Traffic Statistics (January - December 2007)

Table 1 shows the breakdown of the road traffic accidents resulting in injury or death in 2007 as compared to 2006. There was an overall increase in the number of road traffic accidents on our roads in 2007.

Table 2 shows the breakdown of road accident casualties in 2007 as compared to 2006.

Table 3 reveals that motorcyclists and pillion riders continue to be the most vulnerable group of road users. They constitute 53.7% of the 190 total road accident fatalities recorded in 2006 as compared to 47.7% of the 214 total road accident fatalities in 2007.

Notably, the total number of motorcyclists and pillion riders killed in 2007 had remained unchanged as compared to 2006. A total of 102 motorcyclists and pillion riders were killed in 2006 and 2007. Motorcyclists and pillion riders between the ages of 20 to 29 years old appeared to be the most susceptible to fatal road accidents.

Pedestrians remained the second most vulnerable group of road users in 2007. Among the 58 pedestrians killed, elderly pedestrians aged 60 years old and above were still a major concern as they made up about 44.8% of total pedestrian fatalities in 2007, as shown in Table 5.

Drink-Driving

A total of 4,010 persons were arrested for drink-driving in year 2007, as compared to 3,733 persons arrested in year 2006.

The number of persons arrested for drink-driving accident cases fell from 581 cases in 2006 to 562 cases in 2007. With heightened enforcement efforts and the success of public education strategies such as the annual Anti-Drink-Driving Campaign in 2007, Traffic Police expects to see further improvement of the situation in this area.

Speeding

There was an increase in speed-related fatal accidents in 2007 as compared to 2006. Speed-related fatal accidents increased by 6.1%, from 66 cases in year 2006 to 70 cases in year 2007. However, speed-related serious injury accidents decreased by 14.8%, from 27 cases in year 2006 to 23 cases in year 2007.

Speeding remained one of the key causes of accidents in 2007. In a bid to curb such speed-related accidents, overall enforcement efforts against speeding have been stepped up. In 2007, there was a significant increase of 11,087 summonses issued for speeding offences, a 24.6% increase as compared to 2006. In 2006, 45,096 summonses were issued for speeding as compared to 56,183 summonses in 2007.

Red-Running

The number of red-running violations also increased by 86.5% from 13,020 violations in 2006 to 24,277 violations in 2007. However, the number of fatal and injury accidents resulting from red-running violations registered a marginal increase of 4.4% from 452 cases in year 2006 to 472 cases in year 2007.

CONCLUSION

With the expected increase in the vehicle and human populations as well as economic activities, our roads are likely to get busier. Thus, it is important that the society at large internalises the importance of road safety and adopts a mindset of zero tolerance towards irresponsible road usage behaviours – be it jaywalking, speeding, reckless driving or drink-driving. Road traffic mishaps can often be avoided as most of them are the result of human error, carelessness, negligence and inconsiderate acts of individuals.

While our fatality rate of 4.7 fatalities per 100,000 human population in 2007 is comparable to other major cities, we can continue to make our roads safe. Motorists should pay special attention to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Others can play their part by advising friends or family members to be responsible road users and to refrain from dangerous driving habits such as speeding, drink-driving and reckless driving. Road accidents are preventable if road users exercise more care, caution and consideration at all times.

Road safety is a shared responsibility. While the Traffic Police will continue its efforts in the areas of legislation, enforcement and education, safety on our roads will ultimately depend on the safety mindset of each and every road user.