Written Reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran to Parliamentary Question on Breakdown o Number of Accidents Occurring at Signalled Traffic Junctions with Discretionary Turns in Past Five Years

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Transport 

a.     in the past five years, how many accidents have occurred at signalled traffic junctions with discretionary turns; and 

b.     what is the breakdown of such accidents in terms of percentage involving (i) pedestrians (ii) motorcyclists and (iii) cyclists or other personal mobility aid devices respectively. 

Reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran:

1.     Over the past five years, the average number of accidents occurring at such junctions is about 430 per year. About 40% involve motorcyclists, about 25% involve pedestrians, about 7% involve cyclists, and less than 0.5% involve personal mobility aid device users. 

2.     Motorists are allowed to make discretionary right turns at traffic junctions without turning signals, when there is no opposing traffic or pedestrians crossing the road. At locations where there might be safety concerns, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been progressively introducing Red Amber Green (RAG) signals for right turns. At such junctions, discretionary right turns are not allowed, even when there is no opposing traffic or pedestrians crossing the road. Motorists can only make a right turn when the RAG signal turns green. LTA targets to introduce RAG signals at 1,200 junctions. To date, RAG signals are operational at more than 600 junctions, and the rest will be installed by 2024. Where it is not feasible to introduce RAG signals, LTA will look into other road safety features, such as warning signs and turning pockets.