Anti-Drink Drive Campaign – Speech by Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs

Mr Bernard Tay, Chairman, Singapore Road Safety Council,

Mr Hong Poh Hin, Chairman of Foochow Coffee Restaurant and Bar Merchants Association,

Mr David Long, Secretary of Singapore Nightlife Business Association,

Ms Jean Poh, Strategic Partnership Manager of Motorist Pte Ltd,

SAC Daniel Tan, Commander, Traffic Police,

Distinguished Guests and Partners, Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. A very good evening to you. It is my pleasure to join you at Clarke Quay Fountain Square for the launch of this year's Anti-Drink Drive Campaign.

2. We gather tonight at the heart of Singapore's nightlife scene, where friends and loved ones come together and festive celebrations fill the night. It is fitting that we launch the Anti-Drink Drive campaign here, because this is where our message needs to resonate most deeply. Some people may choose to have a drink or two, or perhaps more, but our message remains clear: we must be responsible and not drink and drive. Drinking and driving can never go together.

The Drink Driving Situation

3. Let me share some statistics with all of you. The number of drink driving accidents decreased by 17% to 94 from January to August 2025, from 113 in the same period for 2024. The number of fatal drink driving accidents decreased to five, from 10. The number of persons arrested for drink driving, however, increased by 4% to 1,173, from 1,130. These numbers show that there are still motorists who continue to take reckless risks with their own lives and the lives of others.

Real Consequences, Real Lives

4. Just two weeks ago, a 56-year-old man was sentenced to eight weeks’ jail, an $18,000 fine and a six-year driving ban for four charges including drink driving, driving without due care and attention and two counts of giving false information to a public servant. He had collided with the central guard railings and plants on the road divider. It was fortunate that he did not hit anyone, otherwise the consequences would have been far more severe.

5. Last month, a 39-year-old man received a 2-week jail sentence and 30 months driving ban after his drink-driving caused a collision that led to two persons being conveyed to hospital. He was charged for drink driving and driving without due care or attention.

6. Drink-driving destroys lives on multiple fronts. Victims suffer physical injuries and emotional trauma that can last a lifetime, while offenders face imprisonment, financial punishments, and the burden of knowing that their selfish decision caused irreparable harm. Families on both sides are left to pick up the pieces from one reckless choice.

A Campaign That Speaks to the Heart

7. This year's campaign takes an approach that speaks directly to what matters most: the people waiting for us at home. Our key visual, which we will launch later, shows a man looking into a mirror, but instead of seeing his own reflection, he sees his family smiling back at him, encouraging him to reach home safely.

8. This image reminds us that every time we leave our house, our families are waiting for us to come home safely. It is about the people who care about you and hope to see you walk through the door again.

Interactive Experiences and Sustained Engagement

9. Tonight, the Traffic Police and partners have set up interactive booths designed to give you a visceral understanding of alcohol's effects on your body and mind. These demonstrations show participants how alcohol compromises your reactions in a safe, controlled environment. Do challenge yourself with our "Fast Hands" game, which tests reaction time, or experience our driving simulator with vision-impairing goggles. These experiences are deliberately designed to be memorable because when you are out drinking and considering whether you are "fine to drive," we want you to remember exactly how impaired you actually were during these demonstrations.

10. This year, we are taking a more sustained approach to our campaign messaging, extending throughout the entire festive season with multiple strategic touchpoints. Mirror decals with anti-drink driving messages will appear in nightlife venue restrooms as a new initiative that catches you at that crucial decision-making moment when you are planning how to get home. During this festive season, don't drink and drive. There are alternative ways to get home safely such as public transport or private hire vehicles. If you drove to your celebration, call a valet service or ask sober friends or family members to drive you home. Our festive message tree lets you make personal safety pledges and wishes for loved ones, turning tonight into a meaningful commitment.

11. For the first time, we are also integrating our message into Lunar New Year celebrations through special red packets with "Get Home Safely" messages, embedding road safety into traditional festivities when families and friends gather to celebrate.

Partnership and Enforcement

12. I am also pleased to have our partners here with us tonight - Mr Danny Loong, President of Singapore Nightlife Business Association, Mr Hong Poh Hin, Chairman of Foochow Coffee Restaurant and Bar Merchants Association, and Ms Jean Poh, Strategic Partnership Manager of Motorist Pte Ltd. Together, we will distribute campaign materials to establishments throughout Clarke Quay and beyond.

13. As part of ongoing efforts to prevent drink driving, the Traffic Police is collaborating with valet service providers to remind motorists that if they drink, they should not drive. Through this partnership, valet service staff will help reinforce the “Don’t Drink and Drive” message and provide a safe way to get home, ensuring both driver and vehicle return safely.

14. While we focus on engagement and education, Traffic Police's enforcement efforts remain robust throughout the year, with anti-drink driving enforcement operations conducted regularly to deter and detect offenders. We will not hesitate to take firm action against those who endanger lives on our roads.

Conclusion

15. The festive season should be about creating joyful memories with our families, friends and loved ones. These celebrations should not end up in tragedy. When faced with the choice of whether to drink and drive, always choose taking alternative transport instead of driving yourself.

16. I want to thank the Traffic Police, Singapore Road Safety Council, and our industry partners for their dedication to this important cause.

17. Let us work together to ensure our roads remain safe for everyone. Thank you very much.