safety: pedestrian crossing at road junction (singapore)

Traffic Junction

Safe Road for allSafety first, speed follows

feedback to LTADate shared with LTA (Road Safety and Road Engineering team): 2013-05-21 Compiled by: Francis Chu contact: chu.francis@gmail.com

Deadly junction (pedestrian crossing at large turning radius)

Tampines Ave. 9/ Street 45Two young brothers, Nigel Yap, 13, and Donovan Yap, 7, were killed by cement mixer.

Clementi Avenue 3/ Commonwealth Avenue WestWife of a professor was killed by a Bus.

Woodlands Drive 63/ Woodlands Avenue 6Boy hit by bus

*Most deadly: driver of Heavy Vehicles (HGVs) cannot see pedestrian on their left while turning, regardless of the speed they are driving.

Why these junctions can be deadly?

Blue car may hit crossing pedestrian at high speed.- blue car driver (A) need to clear the junction, and enter the pedestrian crossing as quickly as possible to avoid collision with oncoming cars.Red car may hit crossing pedestriansLarge radius allows (some) drivers to speed as they turn left.Red car driver (B) need to watch out the blue car (front, right direction) while turning, easily miss the two crossing pedestrian on the left.In both cases, pedestrian may not be aware of the threat because the cars are coming from a direction out of their vision.

Deadly junction (Driver need to have 180° vision to see the full picture)

Driver is distracted Pedestrian unaware of the danger

Consider the driver Consider the pedestrian

This image is captured by special wide angle lens.

Both driver and pedestrian have difficulty to check each other at this turning radius.

Inspiration from overseas

Compilation of ideas which make safe driving and walking behaviour natural and easy at traffic intersection and pedestrian crossing.

Tokyo, Japan (separate pedestrians from cars at big radius)

Tokyo, Japan (features that make safe behaviour easy and natural)

(1) Red color lane "Alert and slow down" before entering pedestrian zone.

(2) Protected lane Railing separate pedestrian from my path, I can focus on my left where pedestrian entering the crossing.

(3) Double checkDriver and pedestrian are within each other's view before they enter into the crossing area.

Kyoto, Japan (alternative example)

Kyoto, Japan

Pedestrian and driver are within each other's view

Buffer zone to slow traffic down before entering the pedestrian crossing

"Protected" lane. Allows driver to focus ahead at the pedestrian crossing.

Hong Kong (separate pedestrian from car at big round)

New York, USA (make car stops before turning)

Tight corner, force driver to stop and turn at very slowly

New York, USA (make car stops before turning)

Amsterdam, NL (traffic calming before junction)

Learning points from other cities

Pedestrian crossing is a conflicting zone between powerful car and vulnerable people. A "fail-safe" design is needed. Both road users must be able to check each other, easily, before entering into the crossing area.

- position pedestrian crossing after the big round turn- position pedestrian crossing perpendicular to traffic (fail safe design)- one safety island for every two car lanes (easier, safer to cross)- install speed hump before crossing to reduce car speed

- install speed regulating strips along the turning lane(shift driver's foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal, make it natural and easy for driver to stop the car in case of unexpected happens)

- consistent, dedicated safe crossing time (Green man = no car allowed)Traffic intersection is a conflicting zone between cars from different directions. Drivers need to take care of their own safety. Therefore,

- calm the traffic before entering intersection (lower the risk, easier to check)- "protected" turning lane, allows driver to pay attention ahead to check crossing

pedestrian.

End of file

LoveCyclingSG who we are

● We are a group of normal people who love cycling in Singapore (3600 members on FB)

● Many of us drive as well● Riding our bicycles, we discovered there are

many opportunities to make the roads safer, which benefits pedestrian, cyclist, & driver.

● Examples of our effort: ○ Open-map to identify hazard roads○ Measuring lane width to identify opportunities for

safer driving and safe space for cycling○ Education on safe cycling practice during our rides

Land Transport includes walking & cycling

● No car trip is completed without walking. At the end of a car/bus/train trip, all of us need to walk to the destination.

● Planning and designing for walking/cycling is as important as planning for driving.

● We look to LTA to provide for the safe and seamless movement of all Land Transport, both motorized and non-motorized transport.

Three legged stool of Safe Roads

1.Road designReduce majority ofrisky behaviour byroad design.Make safe behaviour natural and easy.

2. Education (Culture)To clarify minor unclear situation

3. LawDeal with remaining, small number of dangerous behaviour with sufficient deterrencePrincipal: Operator of dangerous vehicles give way to vulnerable users

1- road design, 2-education, 3-law