Dear All,
1. In the past, coconut trees literally litter the coastline of Singapore island.
2. Nowadays, there are few if any public areas with coconut trees.
3. The rationale is simple: if a coconut fruit were to fall directly on one's head; especially an infant or a child, it may be fatal. It is said that even coconut fruit that bounced e.g. on a hard surface, may accidentally `hit' a child or even an adult's head with major consequences.
4. However, the superstition or what one wants to call it is that it is said that a coconut fruit is (suppose) to have eyes. And `it' tries to fall down - avoiding say a person. Perhaps, this is true? Well, I do not have the statistics to prove otherwise. And for most of us, there is simply no worry i.e. more likely, one gets into say a vehicle accident or even remotely got bitten by the shark.
5. Nevertheless, perhaps to `solve' this problem or reduce it, this is why in some instances, dwarf coconut trees are planted.
This dwarf coconut tree is found along Telok Blangah Crescent, Singapore. There is also a row of dwarf coconut trees found at the East Coast, Marine Parade.
6. The Durian fruit
If you do a search in the internet e.g. at yahoo.com for the `durian' fruit, one can see that it is a green fruit with lots of spikes.
It is also said that a durian fruit also has `eyes'. And it `tries' not to fall on to a person. However, even if in the remote event that it falls and hit a person; because of the condensed spikes, it helps to lesson the `blow' i.e. creating a buffer e.g. hitting one's head and the mass is slowed down and absorbed by say the head in a larger area.
Contrast this to a smooth rounded coconut, where if should it ever hits a person's head, the force or impact is concentrated at one location - perhaps leading to fatal concussion.
Warmest Regards,
Cecil

Dwarf coconut trees in Marsiling