Slips, falls and stuck wheels: Residents want tactile tiles in HDB estates reviewed

Following the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) announcement to replace tactile tiles at pedestrian crossings due to slipping hazards, Singapore residents are urging a similar review for tiles within Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates. Tactile tiles, designed with raised bumps and bars to guide the visually impaired, have become a point of concern for many.

Madam Sim, a 54-year-old resident, shared her distress after slipping on tactile tiles near her block two years ago, an incident that led to hospitalization. She has since avoided them whenever possible. Her concerns are echoed by others who have experienced similar slips, particularly on wet surfaces. The LTA's decision to replace tiles comes after Ms Venecia Ng fractured her ankle after slipping on wet tactile tiles, an injury that later proved fatal following surgery.

“

Looking at the comments online, I was also shocked to see that actually many experienced the same as what I experienced.

The LTA plans to replace tiles at signalized pedestrian crossings over the next four years with newer, more slip-resistant versions. They have also revised installation layouts, incorporating 300mm gaps to mitigate risks in wet conditions, though they maintain the tiles at the accident site met international skid-resistance standards.

However, Mdm Sim and other residents point out that this replacement program only covers LTA-managed areas. They are calling for town councils, which maintain HDB estates, to conduct similar safety reviews and upgrades for tactile tiles in their jurisdictions. Mdm Sim recounted reporting her first fall to her town council, which acknowledged the report but took no further action. Her second fall occurred nearly two years later at a sheltered drop-off point, despite wearing rubber-soled shoes, resulting in injuries to her hip and tailbone.

“

The town council contacted us and then requested us to send some photos and which part I fell at, and then they said that they would look into it. So that was it, and then we just left it as it was.