ROAD ACCIDENTS (Measures to reduce)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what measures his Ministry intends to take to reduce the number of road accidents; (b) what safety measures are planned for motorcyclists, as a high proportion of accidents have involved motorcyclists; and (c) whether he will consider introducing a compulsory safe riding course for all learner motorcyclists before they are allowed on the road.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker, Sir, this question has several parts and I shall answer it part by part.

(a) What measures his Ministry intends to take to reduce the number of road accidents

In the Budget debate in March 1979, I outlined the Traffic Police's strategy of selective enforcement and education to reduce road accidents. I said that if our road-users were constantly being educated and motivated to behave correctly, the number of accidents resulting in fatalities and serious injuries on our roads in 1979 could be the lowest in the past 15 years. This was, in fact, achieved. In 1979, the number of persons killed on the roads was reduced by 45 and, that of persons seriously injured, by 1,198 as compared to 1978.

Unfortunately, the figures for the first two months of this year rose sharply. Greater efforts will be made by the Traffic Police to curb this rising trend. The Traffic Police will step up their enforcement against motorists who commit serious traffic offences. They will pay special attention to drivers of pick-up vans, buses, lorries and motorcycles, as statistics show that the irresponsible ones in this group are responsible for the majority of road accidents. Traffic Police will also step up enforcement against careless pedestrians who flout the Pedestrian Crossing Rules.

To help drivers who have been suspended from driving because they have incurred 12 demerit points, the Registry of Vehicles, Traffic Police and the National Safety Council will jointly organise rehabilitation courses beginning on 24th March, 1980. The objective is to re-educate these errant drivers so that they will return to the roads as safe drivers. Attendance will, however, be voluntary. Those who attend regularly and pass a test at the end of the course will be given a reduction of their suspension period by 70%.

The Traffic Police will also intensify their education programme on road-safety. They have chosen to concentrate on two target groups, the young and the aged. They have begun to hold safety exhibitions at nine selected schools. The traffic games circuit at the East Coast Park is expected to be completed by June this year, and activities will be organised for school children to learn the rules of road safety through traffic games. From April onwards, through the Residents Committees, they will also hold road safety exhibitions at void decks of selected housing estates on Saturdays and Sundays to bring the road safety message to more people, particularly the aged who are more vulnerable on our roads.

The Traffic Accident Study Unit will continue to research into the causes of accidents and to recommend measures to reduce the number of serious accidents. The Traffic Police together with the Public Works Department have identified 104 locations where overhead bridges should be built. The Public Works Department will erect these overhead bridges as rapidly as possible so that pedestrians can cross busy roads safely.

(b) What safety measures are planned for motorcyclists as a high proportion of accidents have involved motorcyclists

The number of motorcyclists killed on the roads fell from 87 in 1978 to 66 in 1979, giving a 24% reduction. At the same time, the number of persons seriously injured fell by 35% from 1,002 in 1978 to 648 in 1979. However, the total number of motorcycle accidents went up from 4,522 in 1978 to 5,067 in 1979, recording a 12% increase. Motorcycle accidents accounted for 35% of all road accidents in 1978 and 37% in 1979.

For the safety of motorcyclists, the Liaison Committee on Road Safety comprising representatives from the Ministry of Communications, Registry of Vehicles, Ministry of Home Affairs and Traffic Police is considering a proposal to have different requirements for licences to ride motorcycles of different engine capacities.

(c) Whether he will consider introducing a compulsory safe riding course for all learner motorcyclists, before they are allowed on the road

At present, a person over 16 years old can get a Provisional Driving Licence (PDL) for riding a motorcycle after having passed a highway code test. He can remain a learner motorcyclist for as long as he wants. The Traffic Police are studying a scheme to encourage learner motorcyclists to prepare themselves for their riding tests early. This will reduce the number of unqualified motorcyclists on our roads.

A compulsory safe riding course for all learner motorcyclists before they are allowed to take to the roads should benefit them. However, we are not aware of any country which has done this and we should introduce it only after careful study of the manpower and other resources which such a scheme might involve. The Traffic Police will be studying this matter. If they conclude that it is feasible, they will submit a proposal to the Registrar of Vehicles who is the licensing authority.

In the meantime, voluntary safe riding courses are being conducted on the first Sunday of every month. These are organised jointly by the Traffic Police, the Singapore Motor Cycle Trade Association, the Registry of Vehicles, Vocational and Industrial Training Board, the National Safety Council and the Automobile Association. Courses up to July 1980 have been arranged. If they continue to be popular, further courses will be arranged.

Dr Tan Eng Liang (River Valley): Sir, in the light of Government's emphasis on road safety and the strong measures indicated by the Hon. Minister, I would draw the Minister's attention to the conviction in court of a school bus driver who caused the death of two students in my constituency. He was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment. This was reported in yesterday's newspaper which also said that the maximum sentence allowable under the law is five years' imprisonment. Does the Minister not think that a stiffer sentence should be passed on cases resulting in death by rash or negligent act or by reckless or dangerous driving?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: I entirely agree with the Member for River Valley that stiffer sentences in such cases will act as a deterrent to would-be negligent riders or drivers, thereby lessening the carnage on our roads. As far as yesterday's case is concerned, the Police consider the sentence to be inadequate and they are considering filing an appeal.