Heavier penalties better to stop vehicles from hitting overhead structures

I refer to the report, “LTA introduces warning system trial to alert vehicles of overhead structures” (Sept 26, online).

Although the Land Transport Authority’s detection system to prevent heavy vehicles from colliding into overhead structures is well-intentioned, there are alternatives to expensive solutions that may not necessarily be cost effective and sustainable.

Given the many overhead structures spanning our roads, would the LTA provide a cost estimate for the system to be implemented island-wide?

An obvious means to prevent such incidents is the continuous education of organisations and drivers. Organisations should ensure that drivers are briefed properly on the locations of overhead structures before they head to their destinations.

Organisations could also be required to install in their vehicles a global positioning system that would alert drivers to overhead structures and the height restrictions.

But punitive measures such as heavier penalties for both the driver and the organisation would be more effective than the apparently obvious technical solution.