Making roads friendlier to the elderly: Khaw Boon Wan

From lifts at more overhead bridges to widening footpaths when possible, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan said more will be done to keep roads safe for older residents.

"As we get more senior citizens in our midst, we must make special efforts to ensure that Singapore is fully elderly-friendly," wrote Mr Khaw in a blog post.

The Land Transport Authority will build lifts at more overhead bridges often used by seniors. Currently, six bridges have this amenity. Another 41 will be installed with lifts by 2018.

Safety features to slow down motorists are also being tested in residential areas, said Mr Khaw. Roads in Jurong West and Bukit Merah, for instance, have rumble strips, raised zebra crossings and centre dividers.

By 2020, 35 areas with a high elderly population and higher accident rates involving seniors will have "Silver Zones" to make for easier crossing. As of August, there are two of these designated areas.

More roads will also be narrowed "where practicable" to create more space for footpaths, said Mr Khaw. "These have been very popular and we will extend them to other parts of Singapore."

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