Singapore — A BMW was spotted failing to give way to a pedestrian while making a discretionary right turn near Kembangan MRT, causing the individual to fall to the ground.
The video posted on Facebook page SG Road Vigilante on Wednesday (Jan 12) shows the BMW approaching the right turn from Sims Avenue East onto Jalan Kembangan towards Frankel Avenue without slowing down.
The “green man” on the traffic lights indicated that the vehicle could make the turn but so did any pedestrians crossing the street.
It appears that the BMW driver was unaware of the woman making her way across and slammed into her.
It was also too late for the woman to try and get out of the way after realising that the oncoming vehicle wasn’t slowing down.
The BMW hit the woman, knocking her off her feet and onto the ground before the car made a complete stop.
Following two fatal accidents in 2018 involving road users and discretionary right turns at junctions, several campaigns to abolish this system have been started.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) previously announced that it would scrap discretionary right turns at 1,200 out of the total 1,600 traffic junctions in Singapore by 2023.
A number of fatalities and serious injuries have occurred at these junctions, which could have been so easily avoided if motorists had taken extra care, said CEO of Budget Direct Insurance in June 2020, highlighting his support for LTA’s decision.
In a written Parliamentary reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran in September 2021, Red-Amber-Green (RAG) arrows, which is the discretionary right turn’s replacement, have been introduced at more than 600 junctions with the remaining scheduled to 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,” said Mr Iswaran. /TISG
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