Reconsider building road extension near schools

SINGAPORE - The Land Transport Authority's move to impose heavier penalties for traffic offences near schools and to designate more areas as school zones is laudable ("Heavier traffic penalties in school zones"; last Saturday).

The safety of our young must be paramount.

I understand that the LTA is building a road extension linking Fernvale Road in Sengkang West to Gerald Drive, to create a shorter driving route to and from Yio Chu Kang Road.

This is not a wise move as far as the safety of young pedestrians is concerned.

Fernvale Gardens School (Minds) and Fernvale Primary School are located at the no-through end of Fernvale Road.

Many pupils from these two schools have to cross Fernvale Road on their way to and from school.

Drivers would be happy with the new road extension as their driving time would be cut by a few minutes. However, many parents of pupils from these two schools have raised concerns about the safety of their children if the traffic volume were to increase right at the schools' doorstep.

Many are especially concerned for the pupils from Fernvale Gardens School, many of whom are physically disabled and/or mentally challenged.

I urge the relevant authorities to reconsider the decision to build the road extension.

Goh Ah Seng

Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.