Elderly jaywalking in Singapore: risks and solutions

Many claimed they were breaking the law “safely”.

Standing next to a “no jaywalking” sign in Irrawaddy Road, an 85-year-old woman briskly crossed the four lanes between Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and Square 2 mall as several vehicles narrowly missed the retiree.

For this Novena resident, who wanted to be known only as Tan, jaywalking and dodging cars is a daily routine. She told ST on May 28 that the nearest crossing 40m away was too far for her: “I’m lazy, you see. I don’t want to walk.”

A 73-year-old Yishun resident, who wanted to be known only as Tay, said the onus should be on drivers to not hit them.

He said: “We can see how near or far the vehicle is and so we do it safely. Drivers know there are a lot of elderly folk jaywalking and should be looking out for us instead.” Asked why he takes the risk, Tay said: “I’m not afraid of anything at this age.”

In 2023, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a car when he crossed Aljunied Road while the pedestrian signal was red.

The state coroner said the man must have assumed it was safe to cross the road. He said the man could have seen jaywalkers crossing through his peripheral vision and decided to follow them when the accident happened.

There were 1,421 people caught jaywalking in 2025, and 1,591 in 2024. These numbers were significantly higher than the average of around 1,000 annually from 2021 to 2023.

Offenders are typically fined $50. But in more serious cases, they can be charged in court and jailed for up to three months and fined $1,000.

The maximum sentence is doubled for repeat offenders.

Teo Li-Tserng, director of the Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) Trauma Centre, noted that since 2024, nearly half of the injured pedestrians treated at TTSH were aged 65 and above.

The adjunct assistant professor said the elderly are more prone to bone and head injuries, with multiple rib fractures being common.

He said: “Their increased frailty and slower reaction times also mean they are less able to brace themselves, resulting in more severe and extensive injuries.”

The Land Transport Authority has several initiatives to improve road safety for the elderly.

The Silver Zone Scheme, launched in 2014, has introduced measures at some 50 designated areas across Singapore, such as curvier roads, lower speed limits and wider dividers. The Green Man+ initiative, introduced in 2009, extends crossing times by three to 13 seconds for seniors when they tap their concession cards.

But for many seniors, ingrained habits and impatience override safety concerns.

A 77-year-old Jurong East resident, who wanted to be known only as Shio, said she believes she can outrun traffic. She said: “I know it’s risky, but I’m impatient. I’m still very fit and can run.”

A police spokeswoman said jaywalking is a behavioural issue, with many having a false sense of safety.

She said: “Many pedestrians jaywalk because they perceive it to be safe, assuming that the road is clear, that drivers will spot them in time, or that drivers will give way to them. This misplaced sense of safety makes jaywalking dangerous, as it only takes one moment of misjudgment by either the pedestrian or the driver for a serious accident to occur.”

She added that enforcement alone has a limited effect, as pedestrians continue to jaywalk even though there are penalties.

She said there needs to be a change in mindset, and for the public to tell jaywalkers to use the proper crossings.

She said: “Simple acts such as speaking up or leading by example can go a long way in fostering a culture of road safety. Road safety is a collective responsibility.”