School zone, yet 5 drivers run red light every week

In first six months, as many as 23 also caught speeding in these areas
By Aw Cheng Wei and Lee Jian Xuan, The Straits Times, 11 Aug 2014

AS MANY as 110 errant drivers were caught running the red light in school zones in the first six months of this year alone. That translates to an average of nearly five cases a week.

Drivers were also caught for other offences in school zones, such as speeding and tailgating.

The Traffic Police gave these updates in response to queries from The Straits Times.

Since January, road safety in school zones has been beefed up with harsher punishments, after two brothers were killed by a truck in Tampines last year.

Nigel Yap, 13, was cycling across the road with Donavan, seven, who was riding pillion, when the driver hit them.

The police did not have a breakdown of the number of offences committed within school zones before the law was toughened earlier this year.

Those who run a red light in a school zone will get 13 demerit points - one more than before.

For drivers with less than a year's experience, it means their licences will be revoked as they have exceeded the maximum of 12 demerit points in one year.

Speeding was the second most common offence in these demarcated areas. Within the first six months of this year, 23 summonses were issued against speedsters who exceeded the 50kmh limit.

The Land Transport Authority lowered speed limits outside 10 primary schools to 40kmh in January as part of a pilot project which will be rolled out to more schools progressively.

In the first six months of this year, there were also eight cases of inconsiderate driving and 17 instances of careless driving. Examples include tailgating and sudden lane switches.

There are more than 300 school zones at primary and secondary schools.

MP for Tampines GRC Baey Yam Keng said drivers should keep a lookout at all times in school zones, not just at dismissal hours.

"There are schoolchildren who are coming and going all the time. Some of them stay back for CCA (co-curricular activities), some are waiting for their parents. It's alarming and worrisome the number is so high."

Nurse May Tan, 52, mother of three, said: "I always remind my kids not to take for granted that green light means 'go', and to watch out for speeding cars. I tell them, 'This involves your life'."

* More road safety measures in school zones
By Miranda Yeo, The Straits Times, 29 Jan 2015

MORE road safety measures have been implemented in school zones by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), including a new road sign reminding motorists to slow down.

The sign is made up of three smaller signs stacked on top of one another - one indicating that it is a school zone and that there are children in the area sits above a 40kmh speed limit sign. Below these two is a pair of amber lights that flash alternately.

Motorists must reduce their speed to 40kmh or under when the amber lights flash. Motorists caught speeding in school zones will get an extra demerit point on top of those already levied.

Schools with this sign now turn the lights on during the school peak hours when children are starting or leaving school for the day. As the schools are able to operate the sign, they can choose to leave it turned on throughout the day if there are ongoing school activities.

When the lights are not flashing, the speed limit of the road reverts to the original 50kmh.

Post by Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving.

While all school zones have road safety measures in place, these safety enhancements - including the new road sign, chevron markings and road humps - have been implemented at 10 pilot primary schools.

They are tailored to the specific needs of each school and were carried out last year. The new road sign was launched at Canberra Primary School yesterday by Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Health Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim and Member of Parliament (Nee Soon GRC) Lim Wee Kiak.

Associate Professor Faishal said the new road safety measures will be rolled out in all 200 primary schools by 2018 and the LTA is looking at how to enhance road safety in neighbourhoods with a large ageing population.

Canberra Primary pupil Aw Shuo Jie, 12, who walks to school every day, said his parents welcomed the road safety enhancements. "They have the peace of mind to let me walk to school alone now."