SINGAPORE – Statistics show that motorists speed at locations without enforcement cameras, and this disregard for traffic rules is worrying, the Traffic Police (TP) said on Feb 23.
Speaking to the media during an engagement session to showcase its enforcement cameras, the TP said: “Every violation or accident is one too many, as it could potentially lead to a loss of life.”
In 2023, 136 people died in traffic accidents, a 25.9 per cent jump from the 108 deaths in 2022, said the TP on Feb 20 when releasing its annual statistics report.
The 136 deaths is the highest number reported since 2016, when there were 141.
The report also showed there were fewer speeding violations detected by traffic enforcement cameras in 2023 – 52,237 compared with 73,152 in 2022.
However, the number of such violations detected by other police enforcement operations rose by 22 per cent to 63,468 in 2023, from 52,016 in 2022.
How different enforcement cameras are used
There are six types of enforcement cameras used by the TP. The locations of over 320 of them can be found on the Singapore Police Force website.
1. Red-light camera
Traditionally used for nabbing motorists who run the red light, some of these cameras will soon be used for catching speedsters as well. There are 252 red-light cameras deployed at road junctions across Singapore.
2. Average speed camera
This camera detects the speed of a vehicle when it enters and leaves a section of road and computes the average speed. Average speed cameras have been used along Tanah Merah Coast Road since Dec 17, 2018.
3. Fixed speed camera
Speeding vehicles can be spotted from afar with this camera. There are 20 fixed speed cameras in Singapore.
4. Mobile speed camera
This device transmits images of speeding violations wirelessly back to the TP for processing. It can be redeployed to speeding-prone locations at short notice.
5. Police speed laser camera
This is a portable speed laser gun that can be brought on TP motorcycles for ad-hoc anti-speeding operations. Speeding vehicles can be tracked and spotted from afar with it, and these violations can be recorded through photos and videos. It can be used at night as it has infra-red detection capabilities.
6. Police radar speed camera
This camera is installed on the dashboard of all the TP’s expressway patrol cars, and records videos of speeding vehicles.
To deter motorists from speeding at places where they think no one is watching, the TP will progressively activate the speed enforcement function in red-light cameras across Singapore from the second quarter of 2024.
This will be done especially in locations that are more accident- or violation-prone, the TP added.
The TP will also be increasing the composition sums and demerit points for certain traffic offences to curb irresponsible driving behaviour. More details will be announced in 2024.
It also said enforcement cameras play a vital role in reducing the number of violations at accident-prone areas. It added it will not hesitate to take stern enforcement action against those who persist in their egregious road behaviour.
Fatal speeding accidents
In July 2021, a car driven by 35-year-old motorist Ng Wen Xun collided with four vehicles on the Central Expressway while travelling at speeds of up to 215kmh, above the limit of 80kmh.
A 31-year-old motorcyclist was killed and at least three others were injured.
Ng was sentenced to 30 months’ jail and disqualified from holding or obtaining all classes of driving licences for 10 years.
In December 2021, a 35-year-old man killed a Gojek driver and injured six others while driving a Mercedes-Benz drunk. Jeremiah Ng En You was driving at a speed of between 157kmh and 169kmh, when the speed limit there was 60kmh.
The judge noted that even though Ng was extremely familiar with the roads, it was “not a licence for him to treat our roads like the Grand Prix driving circuit by driving at such excessive speeds while under the influence of alcohol”.
Ng was sentenced to seven years’ jail and disqualified from driving for 12 years after his release.
