LTA to Extend Traffic Marshals to All Other Expressways
1. Following the introduction of its Traffic Marshals to better manage incident operation on the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE), Central Expressway (CTE) and Fort Canning Tunnel (FCT), the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will extend this operation to all other expressways from 1 July 2008.
2. The LTA Traffic Marshals were first introduced to the scene on 25 October 2007 with the opening of the KPE. It is an initiative aimed at keeping expressways in Singapore smooth-flowing even in the event of incidents.
3. The LTA Traffic Marshals will expedite the process to clear incidents that hold up traffic on expressways by working together with the existing Expressway Monitoring Advisory System (EMAS) and Vehicle Recovery Service (VRS) to bring traffic flow back to normal as fast as possible.
4. While VRS provides towing services and removes obstructions on roads, the LTA Traffic Marshals are Auxiliary Police Officers who are empowered to perform traffic control and on-scene management duties such as evidence preservation for accidents not involving serious injuries or fatalities.
5. Under this operation, cameras, strategically located on all expressways, assist the operations staff at the Intelligent Transport Systems Centre to detect incidents and congestion as soon as they occur. Once an incident is verified, the LTA Traffic Marshals, together with the VRS, arrive within 8 to 15 minutes of activation to attend to incidents on the expressways.
6. The operation will be extended to KPE Phase 2 when it opens to traffic on 20 September 2008 (Saturday).
7. The initiative is part of LTA's continual efforts to optimise the road network and ensure smooth traffic flow. LTA will continue to work with the Traffic Police to manage incidents that affect the traffic.