Countdown timer at pedestrian crossing

The countdown timer at pedestrian crossing is now quite common in Singapore. It is useful in telling the pedestrian the time left before the light change from green to red.

I first saw the countdown timer in China about 20 years ago. I felt that it was a great idea and should be implemented in Singapore. Someone wrote to the newspaper to suggest this timer be installed. I remembered the official reply at that time - it was unnecessary and could be counter-productive. I could not understand the reasoning at that time, but felt that it was typical of the kind of convoluted thinking that was quite common in Singapore.

The official view was quietly changed many years later, and we now see the useful timer in many places.

Tan Kin Lian