More Road Dividers to be Installed at Tanjong Pagar Road by the End of the Year

It’s an unfortunate fact that thousands of traffic accidents happen every year here.

The fiery Tanjong Pagar accident, which occurred in February, is still stuck in the minds of some Singaporeans.

Five people ended up dying and one woman was sent to the hospital with severe burn injuries.

At the time, residents urged the authorities to enhance road safety in the area, and it seems that they may soon get their wish.

More Road Dividers to be Installed at Tanjong Pagar Road by the End of the Year

Tanjong Pagar Road will have more road safety features by the end of the year, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Wednesday (8 Sep).

There will be more road dividers along the road, which will be installed over the next few months.

There will also be traffic lights and pedestrian crossings at the intersection between Tanjong Pagar Road and Tras Link.

Additionally, the authorities have suggested adding more cameras and speed bumps in the area, which will help slow traffic down.

Site is Not Accident Prone

According to the LTA, the site is not accident-prone, and already has traffic-calming measures such as centre median strips and designated crossing points.

Nevertheless, the Traffic Police had stepped up patrols and enforcement in the area after the accident.

After conducting a check, it found that the area was not suitable for the installation of speed enforcement cameras.

Why the Accident Provoked a Strong Response

There’s a reason why the accident provoked such a strong response from both residents and the authorities despite the site not being accident-prone.

The number of fatalities in tragic accidents was the highest number of people killed in a single traffic accident in the past decade.

That, coupled with the horrific nature of the crash, prompted the authorities to take action.

BMW Believed to Have Been Speeding

At around 5:30am on 13 Feb, residents in the area heard the roar of a car’s engine.

The car involved in the accident, a BMW M4 coupe, was seen speeding along Tanjong Pagar Road just before the accident.

Eyewitnesses say the car then slammed into a vacant shophouse previously occupied by Five Oars Coffee Roasters and burst into flames.

Firefighters quickly arrived on the scene, but it was too late; all five men on board were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver’s girlfriend, who was not in the car at the time of the accident, rushed to the burning car to try and save her boyfriend, sustaining severe burns on about 80% of her body in the process.

She was conveyed to the hospital and was in critical condition, but has since been discharged.

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