TRAFFIC POLICE TO ENHANCE ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION TO STRENGTHEN RESPONSIBILITY AND GRACIOUSNESS
On 6 July 2019, Mr Amrin Amin, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health, launched the inaugural RoadSense Carnival at Ngee Ann City, Civic Plaza, in conjunction with Singapore Road Safety Month (SRSM) 2019.
The carnival is jointly organised by the Traffic Police (TP) and Singapore Road Safety Council (SRSC) to encourage road users to practise responsibility and graciousness, for a safer and more pleasant road user experience.
The launch of the RoadSense Carnival also marks the start of SRSM 2019, and pedestrian safety is the focus for this year. In the carnival, pedestrians will be educated on the importance of using designated crossings, such as zebra crossings, traffic lights and overhead bridges.
Another key highlight of the event is the introduction of eight characters termed “The Responsibles”. They represent everyday Singaporean road users (kindly refer to Annex A for reference). The characters will deliver TP’s road safety campaigns and serve as role models for the respective road user groups.
GREATER RESPONSIBILITY AND GRACIOUSNESS NEEDED TO ENHANCE ROAD SAFETY
As part of the Use Your RoadSense campaign, TP conducted a nationwide study to explore the attitudes and expectations of road users around road graciousness and safety. The study involved 1,000 respondents across the following nine road user groups.:
- Elderly pedestrians;
- General pedestrians;
- Parents of young children;
- Car drivers;
- Courier and delivery drivers;
- Heavy vehicle drivers;
- Taxi and private hire drivers;
- Motorcyclists; and
- Cyclists and PMD users.
Overall, the findings suggested that stress and perceptions of road users are the causes of low levels of graciousness on the roads. Road users who were surveyed, described their experience on the roads as stressful with the two top descriptors being “Impatient” (62%) and “Aggressive” (44%). The descriptors were attributed to the fast-paced lifestyle and competitiveness in Singapore, resulting in Singaporeans being fixated on getting to their destinations at great speed, often at the expense of road etiquette and safety.
Road users were also surveyed on their perceived personal level of safety and graciousness on the roads, based on behaviours such as signalling early and giving way to other road users. The findings note that road users tend to rate themselves positively, while the behaviours of other road users were perceived negatively.
Road users also responded that there is little incentive for them to be gracious to other road users, and road safety is something beyond personal control.
TP urges all road users not to be complacent about road safety. TP will continue to remind road users that the journey to road safety requires a collective public effort to achieve and maintain. Members of public should also reach out to their families and friends, to encourage them to watch for their safety and the safety of others whom they are sharing the roads with.
TP will step up its road safety engagement efforts to educate and empower road users to exercise greater responsibility over their behaviour on the roads. Responsibility and graciousness will be reinforced at upcoming events such as the annual Heavy Vehicle Dialogue, Singapore Ride Safe, Shell Traffic Games and Anti-Drink Drive 2019.
More information about the Use Your RoadSense Campaign and the RoadSense Carnival are available on https://www.police.gov.sg/Advisories/Traffic/Road-Safety-Campaigns and https://www.facebook.com/events/387278291999420/.
(From left to right): Mr Bernard Tay, Chairman for Singapore Road Safety Council, Mr Amrin Amin, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health, and Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Gerald Lim, Commander of Traffic Police launching the RoadSense Carnival.
ANNEX A
Illustration of “The Responsibles”
*The Responsibles, in order of appearance (back row, left to right, followed by front row):
- Dependable Daud (Cyclist)
- Cautious Chong (Motorcyclist)
- Gracious Joseph (Car driver)
- Sensible Fiona (PMD rider)
- Mindful Seng (Heavy vehicle driver)
- Reliable Rachel & Khai (Children)
- Patient Mdm Gayathiri (Elderly pedestrian)
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
06 July 2019 @ 12:00 PM