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QUESTION NO. *9 FOR ORAL ANSWER |
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Mdm Cynthia Phua:
To ask the Minister for Transport |
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(a) what steps have been taken to prevent
fatal accidents and suicides in MRT stations; and |
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(b) will the Ministry consider erecting
1.4-metre high glass panels at the open platforms as barriers to prevent
anyone from falling into the path of on-coming trains, as has been done
in Hong Kong train stations. |
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Response from Transport Minister, Mr
Raymond Lim |
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The Government takes a serious view of
passenger safety on our rapid transit system. |
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Today, there are various safety measures in
place at our MRT and LRT stations. |
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These include signages at the trackside to
advise commuters not to stand beyond the yellow line or to go down to
the tracks, Emergency Train Stop buttons at all platforms and Passenger
Service Centres, and the use of CCTVs to monitor the crowd situation at
the platforms. |
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The train operators have also actively
promoted and enforced station safety through regular announcements over
the public address system, and deploying staff to patrol station
platforms and assist commuters. |
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There are also various public education
programmes in place to educate commuters about the MRT system and the
key safety aspects while travelling on the MRT. |
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Mdm Phua has suggested the use of
half-height platform screen doors to prevent people from falling onto
the path of an on-coming train, as has been done in Hong Kong. |
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The LTA will review the existing safety
provisions and assess the effectiveness of platform screen doors as well
as other available options, with a view to enhancing commuters¨ safety. |
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As safety provisions such as platform
screen doors are costly to install and maintain, we will have to
weigh the efficacy of installing more safety measures against the
additional cost to public transport provision. |
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While LTA and the train operators are
committed to the safety of commuters using the rapid transit
system, it is important for commuters to also take personal
responsibility for their own safety by observing safety
instructions and announcements such as staying behind the yellow
line when waiting for trains at the aboveground stations. |
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Shared responsibility is what is
needed to minimise the occurrence of such unfortunate incidents. |
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Source:
www.mot.gov.sg Press Release
14 Nov 2006 |
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Related Article: |
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-
Community
Issues - MRT Accidents |
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FrontPage Edition: Mon 20 November 2006
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