Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Considering Legislation to Prevent Pedestrians From Crossing the Road Whilst Interacting With Their Cell Phones or Other Mobile Devices

Question:

Mr Murali Pillai: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Ministry will consider the merits of introducing legislation to prevent pedestrians crossing roads whilst interacting with their cell phones or other mobile devices at the same time to ensure their safety and that of other road users

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law

1.   Many activities can cause pedestrians to be distracted while crossing roads, such as listening to music, speaking to another person, or interacting with a mobile device. It may not be practical to try to prohibit pedestrians from engaging in such activities.

2.   A better approach is to foster good road safety habits and personal responsibility. The Traffic Police (TP) conducts regular engagement and outreach to educate road users on the dangers of distracted crossing. For example, as part of this year's Road Safety Month campaign in June 2022, TP produced infographics and video advisories to educate the public on pedestrian safety, and the dangers of distracted crossing and jaywalking.