Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan said that the Government has introduced and are expanding road safety features for seniors.
This is his reply towards MP for Jurong GRC Dr Tan Wu Meng’s questions who asked asked the Minister for Transport over the past three years what proportion of motor vehicle accidents involving elderly pedestrians resulted in serious injuries or fatalities and what plans will the Ministry put in place to further enhance the safety of road crossings and reduce the incidence of such accidents.
Mr Khaw stated that 4% of motor vehicle accidents involving elderly pedestrians resulted in serious injuries, and 11% in fatality from January 2013 to August 2016.
He said that to enhance road safety for pedestrians, especially seniors, LTA introduced the Silver Zone programme in 2014.
According to Mr Khaw, in the nine locations where Silver Zones have been implemented, so far, only one accident involving seniors has occurred, compared to more than 40 accidents in the five-year period preceding Silver Zones, adding that the Government plans to expand to 50 locations in total by 2023.
The Green Man Plus programme and road dividers at pedestrian crossings which allow seniors to pause safely in the middle of the road before resuming their crossing have also been introduced.
Looking at the recent accident, MP Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Transport whether the Ministry will consider amending the law to make it mandatory for cyclists of electric/motorised bicycles or vehicles who are found guilty in accidents with pedestrians to pay compensation for the victim’s medical fees.
Mr Khaw responded by saying that the law already provides for those injured by bicycles, power-assisted bicycles or vehicles to seek compensation through private settlement or civil court action. For cases where the offender is prosecuted and convicted in criminal court, the courts will consider if compensation to the victim should be paid based on the circumstances of each case.
The most recent case of an accident on 17 September involving elderly pedestrian took place at Pasir Ris where a 53-year-old housewife Madam Ang Liu Kiow hit by a 17-year-old e-scooter rider who fled the scene at the time of the accident. Her condition was bad and she had to go through two brain surgeries.
A fatal hit-and-run accident occurred along Henderson Road towards Tiong Bahru Road, opposite Bukit Merah View Market & Hawker Centre, causing the death of Mdm Gan Eng Ngoh, a 62-year-old female pedestrian who was using a traffic light crossing on 4 September 2016 at about 1.25 am. The driver and vehicle have not been identified till today.
On June 2016, a stall helper riding an e-bike lost the lower half of his right leg after colliding with a car in Bendemeer Road when he was on his way to pick up his step-grandsons from school.
