Motorbikers, pillion riders, elderly most vulnerable road users
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/212959/1/.html====================================-don't ride a motorbike??-here are the stats:173 people died in road accidents last year. 95 of them were motorcyclists and pillion riders. 41 were pedestrians of whom 22 were senior citizens. For this year, there were 75 accident fatalities between January and May, compared to 72 during the same period last year. But in May alone, the number of fatalities rose to 25, from just 15 last Maythe statistics are shocking, they show that as safe as Singapore is, the roads are never ever one hundred percent safe. that's why the traffic police are working with motorcycle clubs and shop owners who sell motorycle helmets. this is to ensure that the message of safe riding and good road behaviour is driven home. i agree that this should be done to make the roads a safer place for all.. but i think that this alone is not nearly enough to make roads safer.perhaps additional measures should be put in place. perhaps every few years or so, motorcycle riders should go for another driving test just to make sure that they are not misbehaving on roads and riding dangerously between vehicles so as to avoid hitting the red lights. Family members could accompany elderly wherever they go so as to ensure their safety, or at least it might be easier to avoid traffic accidents that way because the family member could quickly take the elderly member to safety. whatever additional measures are put into place should involve all means of traffic on the road and not just motorcyclists because i am sure that though many are involved in traffic accidents, it is not always their fault. -- DE
Schools to get more officers for special needs students
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/214449/1/.html====================================-help for those who need it-i applaud the step taken by the government who has realized the need of the mentally disabled students in Singapore schools. The students receiving the help from these officers for special needs students will be able to facilitate their learning and help to integrate them into the normal student group. This help will widen their social circle, lower the level of frustration faced by mental blocks in terms of academics.these officers will not only be able to help the students with special needs to reach out to the public, they will also help the public reach out to these students, and show the public that the students are not social outcasts because of their special needs.i think it is about time that the government has made such a step and the fact that by 2010 all primary schools will have at least one officer to help students with special needs will improve their learning environment. -- DE
National Cyber-threat Monitoring Centre to Open Next Year
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/214912/1/.html====================================-internet safety is GOOD-I think that this step in terms of safety will be good for all internet users, for the individual and online business/service owners alike. More internet security and stability will cut down the threat currently posed to us by cyber terrorists and hackers. This in turn will be an attractive incentive for more service providers to mae the decision to set up base in Singapore. This bodes well for the economy in general because this will generate more jobs, generate more revenue, and overall increase the confidence that service providers have in terms of internet security in Singapore.How does this cyber-threat monitoring centre work? If it monitors cyber traffic, does that mean it is just like what the Bush administration has set up in the United States where phone calls are monitored for suspicious activity? The good news for the internet user is NO, it is not an infringement on personal internet space where every single move you make on the internet is recorded and looked at. It only monitors activity that can be of threat to users, and this means that the system in general will be more secure, without invading personal privacy.This National Cyber-threat Monitorng Centre will work hand in hand with other such centres around the world so that information regarding hackers, viruses, spam and other such internet threats are kept constantly upgraded and allowing the internet all over the world to be more secure and lowering the threat of potential terrorist activities, spam and so on. --DE
