Avoidable deaths, excuses, selfish behaviour: Why Singapore’s road culture needs to change

Last month, I was driving along Upper Serangoon Road towards my parents’ home when the driver of a car behind me abruptly changed lanes.

He then zoomed past me at a speed of what I estimated to be around 90kmh, well above the 60kmh limit.

It was after 10pm on a weekday at the time, and the roads were relatively clear.

Whatever the driver’s reason for speeding while overtaking me, it was for naught. Because I pulled up beside him 20 seconds later at a traffic light.

Having driven in Singapore for nearly a decade, I am no longer surprised by such reckless behaviour on our roads. But drivers’ irresponsible and selfish attitudes still rile me.

Hidden in their vehicles, they come unmasked to the Traffic Court at the State Courts, whose cases I have been covering for the past five years as a journalist on the crime beat.

These motorists have been charged with drink driving, speeding and, most harrowing of all, dangerous or careless driving causing death.

In the courtroom, I have watched countless hours of accident footage, mostly captured by in-car cameras.

When I started reporting on such cases, I would flinch at the screen while watching a pedestrian being flung against a windscreen or a motorcyclist getting thrown into the air on an expressway.

Five years into the job, I have learnt to process these disturbing images. Yet, I constantly remind myself never to become numb to them.

Because, as a driver, I am only one mistake away from also standing in the dock.

Two weeks ago, a man in his 30s was charged with speeding. Before sentencing him, the judge asked why he had been in such a hurry.

He replied that he had to use the toilet urgently.

When the judge remarked how that seemed to be a common excuse for many speeding offenders, several people in the gallery laughed.

But the situation on our roads is no laughing matter.

Deaths at 10-year high

Speeding violations in Singapore rose from 201,358 cases in 2024, to 253,550 cases in 2025. That means an average of about 695 people get caught speeding daily.

Worse, traffic deaths hit a 10-year-high in 2025 with 149 killed, compared with 141 deaths in 2016. There were 142 deaths in 2024.

The number of people getting injured also increased from 9,342 in 2024, to 9,955 in 2025.

The biggest tragedy is that most of these accidents were avoidable.

Given the dire situation on Singapore’s roads, The Straits Times will be running reports in the coming months to call on road users to be more careful.

Our hope is that drivers will think twice before flooring the accelerator, motorcyclists will hesitate before zipping between vehicles, and pedestrians will remember that jaywalking is never worth the shortcut.

In my job, I have seen how one person’s recklessness can ruin lives and destroy families.

In March 2023, auxiliary police officer Ng Yi Shu was on duty at Tuas Checkpoint when a speedster, whose blood-alcohol level was nearly double the legal limit, lost control of his car and crashed into him. Mr Ng was left in a vegetative state.

The driver, Yoong Kok Kai, was handed a five-year jail term and the maximum fine of $10,000. He will also be disqualified from driving for 10 years after his release from prison.

To family and friends, Mr Ng got a life sentence.

Before the crash, he had been preparing to get married and collect the keys to his new HDB flat.

Now, he can no longer eat without a feeding tube and does not respond to his name.

Will enforcement efforts be enough?

In February, the Government announced moves to address the worsening road traffic situation, including lowering the alcohol limit for drink-driving offences.

The limit now is 35 micrograms (mcg) of alcohol per 100ml of breath, and has remained unchanged since it was introduced in 1985.

This is more than double that of Japan and Taiwan, which have limits equivalent to 15mcg.

During the debate on the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) budget on Feb 27, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann said the outdated laws in Singapore will be changed, with the limit to be lowered to 15mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

Legislative changes will be made later in 2026.

MHA is also considering reducing the number of demerit points that can be accumulated before a driver is suspended, as well as increasing the length of the suspension period.

This means errant drivers can be suspended sooner and for a longer period of time.

Ms Sim said it is possible to achieve zero road fatalities, and Singapore should aim for this.

She noted that Finland’s capital Helsinki recorded zero road fatalities during a one-year period from July 2024 to July 2025. Finland is a strong proponent of Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate all traffic deaths and serious injuries.

I feel this target is attainable, but we have a long way to go.

The root of the problem perhaps lies in our road culture.

Social media is rife with accident videos and driver disputes, suggesting we lack patience and graciousness on our roads and pavements.

Frankly, there is no shame in giving way.

I’m not a perfect driver on the road by any means. But I believe that if more of us gave way, Singapore could achieve Vision Zero.

Surely, that is a goal everyone would support.

Because every time a motorist drives or rides recklessly, he is not just breaking the law, he is also gambling with lives.

And there are no winners in this game of chance.