Don’t be a road menace

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Traffic Police on the lookout for errant motorists, cyclists

05:55 AM Jun 10, 2009

Letter from DSP Paul Tay

Assistant Director, Media Relations Public Affairs Department

Singapore Police Force

WE REFER to Mr Allan Zheng's letter, "Look beyond statistics" (June 1), posted at www.todayonline.com/voices. We wish to assure Mr Zheng that his earlier letter to the media on cyclists refusing to dismount at pedestrian crossings had received our attention. The Traffic Police has also replied directly to Mr Zheng with regard to his feedback sent in via the Police website on May 30.

Traffic Police shares Mr Zheng's concerns about the dangers posed by errant road users. In fact, our officers are constantly on the lookout for irresponsible road behaviour and will not hesitate to take enforcement action against errant road users who breach the law.

Cyclists who fail to ride in an orderly manner and without due regard for the safety of others commit an offence that entails a composition amount of $20. In the last three years, an average of about 200 summonses was issued to cyclists who failed to ride safely. If charged in court for any of these offences, errant cyclists may be fined up to $1,000 or jailed up to three months. A subsequent offender may be fined up to $2,000 or jailed up to six months.

In his letter, Mr Zheng also raised the issue of motorists refusing to give way at pedestrian crossings. While pedestrians are required by law to use designated pedestrian crossings and obey traffic signals, motorists are also required to slow down when approaching pedestrian crossings to enable them to come to a complete stop for pedestrians to cross safely. Motorists who fail to do so commit an offence that entails a composition amount of up to $180 and six demerit points.

In the last three years, Traffic Police also issued an average of 100 summonses to motorists who had failed to give way to pedestrians at controlled intersections. Motorists who knock into pedestrians at such crossings can also be charged in court with dangerous driving.

Traffic Police will continue to reach out and educate the various road user groups via the media and also through other platforms such as regular road safety talks, exhibitions and public education materials. However, while we continue to enforce and educate, all road users - motorists and pedestrians alike - should also do their part by abiding by the rules and exercising care, caution and consideration at all times.

This would go a long way toward making the use of our roads a safer and more pleasant experience for all.

From TODAY, World – Wednesday, 10-Jun-2009; see the source article here.

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