Plans for Additional Silver Zones

Beyond the completion of the planned 50 Silver Zones island-wide, there are currently no plans to designate additional Silver Zones.

In its place, we have launched the Friendly Streets initiative. Introduced in 2023, Friendly Streets encompass and build on existing efforts, such as Silver Zones. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will continue to make commutes in our neighbourhoods safer, more convenient and comfortable for all by expanding the Friendly Streets initiative to all towns by 2030.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Senior Minister of State for her reply. I just have two supplementary questions.

First is, there was an 80% drop in traffic accidents involving senior pedestrians in Silver Zone areas. Can I ask about the Friendly Streets pilot, whether it has also been effective in ensuring and improving safety of the neighbourhoods?

Second, in Nee Soon South, about one in three residents is a senior above 50 years old, but also at the same time, like Punggol, we have a growing young family population. So, I am happy to hear that Family Streets is the way forward to improve safety of the different neighbourhoods, catering to the different needs. May I ask, what are the parameters and considerations in determining the selected Friendly Streets? And also, maybe, can I ask the friendly Senior Minister of State to consider Nee Soon South, to be included in the friendly list of the next batch of Friendly Streets?

I thank the Member for her supplementary questions. Friendly Streets will be implemented in high-pedestrian flow, high-activity areas. So, for instance, near hawker centres, near markets, near Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations, near community clubs. We have completed five Friendly Street projects earlier this year in Toa Payoh, Ang Mo Kio, West Coast, Bukit Batok West and Tampines. We have received strong support and feedback from the residents. Average vehicular speeds at these Friendly Streets have dropped by about 20% and this contributes toward pedestrian safety.

On her second question, indeed, under the Friendly Streets initiative, we could incorporate elements, such as signalised pedestrian crossing, kerbless crossing, reduce speed limits. These were, for example, launched in Punggol just last weekend. These are initiatives which will benefit both the elderly as well as young families. As I have shared earlier, we will expand the Friendly Streets initiatives to all towns by 2030. And within each town, the Friendly Streets initiatives will be launched in areas with high pedestrian flow and close to amenities. And I have heard her feedback, so we will continue to identify more areas to implement Friendly Streets and also, potentially, Nee Soon South, as suggested by Ms Lee.