SINGAPORE - The number of road deaths and traffic violations, such as speeding and red-light running, has gone down markedly according to latest figures from the Traffic Police.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, Traffic Police Commander Sam Tee noted that there were 78 deaths in the first six months of this year. This is 12.4 per cent lower than the 89 in the same period last year.

He noted that drink driving was also down by about 16 per cent, from 1,495 in the first half of last year to 1,258 in the same period this year.

From September this year, all 240 red light cameras will start being painted bright orange - similar to digital speed traps. This project will be completed by the end of next year.

Assistant Commissioner Tee noted that the digital speed traps had been effective in curbing speeding. Since theystarted being installed in March this year, the number of violations detected per camera per day, has fallen from 31 then, to only 12 in June.

"The roads were generally safer in the first half of this year," he said, adding that the numbers were encouraging signs that motorists were a doing their part to keep the roads safe for everyone.