ACCIDENTS ALONG PAN-ISLAND EXPRESSWAY AND EAST COAST PARKWAY (Measures to reduce)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Encik Saidi Haji Shariff: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs what steps are being taken (i) to reduce the number of traffic accidents along the Pan-Island Expressway and East Coast Parkway; and (ii) to stop or prevent hell drivers and riders from using the roads and expressways as racing tracks.

Mr Speaker: Encik Saidi Haji Shariff.

Mr Rohan bin Kamis (Telok Blangah): Question No. 1, Sir.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of traffic accidents along East Coast Parkway and Pan-Island Expressway over the last four years from 1980 to 1983 was 1,019. Last year, there were 349 accidents on these two expressways with 20 persons killed. Motorcyclists and pillion riders ranked first with 10 deaths, followed by five pedestrians and five motorcar drivers/passengers.

The expressways are generally safer to drive on than ordinary roads if drivers maintain road discipline and practise proper overtaking habits. However, since vehicles travel at a very high speed on expressways, any carelessness or breach of traffic rules is likely to lead to a serious accident. Thus, in 1983, there were 18 fatal accidents and 344 accidents resulting in injury on the expressways. The proportion of fatal accidents to all accidents causing injury on expressways was 5.17. This was 1.58 times higher than on ordinary roads. The same trend has persisted for the past few years.

Since August 1982, the Traffic Police has set up an Interim Expressway Patrol Unit to patrol the expressways. Blitz operations by unmarked cars against moving offences and speed-check operations by officers using radar-guns are also carried out frequently. Enforcement is. mainly directed at speeding, road hogging and other moving offences which are the main causes of accidents. Between November 1982 and November 1983, 46,621 drivers were booked and 5,596 were warned by the Police.

A brochure on expressway etiquette had been prepared and distributed during road safety exhibitions. Two filmlets reminding our drivers not to road hog and to maintain safe following distance were prepared in 1983. These filmlets, together with three other filmlets on road safety, are being telecast frequently over SBC.

In respect of safety of pedestrians, the Traffic Police is working closely with PWD in providing more pedestrian crossing facilities near housing estates and recreational parks along the expressways. Enforcement of Pedestrian Crossing Rules around these areas have also been stepped up.

The Traffic Police have plans to upgrade the existing Expressway Patrol Unit to a specialized unit by replacing the patrol motorcycles with patrol cars which are generally safer, weather proof, and can carry more equipment, such as advance warning signs, beacons and emergency lighting, etc. The Traffic Police hope that by upgrading patrols, potential traffic offenders will be deterred and there will be safer driving along expressways.

Last year, 94 hell-riders were arrested and charged for rash riding and driving under Section 279 of the Penal Code. In addition, 1,502 riders were booked for various offences, such as dangerous driving, reckless driving, driving without reasonable consideration to other road users, careless driving and speeding.

A total of 4,620 vehicles were also impounded during the same period.

In addition, a total of 6,522 motorcyclists and motorists were stopped and checked by the Traffic Police in connection with hell-riding activities. Their particulars were subsequently screened to ascertain whether they were driving whilst under suspension or disqualification and whether their driving licences were valid.

The other measures that are also being taken include impounding vehicles suspected of being involved in hell-riding for inspection at the ROV, lectures to suspected hell-riders on various aspects of road safety and road discipline, and the collation of intelligence on hell-riding activities. We are continuing with all these measures without let-up.

The present provisions in the Road Traffic Act and the Penal Code are designed for general traffic offences. Hell-riding, however, is a dangerous and wilful act motivated by a complete disregard for the law. Thus, the present provisions under these Acts do not cater to this element of blatant lawlessness. We are, therefore, considering introducing stiffer and more effective legislation aimed specifically at hell-riding and its eradication.