TR EMERITUS

I read with concerns about the Straits Times Editorial, “Road safety is everybody’s job” (Sep 25).

It is alarming and heart-wrenching to notice that traffic accidents claimed the lives of 71 people in Singapore in the first half of 2023, a 57.8 per cent jump from the 45 killed in the same period in 2022. Among the fatalities, which included the various road users.

In view of the above statistics, firstly, we must recognise that the purpose of road is constructed for the mutual usage by all road users, who include pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, motorcyclists, truck drivers, lorry drivers and heavy vehicles drivers.

Simultaneously, we should also admit that each of the vehicles is either controlled by man or by AI monitored devise. In anyway, road accident is directly linked with man.

Thus, ensuring road safety is very much dependent upon the shared responsibility of each road users.

As we know, all the road safety measures regulated or implemented are aimed to facilitate the traffic flows and curb the occurrences of traffic accidents. For example, the road design, the traffic lights, traffic signs, clearly marked drive lanes, speed cameras and the mandatory rules, fines and demerit points for the traffic offences.

As we can easily notice that there are many irresponsible, dangerous, rash and undesirable driving acts/behaviours and attitudes on the roads everyday. These human elements will directly contribute to and cause serious or fatal accidents.

For instances, speeding, changing lanes without signaling, tailgating, driving without concentration or using electronic devices, or engrossing in conversation, failing to give ways to emergency vehicles and slow traffic blocking the road.

Anyway, the relevant authorities should adopt multiple approaches to curb the road accidents, improve road safety and ensuring the consistent and smooth traffic flow on our roads and highways.

First of its approaches is to employ more traffic enforcement officers on the roads, especially on those blacklisted accident prone locations to deal with the traffic offenders.

Second of its approaches is to install more speed monitoring devices or cameras on the accident prone areas such as all highways, viaducts and heavily congested roads.

Last approach is to execute periodic education programs for the recalcitrant traffic offenders on the observation of roads safety rules and the proper driving behaviours, attitudes or etiquette.

Teo Kueh Liang (Mr)

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