Escalators are meant to take a person from point A to point B - all the user needs to do is to stand and hold the handrail for support ("Need for checks on elevators, escalators here" by Mr Wong Weng Fai and "Near accident while riding faulty escalator" by Ms Lim Sin Yee, both published on Monday).
Children should stand in the centre of the escalator, supported by their parents, who are in turn holding the handrail.
Children need to be reminded not to play on the escalators and not to touch the moving side panels.
Running or walking hastily up or down the escalators will result in heavy use and faster wear and tear than just standing on them.
The norm in Singapore of standing on the left of the escalator and leaving the right side to those in a hurry is wrong.
Let the escalator do its job - those in a hurry should take the stairs.
No stairs? Then stand on the escalator - the journey is a little slower, but safety comes first.
Accidents are known to happen when users rush up and down the escalators.
Operators can increase the speed of the escalators if they find it necessary to do so.
John Wee Boon Yian
This article was first published on August 8, 2015.
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