Commissioner of Police, Mr Khoo Boon Hui

Commander Traffic Police, Mr Teo Kian Teck

Distinguished Sponsors

Principals, Teachers and Students

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning. I am pleased to be here with you today at the launch of the Children’s Day Carnival 2003 incorporating the 23^rd Annual Shell Traffic Games Finals organised by the Traffic Police and Singapore Press Holdings. On this very special occasion, let me also extend a very warm welcome to all our students here, from both local and international schools in Singapore.

The Shell Traffic Games that we have each year are an interesting way of reaching out to the young so that road safety becomes a way of life. Since 1981, more than a million students have benefited from road safety training at the Road Safety Community Park and participating in the Shell Traffic Games.

Between January and August this year, 79 pedestrians aged 12 and below were involved in traffic accidents. That is almost 10 accidents a month involving very young people. Three of these 79 young children died as a result of their injuries. And so far in September, we have had another case of a tragic death of a child pedestrian under the age of 12. In each case it was a terrible tragedy for their families and friends, and a loss to society. We should do all we can and redouble our efforts to avoid such accidents.

Children are more at risk on the road because of their smaller size. They are also often unaware of the potential dangers posed by passing vehicles. Given the dense urban environment that we live in, it is crucial that children learn to look out for such dangers. It has to be ingrained in them from young, so that it becomes instinctive.

The basics of road safety for children are easy to learn and just as easy to carry out. Most children know that they cannot cross a junction until the ‘green man’ sign is showing. [Things were not always so clear. In China in the 1960s, during the Cultural Revolution, the Red Guards changed the rules. Red meant "go" and green meant "stop". You can imagine what happened when some drivers followed the old rules. But fortunately for road safety, the Red Guards also condemned anyone who travelled in private cars or taxis, because these were signs of upper class decadence. With fewer cars on the roads, there must have been fewer accidents – although road safety was I am sure not the mission of the Red Guards.]

We have to be relentless in our efforts to promote road safety in our primary schools. We have to make learning about road safety fun and meaningful for our young children. The Road Safety Song Competition Finals that you witnessed this morning by the primary schools is an example. It aims to instill a sense of road safety awareness among students while giving them a chance to showcase their musical talents and creativity.

Some of our schools have developed innovative programmes that integrate road safety into the school's curriculum and activities, so as to make learning about road safety part and parcel of school life. For example, Chongfu Primary has initiated a comprehensive road safety programme. Besides holding regular assembly talks, exhibitions and Road Safety Park activities, the school has also integrated road safety as part of its music and art programmes. Some Primary 5 students write songs or skits, and all students participate in an annual art competition on road safety. The school has also displayed signages in the shape of traffic signs prominently around the school premises, so that students become familiar with the signs and are reminded of the importance of being careful when they are on the roads. I would encourage all schools, especially primary schools, to look into how they can develop programmes of their own to help ingrain road safety habits in their students, and encourage them to share those habits with their families and friends.

The Traffic Police and schools cannot succeed in this effort on their own. Everyone must play a part to help keep our young safe on the roads. Parents are the natural role models for their children. They have to practise good road safety habits themselves if we expect children to do the same. It is not always the first thing that comes to mind, particularly if we are rushing from place to place, hopping in and out of vehicles. But we must be mindful of our actions. If we take chances just because we are late or caught in bad weather, our children too will think it is acceptable to take chances, and do likewise when they are on their own.

Irresponsible driving is what, more than anything else, leads to traffic accidents. Our Traffic Police are tireless in trying to stamp this out. It is one area of life in Singapore where we really do not want fewer rules and penalties. Penalties for dangerous driving go hand in hand with educating drivers and pedestrians on road safety.

Drivers must take special care when driving in the vicinity of schools. It would be very good if adult pedestrians help out - be alert to the children on the roads, first to look out for them in a crowded traffic situation and, second, to show them the safe and correct way to get around.

To encourage greater community involvement in fostering good road behaviour, the organisers have today, for the first time, invited senior citizens (from Jurong GRC) to take part in the Games as well. Senior citizens are also vulnerable to traffic accidents and I hope they will take this opportunity to refresh their own awareness of how to stay safe on the roads. Our senior citizens can also help model road safety habits to the children. This is an excellent opportunity for greater community involvement in road safety.

Today’s event is just another milestone in our ongoing quest to cultivate good road safety behaviour among pedestrians. To the parents, principals, teachers and our sponsors, namely Bukit Batok Driving Centre, Comfort Driving Centre and Singapore Safety Driving Centre who have endorsed our efforts to enhance road safety, we thank you for your kind and generous support. To the Shell Companies in Singapore, who have organised the Shell Traffic Games since the Road Safety Community Park was first established, I commend you for your unstinting support.

It is through all these collaborations that the Traffic Police has been able to keep up its good work. I hope our Traffic Police will continue to enjoy such support and resources, and further their community outreach initiatives in the years to come.

I wish all our participants here today the best of luck in the Games. I encourage you to enjoy the Games and the Carnival, and to learn about road safety as you have fun today.

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