SELETAR ROAD/YIO CHU KANG ROAD/JALAN KAYU (Improvement of traffic system)

Mr Hwang Soo Jin asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Education whether, in the light of rapid population build-up in Seletar Hills Estate, he will direct the relevant authorities to give urgent attention to improving the traffic system at the Seletar Road/Via Chu Kang Road/Jalan Kayu junction with a view to minimising the increasing number of collisions between vehicles some of which have resulted in deaths and serious personal injuries recently.

The Minister for Home Affairs and Education (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker. Sir. Police records show that 22 accidents took place at this junction in 1 973, 9 in 1974 and 18 in 1975. Of the 49 accidents, 2 were fatal. 4 resulted in serious injuries and 13 involved slight injuries only. The remaining 30 accidents were minor and did not result in any injury.

The Public Works Department plans to widen Yio Chu Kang Road and convert it into a dual lane-carriageway with centre dividers in 1977. This project when completed will make the above-mentioned junction safer for motorists.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: Sir, we cannot just wait until 1977 because in the meantime cars seem to crash into one another. As an interim measure, can the Minister not direct his department to give the situation further consideration as to whether some short-term preventive measures can be taken?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, that has been considered and the answer is that the only way in which the problem can be solved would be as stated in my answer just now. However, we will look into it further. Perhaps we may put up some traffic signs to make motorists aware of the dangers at that particular junction.