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Community
Issues - MRT Accidents
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MRT Accidents
Letters
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Excerpt
of letter by Lai Soh Fun (Ms) to Straits
Times Forum page on 2 Sep 2004 |
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"...Recently,
SMRT installed metal plates with huge,
raised bubbles - to guide blind commuters
- along the yellow line on the platform,
what are called Tactiles. However, these
are too close to the yellow line and are a
hazard. Commuters who move forward when a
train approaches might trip over them and
fall onto the track. |
| "My
elderly parents usually travel on the MRT
alone and I am very worried that they
might trip over the metal plates. |
| "SMRT
should have had the plates installed some
distance away from the yellow line so that
even if someone trips, he won't end up on
the track." |
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Excerpt
of letter by Patrick Teo Yu Yeow to
Straits Times Forum page on 2 Sep 2004 |
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"...The
metal plates with huge, raised bubbles
installed on open train platforms by SMRT
pose a big danger to passengers when it
rains. |
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"On
a wet day, rain spills into the platforms
and the metal plates get wet. Once wet, they
become extremely slippery. |
| "The
danger increases when the platform is packed, as newly
arrived commuters force those before them to move forward
onto the slippery plates. |
| "I
shudder to think about the consequences should someone lose
his footing just as the train approaches..." |
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Excerpt
of letter by Jennifer Lim (Ms), Executive
Director, Singapore Association of the
Visually Handicapped, to
Straits Times Forum page on 4 Sep 2004 |
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"...We
would like to correct the misconception
that the tactiles installed on platforms
of MRT stations are a hazard to commuters,
and could be the cause of the recent
accidents of falls off the platforms onto
the tracks. |
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"Tactile
ground surface indicators (TGSI) are warning
indicators that serve as a safety feature,
and they provide both visual and physical
cues for everyone. |
| "The
physical cues are detectable either underfoot or with a
white cane, and this source of orientation information
enables the visually handicapped to travel independently and
safely. |
| "The Code
on Barrier-free Accessibility in Buildings 2002 has
recommended the installation of warning (or decision)
tactiles at hazardous locations, including railway
platforms. |
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"Based on
the code, a considerable amount of research has been
undertaken. This research has confirmed that the provision
of TGSi at a height of 5mm is sufficient to impart tactile
information while, at the same time, not impact adversely on
other pedestrians. |
| "TGSI can also be found
in train stations in places such as Hong Kong, the US and
Australia." |
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Excerpt
of letter by Maria Ng Shuyi (Miss) to
Straits Times Forum page on 4 Sep 2004 |
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"...I
agree with Ms Lai that the metal plates
with huge, raised bubbles (tactiles) are
hazardous because people may trip over
them. |
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"On
quite a few occasions I have tripped over
the bubbles on the metal plates but,
thankfully, the incidents occurred within
the MRT station and not on the platform. |
| "I
applaud SMRT for installing the tactiles in its stations to
guide the visually impaired commuters. However, it may not
have realised the potential negative effects these may have
on other commuters. |
| "Perhaps
SMRT can take a leaf from the book of Hong Kong's MTR, where
the stations also feature tactiles but these are made of a
black rubber material. |
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"Although
not as aesthetically pleasing as the metal tactiles, the
bubbles are softer. One is less likely to fall if one trips
over the rubber bubbles." |
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Excerpt
of letter by Han Liang Yuan (Ms), Senior
Manager, Corporate Communcations, Land
Transport Authority, to
Straits Times Forum page on 8 Sep 2004 |
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"...The
raised metal plates they referred to are a
tactile guidance system which assists
visually impaired commuters in an MRT
station. Tactile tiles are laid to form a
route within a station to guide a visually
impaired commuter from a station entrance
to the waiting point on the platform. |
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"Tactile
tiles have a raised surface of rounded and
elongated studs which are 5mm high. This
height has been found to be able to assist
the visually impaired commuters while not
adversely affecting other pedestrians. |
| "The
design of the tactile guidance system used in Singapore's
MRT stations meets an internationally accepted standard
adopted by countries like the United States, Britain,
Australia and Malaysia. |
| "On open
platforms, tactile tiles are placed 715mm from the edge of
the platform, just behind the yellow line. This is farther
than the 600mm stated in standards used in Britain and
Australia. |
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"The
tactile tiles are extremely important to visually impaired
commuters, as they warn them that they are approaching the
edge of the platform. |
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"The
tactile guidance system and other barrier-free facilities
were introduced after consulting the various interest
groups. |
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"As the
system was retrofitted recently in our stations, it is
understandable that commuters will have to adjust to its
presence..." |
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News
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Platform doors for
elevated MRT stations |
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"The Land Transport Authority will spend more
than $126 million to install platform screen
doors at elevated MRT stations to prevent
track intrusions... |
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"Track intrusions have gone up from an average
of 16 cases a year in 2004 and 2005 to 30 in
2006 and 31 last year..." |
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Source: The Straits Times Page B2 3 Sep 2008 |
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