Channel NewsAsia - 54 minutes
ago
SINGAPORE: A driver rammed through several reflective posts and
crashed into the steps outside Raffles Place MRT station during the
evening peak hour on Tuesday.
The driver, a man in his 30s, was conveyed to Singapore General
Hospital after he complained of chest pains. It is believed he was
driving his grey Hyundai Getz down Robinson Road when he skidded at
the junction of Cecil Street and Robinson Road and crashed.
This comes more than two years after the Land Transport
Authority (LTA) made traffic changes to better regulate traffic
flow at the busy junction. In July 2005, a raised kerb was
installed along Cecil Street to create an interrupted two—lane slip
road. This meant motorists from Robinson Road could no longer
travel towards D’almeida Street.
About two and a half months later, the kerb was removed to
prevent jaywalking, and a flat red marker with white stripes took
its place. The controversial change sparked off a slew of accidents
at the junction involving motorists who didn’t know about the rule
changes.
Several drivers wrote in to TODAY and complained that the new
rules were confusing and the markers not visible enough.
The LTA then made changes again, with a row of yellow—and—black
reflective posts erected on top of the red markers.
But drivers complain the rules at the junction are still too
confusing. Said Mr Ali Abdul, 62: "New drivers or those unfamiliar
with the roads here may panic when they realise they can’t turn
where they want to."
One cabby sad he has seen some near—misses. Another taxi driver,
Mr Ang C H, 43, said the reflective posts are not sufficient to
warn drivers to keep to their lanes. "Imagine if someone was
walking on the pavement and an accident like today’s happens?" he
said. — TODAY/so