If you have acquired your driving licence in Singapore, you may recall the times your instructor would tell you:
“if you are unsure, just wait for the green arrow”
Apparently, one driver did not, which caused an accident with a blue taxi last week.
Screengrab from ROADS.sg Facebook Page
The scenario in question pertains to the attempt of making a right turn at a junction, specifically one without red-amber-green (RAG) arrow signals.
Car seen ignoring red turning arrow at a junction / ROADS.sg Facebook
In such situations, drivers intending to turn right must remain vigilant for, and yield to, both oncoming traffic and pedestrians crossing the road.
Source: Straits Times, 2018
Problem with discretionary right-turns
The discretionary right turn has certain advantages, such as reducing the waiting time for motorists who are preparing to make their right turns.
This approach also reduces the waiting time for other road users, as the delay typically experienced by vehicles waiting to make right turns is removed once they have executed their discretionary turns during the green light.
This optimisation enhances the traffic timing allocation for motorists at the junction.
Nevertheless, there are issues that arise which are considerably concerning.
There have been all too many accidents involving misjudgements by motorists making discretionary right turns.
A brief online search for “Discretionary right turns in Singapore” shows numerous reports of accidents that have occurred due to these turns.
For instance, in 2022, a Grab driver tragically lost his life after colliding with a lorry while making a discretionary right turn.
In another incident, a discretionary right turn resulted in the loss of life of a National University of Singapore undergraduate and injured three others. This tragedy received a significant amount of media coverage back in 2018.
Just last week, we received a video submission illustrating a crash between a Porsche and a blue taxi at a junction with a discretionary right turn.
The introduction of Red-Amber-Green (RAG) arrows
If you’ve recently been on the roads of Singapore, you might have noticed the delays incurred while making a right turn. This is due to an increased number of Red-Amber-Green (RAG) arrows being installed to assist motorists in executing these turns.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Ministry of Transport (MOT) recognise the perils of discretionary right turns. Far too many accidents and lives have been lost as a result of motorists’ misjudgements.
In a parliamentary debate held in July 2019, a Member of Parliament (MP) appealed to the authorities to expedite the removal of discretionary right turns at all junctions, arguing they were “fundamentally problematic”.
In response to this, the LTA decided to replace discretionary right turns with RAG arrows at “where feasible” across 1,600 traffic junctions in Singapore.
As updated by the Ministry of Transport in August of the previous year, a total of 798 RAGs had been installed at formerly discretionary right-turn junctions, with a further 1,200 slated for installation by the first quarter of 2024.
The minister added that there had been a 40 percent reduction in accidents involving right turns following the implementation of these RAGs.
According to LTA, they suggest that the RAG arrows “provide a safer experience for both pedestrians and motorists.”
It appears to be a win-win situation for all road users, other than the extended waiting time for motorists intending to make a right turn.
Sending the “Right” Signals
As the LTA expands the implementation of RAG arrows to more junctions on our roads, we at ROADS.sg examined what the LTA has to say about these RAG arrows.
Screengrab from LTA’s website
Why are some junctions not fitted with RAG arrows
Since these arrows offer numerous benefits to both motorists and pedestrians, why are they not installed at all available junctions?
Screengrab from LTA’s website
According to the information provided by the LTA, they are considering “other road safety features” such as “warning signs, turning pockets, and road studs that illuminate or reflect light.”
It seems that the LTA undertakes a thorough review before implementing a feature such as the RAG arrows.
No shortcuts to road safety
As the LTA works towards installing more RAG arrows on our roads, let’s all commit to practising safe driving. Whether we’re pedestrians or motorists, road safety is a responsibility we all share.
Some tips for motorists using junctions with discretionary right turns include
– looking out for pedestrians that decides to cross the road at the very last minute
– looking out for fast moving pedestrians that may be cycling on the right
– looking out for fast moving vehicles that are coming from the opposite direction
As reminded by our driving instructors, “if you are unsure, just wait for the green arrow”
Have a story to share ?
Be it an incident that you encountered on the road or any motoring stories you might have, reach out to us at writer@roads.sg
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