Remove push buttons for pedestrians at road crossings

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) should immediately disable and remove push buttons at traffic junctions and pedestrian crossings.

It is unhygienic for pedestrians to touch and press the buttons to activate the "green man" signal. This is especially important with the Covid-19 pandemic, as the coronavirus can stay on the buttons for some time. 

I have noticed many instances when the green man was not illuminated, as no one had pushed the button. Everyone ended up having to wait for the next change in traffic lights.

This happens more often in the midst of the pandemic, since everyone is more cautious, conscious and hence reluctant to use their hands to touch any surface in public. Kids, however, may still have a tendency to play with the buttons.

At all traffic junctions, the green man signal should automatically be lit, so that pedestrians may cross when the traffic lights are in their favour.

This will drive home the message that pedestrians should take precedence at these crossings.

What happens when the green man is not lit, because no one has pressed the button? Some pedestrians will not cross, while others who are in a hurry will still cross.

Drivers are also similarly confused. Some will stop and wave at pedestrians to cross, while others will honk or drive threateningly close if some pedestrians still decide to cross.

Having the green man lit automatically is unlikely to cause traffic to slow or create inefficiencies. The traffic rules at junctions are clear in that if there are no pedestrians waiting to cross even when the green man is lit, vehicles need not stop and may make a turn.  

There is no necessity for the push buttons.

Doing away with them will remove an avenue for viral and bacterial transmission, and bring cost savings for the LTA and taxpayers as well as more convenience and safety for pedestrians and clarity for drivers.

Only pedestrian crossings that are not at traffic junctions may need some form of contactless sensor to activate the green man. 

A good alternative is a contactless sensor activated by waving one’s hand.

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