AMBULANCE ACCIDENTS

Mr Chng Hee Kok asked the Minister for Communications and Information Technology how Singapore compares with Hong Kong and South Korea on the level of broadband usage and what is his Ministry's plan to promote widespread usage.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: The number of broadband users in Singapore has reached 268,000 by the end of Year 2000, an increase of 150% over 1999. Today, Singapore's broadband user penetration of 6.6% is comparable to both Hong Kong's and South Korea's. As an example, South Korea's user penetration is 6.4%.

We will continue to promote and facilitate the growth of broadband applications and services, both wired and wireless, in the coming years. To this end, we are putting in place a comprehensive, diverse and pervasive broadband infrastructure. One key measure was the mandating of open access in our ADSL network. This allows more than one service provider to use the same copper infrastructure. Open access has attracted new broadband ADSL service providers like StarHub and Pacific Internet to offer broadband services.

To further open up new channels for broadband access, we will be issuing Fixed Wireless Broadband and 3G wireless licences in 2001. It will give Singaporeans better quality of services and more competitive prices in their choice of broadband access.

In addition to providing comprehensive broadband infrastructure, we also intend to tackle the demand side of broadband usage. The availability of more and richer broadband content will also stimulate demand growth. It is therefore encouraging that the number of broadband content providers has increased to about 300, from 200 in 1999. To further stimulate growth of the broadband sector, IDA recently announced a $150 million package to stimulate the demand for and supply of Internet Broadband Multimedia content and services. IDA will continue in its efforts to develop our local players and work with foreign content providers to provide useful and media-rich content to meet the growing demand for broadband content here in Singapore and the region.

Dr Teo Ho Pin asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many ambulances were involved in accidents over the last 3 years; (b) what were the causes of these accidents; (c) of these, how many persons were injured or killed; and (d) what measures can be taken to improve the safety of passengers in ambulances.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: The Emergency Ambulance Service (EAS) of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to about 190,000 ambulance calls over the past 3 years. During this period, SCDF ambulances were involved in 11 road traffic accidents. This works out to about 0.58 accidents per 10,000 calls. All the accidents were investigated by the Traffic Police (TP).

The Traffic Police is currently investigating the cause of the latest accident between an ambulance and an SBS bus. The causes of the remaining 10 accidents, 5 of which were attributable to the ambulance driver, were overtaking dangerously, failing to give way or keep a proper lookout, changing lanes without due consideration to road conditions or traffic, and tail-gating.

Other than 2 deaths arising from the latest incident, which TP is still investigating, there were no deaths in the remaining 10 accidents. In these 10 accidents, 17 persons suffered minor injuries, 8 of whom were SCDF personnel and 9 were civilians, and 3 persons, all of whom were SCDF personnel, suffered major injuries.

Let me assure the House that measures are in place to ensure the safety of persons conveyed and ambulance crew alike. Indeed, their safety is paramount. Ambulance drivers are required to adhere to all traffic rules, including observing speed limits, while responding to calls. Even when conveying persons in urgent need of treatment, ambulance drivers are required to ensure that all other vehicles have stopped and given way, and it is safe if they have to beat a red light. Warning lights and sirens must also be switched on to alert other road users to give way.

All patients are securely strapped to a stretcher, which in turn is held in place by a locking mechanism bolted onto the floor of the ambulance. Only 1 accompanying relative of the patient is allowed in the ambulance and he or she is required to use the seat belt in the ambulance.

All ambulance drivers have to attend an Emergency Vehicle and Defensive Driving Course, where they learn how to handle the vehicles under adverse road conditions. They are also taught the safety aspects of high speed driving, which they have to master before they are allowed to drive ambulances.

SCDF ambulances meet all the safety regulations stipulated by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). In addition, they also conform to the International Safety Standards adopted by leading overseas ambulance operators. These standards require, amongst other things, a body structure of the ambulance that can resist sudden impact, and features to safely secure medical and other equipment within the ambulance cabin, in case of a collision. SCDF Standing Operating Procedures require ambulance drivers to check daily that the ambulances assigned to them are in good working condition.