Drink driving accidents up, more deaths in first half of 2024

SINGAPORE: Injuries and deaths resulting from road traffic accidents went up in the first half of 2024 compared with the same period a year before, the police said on Saturday (Aug 24). 
The number of fatal accidents caused by speeding and drink driving also went up. 
In its mid-year report on the traffic situation in Singapore, the police said that vulnerable road users like elderly pedestrians (aged 65 years and above) and motorcyclists remain a major concern as they make up a disproportionate number of accidents leading to injuries or death, the police added.
Although there was a decrease in road accidents resulting in injuries or death in the first half of 2024, the number of people who were injured or died went up.
Fewer motorists were caught beating red lights, with the number of violations dropping slightly by 0.8 per cent from 16,524 in the first half of 2023 to 16,396 in the same period this year. 
Correspondingly, there were also fewer accidents caused by red-light running – from 59 to 45 (23.7 per cent drop) – in the same two time periods. 
“This may be an indication that more motorists are conforming to red-light signals,” the police said. 
However, there was a big jump in the number of speeding violations – up by 44.3 per cent in the first half of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.
The police attributed this to more enforcement against speeding. 
Red-light cameras were progressively activated from Apr 1 to detect speeding. In July, a 60-year-old man became the first person to be convicted in court for a speeding violation captured by the speed enforcement function in a red-light camera. 
While the number of speeding-related accidents fell from the first of 2023 to the first half of 2024, those that resulted in deaths went up almost two-fold, from 13 to 25.
Drink driving accidents also went up – to 96 in the first half of this year from 88 in 2023, a 9.1 per cent increase. Of the 96 drink driving accidents, nine led to deaths.
Fewer motorists were arrested for drink driving – from 853 in the first half of 2023 to 812 in the first half of 2024, a 4.8 per cent drop.
The number of accidents involving elderly pedestrians fell by 22.1 per cent from 122 in the first half of 2023 to 95 in the same period this year.
And there was a slight increase of 3.3 per cent in the number of accidents involving motorcyclists.
The police said these two groups remain a “key concern” as they make up a disproportionate number of accidents resulting in injuries or death. 
Even though fewer elderly pedestrians died in accidents in the first half of 2024, this group still made up 42.9 per cent of pedestrian fatalities. Around 41 per cent of all elderly pedestrian accidents were due to jaywalking.
The police said it would continue its efforts to educate the elderly but also urged family members and friends to remind the elderly not to jaywalk. 
The number of accidents involving motorcyclists grew by 3.3 per cent to 1,902 in the first half of 2024, from 1,841 accidents in the same period last year.
Motorcyclists and pillion riders who were injured from accidents rose by 5.3 per cent from 2,050 in the first half of 2023 to 2,159 in the first half of 2024.
Motorcyclists and pillion riders were involved in 54.5 per cent of all traffic accidents and made up 61.6 per cent of all traffic fatalities in the first half of 2024.
The police said the top three causes of accidents involving motorcyclists are: Failing to keep a proper lookout, failing to have proper control and changing lanes without due care.
Fines and demerit points for certain traffic offences may go up as further deterrents against irresponsible driving behaviours, said the police.
Motorists who violate the rules may also have their licenses suspended and revoked.