SG: Red Light cameras to be replaced

The police intend to swap out their aged film cameras for digital ones. Their trial batch of digital cameras have proved relatively successful, having caught 1,175 motorists for beating the red lights, roughly 3 months since it was erected. The original trial batch spans 5 junctions, and so far, almost 30 have received the upgrade, with all 240 sets to be replaced by June of 2015.   The digital cameras enable the cops to remotely retrieve footage of the offenders. They also don’t have to replace the film on the camera once they run out.Pictures used for illustration purposes only.

The police will be installing more speed cameras in a list of 140 shortlisted roads that span from expressways to the small roads in neighbourhoods. They hope the speed cameras can help to encourage safe driving, and stress that it is not collect fines from unsuspecting drivers. The police warn against drivers who slam on their brakes in the vicinity of a speed camera, for this can cause accidents. Some of the roads to be equipped with the cameras include various roads in the Housing Board estates in Choa Chu Kang, Pasir Ris, Tampines, Woodlands and Yishun, and residential enclaves in Serangoon Garden and Picadilly Circus near Seletar. All roads mentioned have speed limits of 50km/h.Pictures used for illustration purposes only.

Both SBS Transit and SMRT will have their Bus Service Operating Licences (BSOL) expire on 31 August 2016. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) intends to restructure the public bus industry to one where it contracts bus operators to operate bus services through a competitive tendering process. LTA will determine the bus services to be provided and the service standards, and bus operators will bid for the right to operate these services. They will be paid fees to operate the services, while fare revenue will be retained by the Government. It is hoped that this new industry model will enable the Government to make public bus services more responsive to changes in ridership and commuter needs, and also to introduce competition into the industry to help boost service levels. The new model will see the government taking control and ownership of the bus infrastructure, which will lower the cost of entry for newcomers. The new scheme with bus contracting will promote greater competition amongst competitors, which should definitely drive service standards up.Pictures used for illustration purposes only.