Follow Up: Singapore LTA to Review Traffic Light System at Junctions After Fatal Road Accidents in the Past Week
Following the tragedies of the fatal traffic accidents recently, voices of concerns and complaints have been streaming in, and there was even a petition "Outpour of Support for Petition to Remove Risky ‘Discretionary’ Right Turn in Light of Recent Fatal Traffic Accidents Article" raised to change traffic light rules at junctions. (As of now, the petition has been signed by almost 17,000 people.)
(Image taken from Channel News Asia)
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has also stated that accidents at traffic junctions remain a “grave concern.”
“One life lost on the road is one too many… While the roads in Singapore are generally safe and record one of the lowest road traffic fatality rates in the world, we must not be complacent but continue to stay vigilant when on the roads,” the SPF said.
In response to the questioning of safety on the roads, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has released a statement on the 26th of April stating the installation of red-amber-green arrows at traffic junctions in the future.
“In five years, the vast majority of traffic junctions will have red-amber-green arrows,” said Mr Chandrasekar, the group director of traffic and road operations in LTA.
This means that motorists will have to wait for the green arrow before making a right turn, as opposed to making a “discretionary” right turn that a few claim was the cause of some of the recent fatal traffic accidents.
(Image taken from LTA)
“Where it is not feasible to implement red-amber-green arrows, LTA will look into other features, such as turning pockets, lighted road studs, integrated pedestrian countdown timers, dashed pedestrian crossing lines and ‘Give Way to Pedestrian’ signs, to ensure safety and smooth traffic flow,” Mr Chandrasekar added.
Currently, these red-amber-green arrows are implemented at around 200 traffic junctions, and will increase to as many as 1,600 in the coming years.