Seniors can look forward to ten more Silver Zones with senior-friendly road safety features by the first quarter of 2017.

2.  During his visit to the Silver Zone site at Yishun Ring Road, Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Health), Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said, “More than 90% of residents surveyed in the first two completed Silver Zones felt that the senior-friendly measures – particularly the lowered speed limit and two-stage crossings^[1] – have provided them with more convenience and also improved road safety. We have been very encouraged by the positive feedback. As I announced at the Committee of Supply Debate earlier this year, we will expand the Silver Zone programme to 35 locations by 2020. I am glad to update that LTA has identified new locations in areas such as Toa Payoh, Commonwealth and Clementi, and we will continue to do more to ensure our growing elderly population are safe when crossing the roads.”

3.  The Silver Zone programme involves the installation of senior-friendly road safety features in residential areas with high senior populations, relatively higher accident rates involving seniors and closer proximity to senior amenities. These features are customised to site conditions and remind motorists to slow down and look out for pedestrians, as well as urge senior pedestrians to exercise greater care when crossing the road.

4.  The first two Silver Zones in Bukit Merah and Jurong West were launched in October 2014 and February 2015 respectively. Silver Zones in Bedok, Lengkok Bahru, Tampines, Woodlands and Yishun will be completed by the end of this year. With the latest additions, there will be a total of 15 Silver Zones island-wide by the first quarter of 2017, and 35 Silver Zones by 2020. Please refer to the Annex for more details of the 15 announced Silver Zone locations.

^[1] Speed limits in Silver Zones are lowered to 40km/h where possible, while two-stage crossings allow pedestrians to look out for traffic from one direction at a time, and to rest for a while instead of crossing the entire road at a go.