By Lediati Tan

JUST days after former Olympian Tan Eng Yoon was killed while crossing Upper Thomson Road, jaywalkers were back at it.

The New Paper spotted some people dashing across the road at the spot where the fatal accident occurred. Now a focus group is being formed to tackle the problem.

Member of Parliament Hri Kumar Nair of Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC told The New Paper that his ward was in the process of forming a focus group which will comprise:

- Police;

- Land Transport Authority (LTA);

- Those living in the estates bordering Upper Thomson Road, such as Yew Lian Park, Thomson Ridge and Soo Chow Garden;

- Representatives from the Church of the Holy Spirit.

Said Mr Nair: "We're meeting to study the situation and hope to have our first meeting in the next few days."

He added that while he has received feedback from residents following the accident - with many providing constructive suggestions - he felt that it was important to consider the situation thoroughly before offering solutions.

"Every one suggestion may result in implications elsewhere," said Mr Nair. "The last thing you want to do while solving problems at one part of the road is to create problems at another part of the road.

"I think, because there's been a fatality, we need to look at the situation carefully. We need to know why it happened and if we can stop it from happening again."

"The last thing you want to do while solving problems at one part of the road is to create problems at another part of the road." - Mr Hri Kumar Nair, MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC

Mr Tan's death was the second fatal accident involving an elderly person at the same stretch of road in three months.

The 82-year-old was crossing the road to return to his Soo Chow Garden home after attending mass at the Church of the Holy Spirit when he was knocked down at 7am on Saturday.

Last November, a 76-year-old woman was killed while walking along the road, which was then busy with traffic,on her way to the same church.

When The New Paper visited Upper Thomson Road yesterday afternoon, people were seen crossing the road between the Longhouse food centre all the way up to Thomson Plaza, more than 300m away. They did not use the designated pedestrian crossings.

15 seconds

It takes about 15 seconds to run across the busy section of road just outside the Church of the Holy Spirit. This excludes the time needed to wait for a clear road.

Residents said that traffic is heaviest during the morning and evening rush hours.

Of the 13 people we spoke to, 11 of them felt that the stretch of road is dangerous and said something must be done to arrest the situation.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Pedestrians (above, and picture below) making a dash across the road near the Church of the Holy Spirit.

Said Mr Viyan Rahman, 44, a school technician who was seen crossing the road near the overhead bridge: "I realise that it is dangerous, but most of the time, I am rushing for time and it is quicker for me to cross the road here.

"I think a traffic light would help to make crossing the road here safer."

Mr M H Lim, 66, suggested that a fence be built on the central divider and signs which read "Don't kill yourself" or "Liable to fine" should also be put up to deter pedestrians from crossing it.

He added: "It might be inconvenient for the elderly to walk to the traffic light, but I think saving lives is more important."

However, Ms Hazel A, 63, said the problem stems from the location of the U-turn nearby.

She said: "The U-turn should not be here. It's not safe to cross because of the U-turn."

She said it was "better to have (traffic) wardens to direct traffic, especially (on) Sundays" due to the presence of churchgoers.

Mr Tan Jin Thong, president of the National Safety Council of Singapore, who was in the area yesterday afternoon, told The New Paper that he does not see the need to make any hardware improvements along the stretch of road.

He said: "There are already two pedestrian crossings. There is no reason to put in another one because it will lead to traffic jams."

But he said more can be done in terms of enforcement and education.

"Parking along the road (during church services) can be improved," said Mr Tan.

"There should be control and people should not be allowed to park along the road as this may obstruct the vision of oncoming cars."

Education can help too.

Said Mr Tan: "The church bears part of the responsibility to educate people to make use of the pedestrian crossings. It may be a bit far and inconvenient but it's not worth taking the risk."

He added that motorists using the road, especially during church services, should also exercise more care.

- Additional reporting by Danson Cheong and Emily Wong, newsroom intern

ledtan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The New Paper.