BENDEMEER ROAD (Pedestrian lights and action against inconsiderate motorists)

Encik Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Law and National Development (a) if he will cause pedestrian lights to be installed at Bendemeer Road in front of Block 25 so as to allow crossing to be made at this popular and convenient point of the road with some degree of safety; and (b) if he will ask the Police to take the severest action against inconsiderate motorists who exceed the speed limit along Bendemeer Road.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, the light controlled pedestrian crossing was recently put into operation at Bendemeer Road in front of Block 43. The automatic stopping of traffic at this crossing for 25 seconds in every 90 seconds provides sufficient gaps in the traffic flow to enable pedestrians to cross Bendemeer Road between Blocks 43 and 25. There is also a light controlled pedestrian crossing at the junction of Bendemeer Road and Boon Keng Road, a distance of about 500 feet from Block 25. The installation of pedestrian lights in front of Block 25 is, therefore, not considered necessary.

The Police have taken action against vehicles exceeding the 30 m.p.h. speed limit along Bendemeer Road. For example, for the week 9th to 15th September, 1972, 27 drivers were booked for speeding along the road and offered composition ranging from $30 to $50 depending on their speed. The Police will continue their operations against inconsiderate motorists. Those racing at excessive speeds will be arrested on the spot and charged in court under the Road Traffic Act for dangerous driving, or under the Penal Code for endangering the lives of other road users.

The Member for Kallang will be interested to know that in the first nine months of this year, the Police took action against some 14,000 motorists for exceeding speed limits along our roads.

Encik Abdul Aziz Karim (Kallang): Sir, can traffic be stopped at this crossing for more than 25 seconds at a time to enable the aged and children to cross the road?

Mr Barker: Twenty-five seconds out of every 90 seconds, Sir, is in my view already quite a considerable gap for pedestrians to cross. To stop traffic longer might lead to traffic hold-ups.