Penalties for driving against traffic part of MHA review
Photo: Koh Mui Fong/TODAY
SINGAPORE — There have been three fatal accidents over the past three years resulting from vehicles going against the flow of traffic, Second Minister for Transport Ng Chee Meng said in Parliament on Monday (Feb 6).
But the total number of accidents involving motorists going against traffic is not tracked, said Mr Ng, who was responding to questions from Jurong GRC Member of Parliament Dr Tan Wu Meng, and Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Joan Pereira on the issue.
Vehicles going against the flow of traffic have been in the spotlight recently, with the Traffic Police saying on Jan 11 that a total of eight cases of driving against traffic flow have been under investigation since Dec 28, 2016.
On Dec 19 last year, a 53-year-old man drove against traffic on the Ayer Rajah Expressway, and left one person dead and three others injured.
On Monday, Mr Ng assured that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) regularly reviews and audits the safety of existing roads.
It reviews up to 24 roads annually, based on accident trends for the year as well as public feedback, Mr Ng told the House, responding to a supplementary question from Dr Tan on whether the Transport Ministry would consider studying how drivers of different age groups and experience levels react to cluttered road signs.
On the issue of road signs, Mr Ng said: “(The) LTA engages independent, specialist road safety engineers to review the clarity and effectiveness of road signs and markings for new roads.”
He also noted that the agency “takes reference from international standards in the design and installation of road signs and markings”.
Separately, the Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Lee told the House that the ongoing review of the penalties under the Road Traffic Act would consider the adequacy of the penalties for driving dangerously against the flow of traffic.
Announcements would be made upon the review’s completion.
