Mr S. Iswaran calls for stringent laws and more road safety awareness

Second Minister for Home Affairs, Mr S. Iswaran, has hinted tighter traffic law enforcement with more police deployment, speed and red light cameras and harsher penalties for traffic offences occurring in school zones. He also added more focus should be applied for the education of road safety especially to the young and elderly.

Speaking to The Straits Times, he explained how the rising number of traffic offenders - especially red light jumpers and speeding is worrying and the number of offenders can be reduced with the implementation of technology.

According to Mr Iswaran, there was a 13 percent drop in the number of fatal accidents last year in comparison to 2011 yet the figures are not significant as life is still lost on the roads every other day – a saddening situation considering road safety here is comparable to international standards - and not forgetting the size and traffic population of our island.

In light of the recent tragic accident in Tampines, which claimed the lives of two young boys, Mr Iswaran commented more attention will be paid to heavy vehicle drivers as accidents caused by them can bear devastating effects. More Traffic Policeman with laser cameras can be deployed on common roads utilised by heavy vehicles while safety talks to educate the drivers is another viable option.

Mr Iswaran concluded by commenting that the Traffic Police will work closer with the Ministry of Education to tailor road safety awareness programmes for children and analyse how road safety in school zones can be enhanced. The comments were made during an ongoing review on road safety measures in terms of enforcement and education by the Traffic Police.