More than 800 speeding violations were detected in three weeks after the police started activating red light cameras to also catch speeding motorists, the Traffic Police (TP) revealed on Apr. 29.

Noting that this is a cause for concern, Deputy Superintendent of Police William Foo, the officer in charge of TP's Camera Surveillance Unit, said:

"We will continue to step up on our enforcement and will not hesitate to take action against errant motorists who choose to flout traffic rules."

On Apr. 1, TP announced that it would progressively and dynamically activate the speed enforcement function in red light cameras to deter motorists from speeding.

The move came after a surge in fatal accidents and road traffic deaths in 2023.

How it works

Red-light cameras are traditionally used to detect vehicles trying to beat the red light.

They do so by creating an electromagnetic field that is activated when the traffic light turns red.

When a vehicle beats the red light, it disrupts the field, and the camera captures images of the vehicle.

Red-light cameras can also use this function to detect speeding vehicles — even those passing through a green light.

Here is an example of how it looks like in real life:

This speed enforcement function for red-light cameras islandwide will be progressively activated and target more accident- and violation-prone locations.

"The activation of the speed enforcement function in the red-light cameras expanded TP’s suite of enforcement equipment against speed violators," said Foo.

Like other fixed enforcement cameras, red light cameras are prominently painted orange and white.

Warning signs will be placed before the red light cameras stating, “Traffic Police Camera Zone”, with the road speed limit sign above it.

The list of red light camera locations is published on the SPF website.

Camera footage processed within 2-3 weeks

When an enforcement camera detects a traffic violation, the image or video captured will be processed in the background and reviewed by police officers from TP's Camera Unit.

This process typically takes about two to three weeks.

If the violation is deemed to meet the criteria for a traffic offence, the vehicle's owner will be required to provide TP with the offending driver's particulars.

TP will then issue the driver a Notice of Traffic Offence.

Penalties can range from demerit points and fines to suspension of one's driving licence and jail, depending on the severity of the traffic violation.

More serious violations will be prosecuted in court.

Background

The number of fatal traffic accidents shot up to 131 cases in 2023, from 104 cases in 2022, according to a TP annual traffic report.

This was despite a decrease in violations detected by traffic enforcement cameras in 2023.

TP said this shows that speed cameras are effective in deterring speeding and that motorists choose to speed at locations where they think no one is watching.

Speeding and beating the red light accounted for 75 per cent of all traffic violations committed in 2023.

In March 2024, the top locations where red-light running violations were detected included major roads such as Sims Avenue, Changi Road and Clementi Avenue 3.

Meanwhile, expressways such as the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) and Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) were common locations where motorists were caught speeding.

The locations are updated on a monthly basis.

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Top image from Singapore Police Force