SINGAPORE: The number of fatal traffic accidents in Singapore rose in 2023, with cases increasing “significantly” from 104 in 2022 to 131.
As traffic volumes rose following the lifting of COVID-19 measures in 2022, so did the number of traffic accidents, Singapore Police Force (SPF) said on Tuesday (Feb 20).
The number of fatal accidents in 2023 exceeded the pre-COVID level of 117 cases in 2019.
SPF also noted a rise in traffic accidents leading to injuries but the figure was still below that of 2019.
Fatal accidents caused by violations such as red-light running, speeding, and drink-driving all increased in 2023.
While the number of red-light running and speeding violations and accidents fell last year, fatal cases resulting from such accidents rose.
Red-light running fatal accidents went up from three in 2022 to eight in 2023, while speeding-related fatal accidents rose from 18 to 33.
Drink-driving accidents, including those resulting in deaths, increased. Fatal cases increased by one, to 11 in 2023.
Accidents that caused injuries increased slightly by 2.4 per cent from 6,779 cases in 2022 to 6,944 cases in 2023. The number of people injured also rose, though both figures stayed below their pre-COVID levels.
The authorities flagged that there was a “significant increase” in the number of accidents that were caused by motorists who either failed to keep a proper lookout, failed to properly control their vehicle or changed lanes without due care.
“Motorcyclists and elderly pedestrians are the most vulnerable groups of road users, and continue to account for a disproportionate number of traffic accidents resulting in injuries or death,” said SPF.
While motorcycles only make up 14.4 per cent of the total vehicle population, motorcyclists or pillion riders were involved in 53.5 per cent of all traffic accidents and accounted for half of all traffic fatalities.
In addition, while comprising only 19.1 per cent of Singapore’s population, the elderly were involved in 68.4 per cent of all fatal traffic accidents involving pedestrians, and accounted for 69.2 per cent of pedestrian fatalities.
“Compared to 2022, the number of fatal accidents in 2023 involving motorcyclists and elderly pedestrians increased by 44.0 per cent and 13.0 per cent respectively.”