LTA to enhance safety at accident-prone junctions

These arrows are already in place at 200 such junctions. But in five years, the 'vast majority' of these junctions will have such arrows, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a statement on Thursday evening. At such junctions, motorists will have to wait for the arrow to turn green before making a right turn.

The statement comes in the wake of two fatal traffic accidents in the past week. In both cases, one vehicle involved made a discretionary right turn.

"Where it is not feasible to implement (these) arrows, LTA will look into other features," the agency said.

These include turning pockets, lighted road studs, integrated pedestrian countdown timers, dashed pedestrian crossing lines and 'Give Way to Pedestrian' signs.

In a separate statement, the police reminded motorists to slow down and exercise extra caution when approaching traffic junctions.

"When making a right turn at a traffic junction, motorists must always give way to oncoming vehicles. They should not attempt to make the right turn if their views are obstructed," it said. "At signalised right-turn traffic junctions, motorists must wait until it is safe to cross or for the green arrow signal before making the right turn."

These police said that it had received 36 reports of fatal accidents so far this year. In the most recent incident, which happened on Monday, a lorry hit three pedestrians waiting at a traffic light. All three were pronounced dead at the scene.

"Pedestrians will always be a vulnerable group of road users," the police added. "While motorists must always keep a lookout for pedestrians, pedestrians can also play their part in keeping our roads safe by staying alert and by looking out for vehicles even if they have the right of way."