SINGAPORE - About 45 per cent of heavy vehicle drivers who caused accidents in the last five years were foreigners, said Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs Amrin Amin.

These include work permit and S-pass holders, he told Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar GRC) in Parliament on Tuesday (April 4).

Over the past five years, there were an average of 791 accidents with injuries involving heavy vehicles and 39 fatal ones each year, he added.

Responding to Ms Pereira on measures to boost enforcement, he said the Traffic Police (TP) will deploy average speed cameras from next year in enforcement zones.

These cameras calculate the average speed of a vehicle as it enters and exits the zone, and will ensure motorists drive at safe speeds along the entire stretch, he said.

TP will also conduct a tachograph trial on heavy vehicles this year, to track and record their speeds as well as other information.

"Companies that are involved in the trial will be able to track their drivers' tachograph records, and improve their drivers' driving behaviour," said Mr Amrin.

Such measures complement road safety education. The TP launched a movement to encourage drivers to use their road sense two years ago, and raise empathy and respect for other road users.