Dr Teo Ho Pin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs

(a) over the last 5 years, how many accidents occurred at traffic light junctions and how many motorists were booked for red traffic light violations; and

(b) whether the Ministry will consider installing countdown timers at traffic light junctions for motorists.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Between 2004 and 2008, about 2,100 accidents occurred annually at road intersections.

On average, about 330 or 16% of these accidents occurred because the motorist disobeyed a red light signal. During the same period, Traffic Police issued about 19,700 summonses annually to motorists for disobeying a red light signal.

In the first six months of 2009, about 1,100 accidents took place at road intersections, out of which about 159 or 14% occurred because the motorist disobeyed a red light signal.

During the same period, Traffic Police issued about 6,600 summonses to motorists for disobeying a red light signal.

Singapore's traffic light system operates on the Green Link Determining System, or "Glide", where the duration of green time at a traffic light junction can be varied according to traffic demands, thus allowing for smoother traffic flow.

To enhance safety at traffic light junctions, LTA has set a few seconds of buffer time in between each change of the traffic light. This is consistent with international practice.

LTA has previously studied the installation of countdown timers at traffic light junctions.

In 2003, a trial was conducted at the junction of Rochor Road and North Bridge Road. The trial showed that the behaviour of motorists approaching the junction varied when the countdown timer was about to reach zero.

Some motorists applied the brakes to stop, while others accelerated in an unsafe manner to beat the light. This in fact increases the likelihood of rear-end collisions.

Studies conducted overseas in Hong Kong, Australia and China confirm that motorists behave differently towards countdown timers and that there is no significant improvement in road safety.

Most accidents can be prevented if motorists obey traffic rules, remain vigilant and behave responsibly.

As everyone knows, before a traffic light turns red, an amber signal is shown.

Unfortunately, many motorists approach a green traffic light at high speed, and then speed up when they see the amber light.

What motorists should in fact do is to always slow down when approaching a traffic light and stop when the light turns amber. This will help prevent many needless accidents which occur today.