Traffic Police Department
By ASP Madeline Low

Paving the Way for Better Road Safety
The Traffic Police are constantly roaming the streets, ensuring the safety of road users everywhere; making everyone’s journey a pleasant one.

Driving the Successes of Major Events

In FY 2007, Traffic Police (TP) ensured safe and smooth passage for VVIPs, delegates, participants and emergency vehicles during the ASEAN Summit and the National Day Parade.

Ring-Fencing Operations

Through strategic partnerships and tough measures such as the ‘ring-fencing operations’ – the deployment of road blocks around entertainment outlets – we demonstrated our commitment to detect drink drivers and ensure everyone has a safe night out.

Global Road Safety Week

The Global Road Safety Week (GSRW), a bold move by the UN to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities worldwide, was launched in conjunction with the Road Safety Outreach (RSO) in April 2007.

With the support of the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the National Safety Council of Singapore and TP, events such as the LTA Conference and the Global Shell Traffic Games were also launched during the GSRW.

RSO 2007 kicked off a year-long series of road safety activities, including talks, exhibitions and outreach activities. Motorcyclists and elderly pedestrians were identified as ‘critical’ groups for education on road safety. We engaged motorcyclists with programmes such as ‘Convoy Riding’, and ‘Safe and Skilled Riding Competition’ under the ‘Ride Safe’ campaign. The elderly were educated through fun and interactive traffic games at the Road Safety Community Park, where brochures, handbooks, handy bags and Mandarin road safety videos entitled ‘The Golden Years, Safety First’ were given out.

The Anti-Drink-Driving Campaign

TP worked with entertainment outlet operators to spread the Anti-Drink-Driving (ADD) message and adopt safety measures. Some operators installed breathalysers and made conscious efforts to advise their patrons not to drive after drinking.

In order to drive home the message amongst the younger drivers, we worked with polytechnic students to launch the Students Against Drink-Driving (SADD) initiative. A website for SADD was set up to spread ADD messages to fellow students. An ADD pledge was also written to advocate and promote anti-drink-driving behaviour.

The Prince Michael International Road Safety Award

Together with the United States and Russia, we became proud members of a fraternity that advocates improving road safety and modifying road user behaviour through enforcement, education and legislative initiatives. Only three countries were bestowed Britain’s prestigious award on 11 December 2007.

Prince Michael was so impressed with our road safety efforts that he made an effort to meet up with TP and LTA to learn more about the various initiatives during his personal trip to Singapore in January 2008.

Adapting to Change – the Cycling Issue

Cycling has become a prevalent recreational activity and a mode of transport in our small island. Recognising this change in attitudes and lifestyles, the Tripartite Committee of LTA, TP and Tampines Grassroots Organisations (GROs) started the year-long ‘Cycling on Footways’ study in Tampines Town to assess the feasibility of allowing such an activity and to gauge public sentiment on the issue.

Motorcycle Task Force

As motorcyclist fatalities are a major concern, the Motorcycle Task Force (MTF) was formed to examine the trends and causalities of such fatalities and implement enforcement tactics and educational strategies in a timely and effective manner.

High visibility deterrence patrols and enforcement at accident-prone roads and junctions were just some of the measures the MTF used. They also erected three road safety signs along the Pan Island Expressway as reminders to motorcyclists of the importance of riding safely.

In addition, portable Variable Messaging System (VMS) were positioned at other accident-prone junctions and roads. We also collaborated with the Singapore MotorCycle Traders Association (SMTA) to offer free motorcycle checks to all motorcyclists who visited the participating workshops and distributors.

Members of motorcycle clubs also pitched in to give road safety talks to young riders at Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Colleges and polytechnics. Messages highlighting the vulnerability of motorcyclists, accident hotspots and the enforcement efforts of the MTF were disseminated to the public via the media.

Clear Roads Ahead

Enhancing road safety is a top priority for 2008, with TP planning to reach out to foreign road users in Singapore using multi-language road safety videos.

With world-class events such as the 2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, Asian Youth Games 2009, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2009, and Youth Olympic Games 2010 looming ahead, TP will be gearing up to tackle the challenges with targeted blitzes on drinkdriving, jay-walking and speeding.

Concurrently, TP and Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) are collaborating to ensure a comprehensive traffic safety system on Jurong Island, including the installation of traffic enforcement cameras.

For RSO 2008, TP will focus on motorcyclists, both local and foreign, elderly pedestrians and foreign cyclists. TP is also looking into developmental and policy initiatives such as the review of the Road Traffic Act and cooperating with local partners to use software to reconstruct accidents, which would enhance our investigative capabilities.