TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING CYCLISTS

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong asked the Minister for Home Affairs in the last five years, what is the number of (i) cyclists involved in traffic accidents and (ii) cyclists who died from the accidents.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: The number of cyclists involved in traffic accidents rose from 266 in 1998 to 363 in 2002. However, the number of fatalities involving cyclists has remained consistently fewer than 20 per year for the same period. Table 1 shows the breakdown of cyclists involved in traffic accidents for the period 1998 - 2002. Table 1: Breakdown of cyclists involved in traffic accidents 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 Number of cyclists 266 341 336 360 363 involved in traffic accidents Number of fatalities 15 19 15 12 16 involving cyclists

Note: Under the Road Traffic (Bicycle) Exemption Rules, a bicycle is defined to mean a pedal bicycle and includes pedal tricycles and trishaws. The figures above reflect the number of accidents and fatalities involving bicycles, trishaws and tricycles.

To address the rise in the number of cyclists involved in accidents, the Traffic Police conducts regular talks and exhibitions on safe cycling habits. For example, a total of 237 road safety talks and exhibitions, including a segment on safe cycling, were conducted last year. These talks and exhibitions are conducted at primary and secondary schools, community centres and SAF camps, and have reached out to more than 92,000 pupils, SAF personnel and members of the public.

In addition, the Traffic Police also conducted 232 sessions of the Shell Traffic Game training at the East Coast Road Safety Community Park. These primary and secondary school pupils were put through practical lessons on safe cycling and taught basic rules while cycling on the road.

The talks and exhibitions on safe cycling cover safe cycling tips, such as wearing protective gear, and taking extra care when approaching road junctions. The talks and exhibitions also cover basic do's and don'ts, such as using hand signals and not cycling on pedestrian pavements. The Traffic Police will continue to educate cyclists and other road users, including motorists, on safe cycling. Road safety is everyone's business.