways and 15 main roads
will have designated Youth Olympic lanes.
Motorists have to give way when they these vehicles approaching -
just like they would for an emergency service vehicle.
The same traffic penalties apply but the organisers are counting on
motorists to see it as a part of being gracious hosts.
Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Community
Development, Youth and Sports, says: "So the give way concept
requires all Singaporean drivers on the road support to make it
work and as such if you give way to the Olympic vehicles, they can
get there on time.
"You play a part to make the Games successful, because all the
athletes will be there on time, whether it's for training, for warm
ups, for competition. I think the foreign athletes and our foreign
visitors will be appreciative of the graciousness of
Singaporeans."
The Land Transport Authority, LTA, says more resources will be
dedicated during the YOG period to clear incidents on the roads as
quickly as possible.
Chuai Chip Tiong, deputy director, Intelligent Transport System
Centre, LTA, says: "To ensure that the scheme work even better, to
facilitate this - the only concern would be incidents on the road.
We have already tied up with a few agencies to ensure that we can
execute quick response to the site, in case of incidents."
The Youth Olympic vehicles will take to the roads from July 12 to
August 4 to test the system. - CNA/jy/ls
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1064090/1/.html
