More road accidents and fatalities in first 9 months of 2025: Sim Ann

SINGAPORE – The latest traffic figures show that road accidents and fatalities are continuing to rise.

From January to September, traffic accidents resulting in injuries and fatalities rose by 7.4 per cent to 5,765, from 5,368 in the same period in 2024.

Motorcyclists and elderly pedestrians continue to be over-represented in accidents.

Figures for motorcyclists involved in accidents increased by 7.8 per cent to 3,191, from 2,960, while accidents involving elderly pedestrians spiked by 17.8 per cent to 179, from 152.

The figures were released by Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Sim Ann in her speech at the Singapore Road Safety Council (SRSC) fund-raising gala dinner at Marina Bay Sands on Oct 24.

Said Ms Sim: “What makes these statistics troubling is when you recall what we observe daily on our roads – we see motorcyclists riding without proper protective gear; we also see elderly pedestrians taking dangerous shortcuts across busy roads.

“These figures that I’ve shared underscore how important it is for us to sustain our efforts, and why the work of SRSC, together with its partners, remains so critical.”

On a positive note, SRSC raised $612,000 through the dinner.

Ms Sim said: “This is a remarkable show of support from our community, and a testament to the importance of SRSC’s mission.”

The money will be used to support road safety education and outreach programmes.

Guests at the dinner included stakeholders from both the public and private sectors such as the Singapore Motor Cycle Trade Association and Automobile Association of Singapore, community organisations and donors.

SRSC chairman Bernard Tay said in his opening address that the presence of donors and partners reflects a strong community spirit that drives SRSC’s efforts forward.

He said SRSC had made new partnerships with transport operators, the National Transport Workers’ Union, as well as the Singapore Armed Forces – encouraging its military vehicle drivers to uphold high standards of road safety.

He said: “With your continued encouragement and generosity, SRSC will be able to sustain and grow our road safety mission, making a positive difference in the life of all road users.”

The stakeholders have shown support in nationwide awareness efforts, digital and social media outreach, and projects focused on vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, said SRSC and the Singapore Police Force in a joint statement.

To clamp down on the rising accident and fatality trends, the “Traffic Police (TP) is taking decisive action through stepped-up enforcement and enhanced regulatory measures”, said Ms Sim.

In January 2024, TP launched a programme to get companies to install speed limiters on lorries with a maximum laden weight of between 3,500kg and 12,000kg,

limiting their speed to 60kmh

.

Speed limiters will be mandatory on heavy vehicles from January 2026.

Companies that have installed speed limiters ahead of the deadline have recorded near-zero speeding violations from January to August.

“However, with 41 per cent of lorries still non-compliant ahead of the January 2026 deadline, we’re introducing additional measures to accelerate adoption,” said Ms Sim.

From Jan 1, 2026, companies whose drivers are caught speeding in company-owned, non-compliant lorries will be issued a remedial order which requires immediate fleetwide speed limiter installation. Non-compliance may result in penalties of up to $50,000.

In addition, speed limiter compliance will be integrated into the Workplace Safety and Health Council’s Risk Management audit for bizSafe certification and renewal processes.

The authorities are also working with insurers to offer incentives such as differentiated insurance premiums for compliant lorries.

Added Ms Sim: “This multi-pronged approach, combining regulation, enforcement and education, requires strong collaboration between government agencies and community partners like SRSC and private enterprises, each bringing their unique strengths and reach to our shared mission.”

Meanwhile, the use of technology to combat speeding and the beating of stop lights is being tested in the form of new traffic violation

enforcement cameras, which will soon be rolled out islandwide.

These cameras will capture technical traffic violations, including illegal U-turns and the crossing of double white lines, which TP said could lead to serious accidents.

Accidents due to running red lights rose from 47 in the first half of 2024 to 65 over the same period in 2025.

At the start of Oct 24’s gala dinner, donors and supporters of road safety were given tokens of appreciation by SRSC.

A highlight of the evening was the launch of the SRSC Commendation Award for Road Safety Heroes, which recognises members of the public who have displayed courage, graciousness and responsibility in keeping Singapore’s roads safe.

The inaugural awards were presented to two SMRT staff – bus captain Yau Minddin Muhamad and senior bus captain Ngui Poh Seng. On Aug 17, they helped a driver whose car had caught fire in Bukit Timah Road.

Mr Minddin, 48, was driving an off-service bus towards Marina Centre when he came upon the distressed driver of a car that was emitting smoke on the opposite side of the road.

He instinctively parked his bus and ran across the road with a fire extinguisher from his bus.

Said Mr Minddin: “I was afraid the fire would spread to the fuel tank, so I had to determine there was nobody in the car and use the extinguisher on the ‘popping’ flame.”

He was joined a few minutes later by Mr Ngui, 54, who also rushed to the burning car with an extinguisher from his bus.

The flame was put out by a Singapore Civil Defence Force fire biker at the scene.

Mr Ngui said: “Getting the award is a small bonus and recognition. The main thing is nobody was seriously injured in the fire.”