Elderly pedestrians who jaywalk have been singled out by the traffic police as the most vulnerable group. - Terence Tan 

Senior citizens dice with death each time they dash across the road where there is no designated crossing.

Out of nine people who died jaywalking last year, six were people over 60.

In the first three months of this year, two elderly pedestrians died trying to beat the traffic. None were killed in the same period last year.

The Traffic Police have singled out the elderly as the most 'vulnerable' group of pedestrians and are working with groups like the Singapore Action Group of Elders (Sage) to tackle the problem.

Beyond that, they have also stepped up enforcement against all jaywalkers.

Their concern stems from how 63 pedestrians died on the roads last year, compared with 49 the year before.

It is an offence not to use a crossing, such as an overhead bridge or traffic light, if you are within 50m of it.

More than 2,000 people were caught jaywalking last year, compared to 787 in 2002 and 1,125 in 2001.

And in the first three months of this year, 482 were caught, compared to 274 in the same period last year.

Hotspots include Victoria Street in front of Bugis Junction and Stamford Road near the former Capitol Building.

Offenders can be handed a $20 fine on the spot which can go up to $100.

The Traffic Police said they patrolled the roads regularly.

Still, many are not deterred. All eight elderly people seen jaywalking by The Straits Times said braving the traffic beat the hassle of walking a distance to the crossing.

The most cavalier of them all was a 62-year-old retiree, who wanted to be known only as Mr Mok. He said: 'I'm not afraid of being knocked down while jaywalking. If I die, so be it. What's the point of living so long?'

Housewife Philomenia Shoh, 69, said: 'My children scold me for not using the traffic light when I cross the road, but I'm too lazy to walk to it. It's become a habit.'

Some elderly folk feel that drivers should slow down for them, even when they jaywalk, just because they are old, said Mr Phua Kok Tee, chief executive officer of Sage.

He added: 'Many feel that their convenience matters more than anything else.'

Sage is working with the Traffic Police on road safety campaigns for the elderly.

The Traffic Police said they would continue to hold road safety talks at senior citizens' centres and broadcast messages in Hokkien and Cantonese on Rediffusion.