Singapore sees road death surge, with 1-in-3 traffic fatalities in 2024 caused by speeding; stiffer fines coming in 2026

Overall a very law-abiding country, Singapore has nonetheless seen 142 road deaths in 2024, of which 1 out of every 3 was caused by the offence of speeding violations. In order to deter these violations, stiffer traffic penalties will come into effect from day one in 2026.

According to the latest statistics released by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), as reported by CNA, the number of road accidents in which someone was killed in Singapore went up from 131 in 2023 to 139 in 2024 (up by 6.1 per cent), and the number of people killed in these road accidents went up from 136 in 2023 to 142 in 2024 (up by 4.4 per cent).

As is widely known, the majority of traffic accidents are the result of human errors or violations. Speeding violations are among the top causes of road accidents.

In Singapore, about 1 in 3 deaths (33.1 per cent) from road accidents in 2024 was caused by speeding, up from about 1 in 4 (24.4 per cent) from the same cause in 2023, showed the police data.

The year 2024 recorded 46 speeding-related fatal accidents, an increase of 43.8 per cent from 2023.

Overall speeding violations increased from 116,440 cases in 2023 to 191,931 cases in 2024 (up by 64.8 per cent).

Road accidents resulting in injuries increased from 6,949 cases in 2023 to 7,049 cases in 2024 (up by 1.4 per cent). The number of people injured in these accidents was 9,302 in 2024 (up by 4 per cent from 2023).

The Singapore Police Force listed the following as the top causes of road accidents:

• Motorists’ failure to keep a proper lookout
• Lack of adequate vehicle control
• Lane changing without due care

The police said that the increase in speeding violations in Singapore “suggests an attitudinal issue and lack of regard for speed compliance among motorists”. The force said that enforcement and penalties would be stepped up as preventive measures.

Composition fines for speeding offences will be increased by SGD 50 to SGD 150, and demerit points will be increased by up to 6 points. These increased traffic penalties will take effect on 1 January 2026 in Singapore.

Risks of speeding, as WHO tells it

About the risks of speeding, the World Health Organization said the following:

• An increase in average speed is directly related both to the likelihood of a crash occurring and to the severity of the consequences of the crash. For example, every 1 per cent increase in mean speed produces a 4 per cent increase in the fatal crash risk and a 3 per cent increase in the serious crash risk.
• The risk of death for pedestrians hit by car fronts rises rapidly (4.5 times from 50 km/h to 65 km/h).
• In car-to-car side impacts, the fatality risk for car occupants is 85 per cent at 65 km/h.

Red-light cameras in Singapore

The CNA report quoting police data said that “speeding violations detected by traffic enforcement cameras, including red-light cameras with their speed enforcement function activated, increased significantly in 2024”.

CNA reported that these red-light cameras across Singapore were “progressively and dynamically” activated from 1 April 2024. More such cameras were activated in the areas of Singapore that were more likely to see traffic rule violations and road accidents.

Police stats showed that speeding violations detected by red-light cameras increased from 48,762 cases in 2023 to 100,720 cases in 2024 (up by 106.6 per cent).

In order to check this trend, more traffic cameras with the speed enforcement function will be activated around Singapore, according to the police.