Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Consideration to Improve Silver Zones to Allow Smooth Ingress and Egress of Emergency Vehicles in Such Zones

Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked the Minister for Transport given that the creation of Silver Zones generally involves the reduction of lanes in a designated area to a single lane, whether there can be any improvements made to consider the smooth ingress and egress of emergency vehicles in such zones.

Reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran:

1.     In designing the Silver Zones, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) adjusts the existing road infrastructure such that some road space is freed up to provide more crossing space for elderly pedestrians and/or some roadways are reduced to single- lane roads to reduce vehicle speeds. These changes enhance pedestrian safety within the zones.

2.     From the first Silver Zone implemented in 2014, LTA has worked closely with relevant agencies, including Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), to ensure that the ingress and egress of emergency vehicles in such zones is not hindered. Along most segments of the zones, special low height centre dividers are installed – instead of regular height centre dividers – to allow emergency vehicles to drive onto the divider so that they can bypass any obstruction along single lane roads, when needed.