ACCIDENTS ON NICOLL HIGHWAY (Particulars)

Mr Ho Kah Leong asked the Minister of Defence, since the conversion of Nicoll Highway into a three-carriageway road, how many accidents have occurred on that road and how many of them were fatal.

The Minister of State of Defence (Mr Wee Toon Boon) (for the Minister of Defence): Mr Speaker, Sir, a total of 151 accidents have occurred between 5th August, 1967, and 17th January, 1968, on Nicoll Highway since its conversion into a three-carriageway road. Six of these accidents were fatal.

Mr Tang See Chim: Is the Minister of State of Defence satisfied that the rate of accidents on Nicoll Highway is no higher than that on any other comparable highway in the Republic?

Mr Wee Toon Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, the accident rate on this highway may he higher than that on other highways. But the point is that it is the fault of the motorists who usually go beyond the speed limit.

Mr Tang See Chim: If the rate of accidents on this particular highway is higher than that on any other highway, what proposals has the Minister of State of Defence to reduce it?

Mr Wee Toon Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, more than 60 per cent of the accidents which occur on this stretch of highway were due to persons who either were drunk or who were "late birds" visiting the city, because at that time the mobile traffic cops are not on duty. So they are the ones, probably after a bout of drinks, who exceeded the speed limit and got into trouble.

Mr Tang See Chim: But wou!d the Minister of State of Defence not agree that drunken driving occurs on all roads? Why should it be particularly prevalent on this stretch of the highway?

Mr Wee Toon Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, the point only arises because of the reply to a question of the Member who wants to know whether the rate of accidents is higher on this stretch of the road than on any other road.