Traffic accident deaths & injuries in S'pore hit 5-year highs in 2024

The number of traffic accidents resulting in deaths or injuries reached their highest levels in five years for 2024.

According to a press release by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the number of fatal traffic accidents increased from 131 cases in 2023 to 139 cases in 2024 while the number of fatalities increased from 136 to 142.

As for the number of traffic accidents resulting in injuries, this increased from 6,949 in 2023 to 7,049 in 2024, while the number of injured persons increased from 8,941 in 2023 to 9,302.

According to the SPF, the primary causes of accidents were motorists’ failure to keep a proper lookout, lack of adequate vehicle control, and lane changing without due care.

Increase in speeding violations, fatalities, drink-driving violations & fatal drink-driving accidents

The SPF also highlighted that the number of speeding violations increased significantly by 64.8 per cent, from 116,440 cases in 2023 to 191,931 cases in 2024.

There was an increase in the number of speeding-related fatal accidents, by 43.8 per cent, from 32 cases in 2023 to 46 cases in 2024.

The proportion of fatal accidents occurring due to speeding also increased, to 33.1 per cent in 2024 from 24.4 per cent in 2023.

Meanwhile, the number of people arrested for drink-driving increased by 6.9 per cent, from 1,663 in 2023 to 1,778 in 2024.

The number of fatal drink-driving accidents increased by 9.1 per cent, from 11 cases in 2023 to 12 cases in 2024.

Increase in accidents and fatalities involving motorcyclists

While motorcycles made up only 14.7 per cent of Singapore’s total vehicle population in 2024, motorcyclists or pillion riders were involved in 55.2 per cent of all traffic accidents and accounted for 59.9 per cent of traffic fatalities.

44.7 per cent of the fatalities involving motorcyclists were due to self-skid fatal accidents.

The number of accidents involving motorcyclists increased by 4.7 per cent, from 3,792 cases in 2023 to 3,969 cases in 2024.

The number of motorcyclist and pillion rider casualties also increased by 4.7 per cent, from 4,303 persons in 2023 to 4,507 persons in 2024.

The number of fatal accidents involving motorcyclists increased by 20.8 per cent, from 72 cases in 2023 to 87 cases in 2024.

The number of motorcyclist and pillion rider fatalities increased by 25 per cent, from 68 persons in 2023 to 85 persons in 2024.

Increase in jaywalking accidents and fatalities

The SPF also said that jaywalking continues to be a concern.

The number of accidents involving pedestrians who jaywalked increased by 23 per cent, from 288 cases in 2023 to 353 cases in 2024.

The number of casualties among pedestrians who jaywalked also increased by 26 per cent, from 283 persons in 2023 to 356 persons in 2024.

The number of fatal accidents involving pedestrians who jaywalked increased by 12.5 per cent, from 16 cases in 2023 to 18 cases in 2024.

Elderly pedestrians also continue to be overrepresented as they accounted for 38.9 per cent of the total number of fatalities involving pedestrians who jaywalked in 2024.

Elderly pedestrians overrepresented in pedestrian fatalities, but overall numbers have dropped

On the matter of elderly pedestrians, the SPF said they remain a "significant concern" as they make up 12.5 per cent of the overall Singapore population in 2024 but were involved in 42.3 per cent of all fatal traffic accidents involving pedestrians and accounted for 44 per cent of pedestrian fatalities.

In terms of absolute numbers, the SPF noted that the number of traffic accidents involving elderly pedestrians decreased by 12.7 per cent, from 228 cases in 2023 to 199 cases in 2024.

The number of fatal accidents involving elderly pedestrians also decreased, by 50 per cent, from 22 cases in 2023 to 11 cases in 2024.

The number of elderly pedestrian fatalities decreased by 52.2 per cent, from 23 persons in 2023 to 11 persons in 2024.

The number of injured elderly pedestrians decreased by 6.9 per cent, from 203 persons in 2023 to 189 persons in 2024.

Decrease in red-light running violations

2024 also saw a drop in red-light running violations by 11.9 per cent, from 32,867 cases in 2023 to 28,965 cases in 2024.

As for the number of red-light running fatal accidents, these decreased by 25 per cent, from eight cases in 2023 to six cases in 2024.

The number of red-light running accidents decreased by 14.3 per cent, from 112 cases in 2023 to 96 cases in 2024.

Traffic police will step up enforcement operations, increase fines and demerit points

To address the increase in number of accidents and fatalities, the Traffic Police will step up enforcement operations and penalise irresponsible road users, the SPF said.

Errant motorists who flout traffic rules and regulations, such as red-light running, speeding and drink-driving, may be prosecuted in court.

If grievous hurt or death is caused, they may face imprisonment and driving disqualification.

Other measures being taken by the Traffic Police include progressively activating the speed enforcement function in Red-Light Cameras across the island, especially at locations that are accident-prone or violation-prone, as well as increasing the composition fines and demerit points for speeding offences.

The composition sums will be increased by between S$50 and S$150 and demerit points will be increased by up to six points.

These increased penalties will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.

Further details regarding these changes will be announced later this year.

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Top images via Shin Min Daily News and vincen282/TikTok