FOREIGN WORKERS

FOREIGN WORKERS: **

(Safe cycling): **

36.

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs given the rising number of foreign cyclists involved in accidents, what measures are being put in place to educate foreign workers on traffic rules and safe cycling.

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Mr Wong Kan Seng: The number of foreign cyclists who were injured or killed on our roads increased from 149 in 2005 to 282 last year. So far this year, the situation has shown some improvement. The number of foreign cyclists involved in such accidents declined in the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year: 58 cases compared to 75. During this period, there have been no fatalities this year, compared to three last year.

Traffic Police has been working assiduously with its community partners to imbue key road safety messages in our foreign workers here, particularly those on work passes. It has produced and handed out posters on pedestrian and cyclist safety at these dormitories and to corporate partners and companies that employ a large number of foreign workers. As part of the ongoing Road Safety Outreach Campaign, Police have partnered the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to get the road safety message out early to newly-arrived foreign workers. A safe-cycling video in English, Bengali, Thai and Mandarin, was screened at the premises of MOM, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority and the bigger dormitories. Early this year, Traffic Police also partnered the Hindu Endowment Board to disseminate road safety messages and safety tips to more than 35,000 foreign workers through a special two-day event held at Little India.

These outreach efforts are ongoing. Hence, Traffic Police conducts customised talks at dormitories, schools and community-level events to educate foreign cyclists on our local traffic rules and regulations. These talks cover a pre-riding checklist, safe cycling tips and case studies of accidents involving cyclists. Road safety exhibitions are also held at HDB neighbourhoods and workplaces such as shipyards.

Many road accidents can be prevented if motorists obey traffic rules and remain vigilant, keeping a lookout especially for vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians. On the other hand, cyclists themselves must act responsibly, exercising common sense; for example, they should not ride against the flow of traffic, or ride across a pedestrian crossing. When riding at night, to enhance their visibility, they should wear bright or light-coloured clothing and use bicycle lights, ensuring that there are reflectors on their bicycles.

Traffic Police will continue to work with its stakeholders to reach out to all groups of road users.

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