PRISCILLA GOY, THE STRAITS TIMES
Road safety features for the elderly will be installed at 10 more locations by 2019, under the award-winning Silver Zone road safety scheme.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said yesterday it has identified these new sites, which include places like Chai Chee Road and Whampoa Drive. It added that the sites for another 25 zones, to be ready by 2023, will be identified later.
There are now nine such zones. Six more will be completed by next year.
In general, areas chosen for the scheme are those with a high population of senior residents, relatively higher accident rates involving seniors, and amenities which they frequent, such as wet markets.
Earlier this week, this scheme won an international award – the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award.
In Silver Zones, speed limits are reduced to 40kmh and motorists are informed through road markings, signs and “rumble” strips, which alert drivers when their wheels go over them.
Two-stage crossings are also built, so pedestrians need to check the traffic from only one direction, and have a safety refuge in the middle of the road.
There are “pinch points” at these crossings, with narrower roads to get cars to slow down.
UPCOMING
Elder-friendly road zones to be ready in 2018 or 2019:
Jurong West Avenue 1
Whampoa Drive
Upper Boon Keng Road
Tampines Street 32 and 33
Lorong 5 Toa Payoh
Woodlands Ring Road, Woodlands Drive 63 and 71
Bukit Panjang Ring Road
Teck Whye Lane
Chai Chee Road
Hougang Street 21
goyshiyi@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on Dec 15, 2016.
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