SINGAPORE – An elderly man in his 70s was just two steps away from safety when a car hit him in North Bridge Road in 2021 and he died.

He had been jaywalking after having his breakfast at a coffee shop near his home, said Assistant Superintendent Siti Haira Batra, 49, officer-in-charge of the Traffic Police’s fatal accidents investigation team, on Tuesday.

She said: “His family were distraught. They did not expect that their father or grandfather would not be returning home.

“It was his daily routine to have breakfast at that coffee shop. In the morning, the traffic was not that heavy either.”

In 2022, 23 pedestrians aged 60 and above died, a 53.3 per cent increase from 15 in 2021.

The number of accidents involving elderly pedestrians increased from 205 in 2021 to 235 in 2022. 

ASP Siti said: “In any accident, it’s always very tragic and sudden. We have those (next of kin) who ask, ‘Are you sure?’ We have cases where they faint.

“We have a practice: If the next of kin is elderly or pregnant, or if they are fragile, we try to get another person close to them to be with them to break the news.”

Having spent 27 years in the Singapore Police Force, ASP Siti now leads a team of investigators that examines evidence and interviews eyewitnesses in fatal accidents to determine who is responsible. 

The team looks for clues by examining videos of the accident posted on social media and appealing to witnesses to come forward.

ASP Siti said hit-and-run accidents involving pedestrians can be difficult to solve, given the lack of evidence. 

She said: “Pedestrians don’t have anything with them that can provide clues. If you have a vehicle, it may be hit, or maybe you can try and retrieve the camera footage.

“We have to look for information, and that is the challenge.”

ASP Siti, who is married with two children aged 18 and 21, said she constantly reminds them about road safety.

“Every time they leave home, I will always say, ‘Do not use your phone when you are crossing the road.’

“Use the traffic light, don’t jaywalk, especially for the elderly. Each of us plays a role in having safe roads. Sometimes, we take safety for granted.”