Traffic Light Trap （红绿灯的陷阱）

以下是我的亲身经历，只感慨红绿灯是个最大的陷阱，行人一不留神就掉进去了。愤愤之下，写了以下的建议给了新加坡的路交局，希望情况有所改进，不然我宁愿不相信红绿灯。英文拙漏，还望见谅。

事情经过大概：我家附近的红绿灯给行人过的时间太短了，而且同一方向的汽车还要和行人抢红绿灯过。昨天傍晚我终于尝到了千钧一发的胆颤心惊的滋味。红绿灯一变绿，而且两边的车都停了，我快步过红绿灯，却不料一辆红色轿车从对面的马路突然向我冲过来，我本能地跳了开去，汽车在离我就1厘米处刹住了，我差点就被撞倒。事过之后，我很是愤愤不平，凭什么汽车要和行人抢道。当然我觉得最有效的办法是写建议给路交局，希望能有效的制止不自觉的司机。建议有两点：１：让同一方向的行人红绿灯先变绿20 秒，然后再让车的红绿灯变绿。2：在行人红绿灯边上设置路障，这样可以减缓车速。

I am referring to the Traffic Light between Rosewood Drive and Woodlands Ave 1.

Yesterday around 7:20pm, after the green light was on, the vehicles from both sides (Woodlands Ave 1) stopped and then I started to walk towards Rosewood Drive. At that time, a red car was also rushing down from Rosewood Drive and turned right towards Woodlands Ave 1.I had almost been bumped by this car and I really got a big shock.

In fact, not only I have this very bad experience, my family feedback that they also have to be very careful for the car rushing down from Rosewood Drive. Because when the traffic light turns to green, both pedestrians and vehicles (from Rosewood Drive) can be allowed to pass through. And in many times, the vehicles don't really wait for the pedestrians.

I feel the traffic light timing is very short, so both pedestrians and vehicles are rushing to go through this traffic light when the green light is light up.

May I please suggest that changing the traffic light timings or adding speed regulating strips and road humps on the Rosewood Drive before Traffic Light?

1) Change traffic light timings
When traffic light for pedestrians turn to green, the traffic light for Vehicles (same direction as traffic light for pedestrians) should wait for 20 seconds, and then turn to green. This is to avoid the vehicles rushing down from Rosewood Drive to attack the pedestrians.
2) Adding Speed regulating strips and road humps on the Rosewood Drive
This is because Rosewood Drive slopes down to Woodlands Ave 1, in another words, it will increase the speed of the vehicles. To add the speed regulating strips and road humps is to keep safe of the pedestrians.

I really appreciate if the officer-in-charge can accept my above suggestions.

Best Regards
Li Juan

Acknowledge from LTA:
Thank you for your feedback (Ref ID A-D-B26988). Please quote this reference ID when you call us.

Please contact Norlayha binte Almas at 63962358 or Norlayha_ALMAS@lta.gov.sg if you require any further assistance.
If you are unable to reach us via the above numbers, please call 1800-CALL LTA (1800 2255582).
We invite you to share your views with us on land transport related issues at www.talk2LTA@lta.gov.sg

两星期后，我终于收到了路交局的答复，非常欣慰他们有采取一些措施改善现状！哦！对新加坡政府又一次肃然起敬！平民老百姓有什么诉求，很快就能引起政府的注意。真棒！
After 2 weeks, i received a call from LTA officer and the following feedback email.
Very glad to know they take some actions already.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Traffic Light Timing at Woodlands Ave 1 / Rosewood Dr
FEEDBACK NUMBER: 486604

We refer to your email dated 05/06/2007.

We understand your concern of conflict between motorists and pedestrians at
the junction of Woodlands Ave 1 and Rosewood Dr. For your information, the
arrangement where pedestrian (crossing the main road) and right-turning
motorists (from the side road) having their green time at the same time is
common at T-junctions. Motorists are to give way to pedestrians during this
phase.

Instead of having the motorists right-turning long after the pedestrian
crossing phase, which will reduce efficiency, we have increased the green
time for motorists after the pedestrian crossing phase to allow more
vehicles to clear the junction within a cycle. We hope this will encourage
them to give way to pedestrians. We will also highlight this poor motorist
behaviour to the Traffic Police for their enforcement action.

As to your suggestion for speed calming measure along Rosewood Dr before
its junction with Woodlands Ave 1, we do not observe motorists traveling
beyond the speed limit here. It is therefore not necessary.

Having speed calming measure such as humps right before a signalised
junction can adversely affect traffic efficiency. The measure, including
speed regulating strips, also generate noise when vehicles pass through it.
Our experience at other locations shows that the speed calming measure
becomes a nuisance to nearby residents, especially at night. We therefore
do not recommend it.

We thank you for writing in.


Yours sincerely,



(SIGNED IN LOTUS NOTES)
CHRISTOPHER PRAYATNA SITUMORANG
ENGINEER, TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT (TRAFFIC SCHEMES)
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
TRANSPORTATION

cc
Traffic Police
spf_feedback_tp@spf.gov.sg
[Motorists not giving way to pedestrians during the 'green man' phase at
Woodlands Ave 1/Rosewood Dr junction for your necessary enforcement action
please.]