2. Silver zones
Traffic calming features and crosswalks designed for older adults in Singapore. Photos: Singapore Land Transport Authority
See it in action
Singapore – Silver zones
Creating reduced traffic speed areas in cities helps to make streets safer for people of all ages and abilities.
Challenge: Singapore found that older adults were disproportionately represented in pedestrian traffic incidents, accounting for more than 80% of fatal traffic incidents involving pedestrians in 2020.
Solution overview: Singapore introduced “silver zones” with age-friendly road safety features in areas with a high proportion of car-pedestrian collisions. The silver zones aim to improve safety for older adults and individuals with reduced mobility.
Specific design strategies include narrow or winding roads to slow cars down, large centre medians for pedestrians to pause on if needed, reduced speed limits, and no-barrier bus and taxi stops. The Singapore Land Transport Authority found that the silver zones initiative reduced road accidents by about 80%.
Placemaking played an important role in this strategy, with an emphasis on creating spaces for resting and connecting at major crossing points. Singapore also developed the “green man plus” program, which provides older residents with a card that they can tap on a card reader at traffic light poles, giving them more time to cross the street.
Solution overview: Singapore introduced “silver zones” with age-friendly road safety features in areas with a high proportion of car-pedestrian collisions. The silver zones aim to improve safety for older adults and individuals with reduced mobility.
Specific design strategies include narrow or winding roads to slow cars down, large centre medians for pedestrians to pause on if needed, reduced speed limits, and no-barrier bus and taxi stops. The Singapore Land Transport Authority found that the silver zones initiative reduced road accidents by about 80%.
Placemaking played an important role in this strategy, with an emphasis on creating spaces for resting and connecting at major crossing points. Singapore also developed the “green man plus” program, which provides older residents with a card that they can tap on a card reader at traffic light poles, giving them more time to cross the street.
Relevance to the guidelines
Strategy 1.2 Street grids
Strategy 2.1 Pedestrian paths and sidewalks
Strategy 2.2 Pedestrian crossings
Strategy 3.1 Seating
Strategy 3.3 Placemaking
Strategy 3.5 Signage
Strategy 3.6 Ground treatments
Strategy 3.7 Grade (level) changes