Oral Reply to Parliamentary Question on the Annual Number of Road Accidents and Violations Involving Heavy Vehicles and Lorries Ferrying Workers Between 2018 and 30 September 2021

Question:

Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) from 2018 to 30 September 2021, what is the annual number of road accidents and violations involving heavy vehicles; (b) how many of these accidents involved lorries ferrying workers; and (c) how will the Ministry ensure better road safety to deter such accidents.

Answer:

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development:

1.   There were 2,160 road accidents involving heavy vehicles from January 2018 to June 2021. The annual breakdown of these accidents is as follows: in 2018, 776 accidents; in 2019, 690; in 2020, 426; and in 2021 up till June this year, 268.

2.   There were 57,639 traffic violations committed by heavy vehicles from January 2018 to June 2021. The annual breakdown of these violations is as follows: in 2018, 19,004; in 2019, 19,449; in 2020, 13,900; and in 2021 up till June, 5,286.

3.   We do not yet have the figures for the third quarter of 2021.

4.   TP does not track if the vehicles involved in accidents were ferrying workers.

5.   TP adopts a three-pronged approach of education, engagement, and enforcement to enhance road safety. On the education and engagement front, TP regularly conducts road safety talks to educate heavy vehicle drivers on safe driving habits, and holds dialogue sessions with the industry and key stakeholders too. TP is also partnering other government agencies, such as LTA and MOM, to monitor the development of suitable technologies that can help discourage speeding and ensure road safety, such as Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).  ADAS helps improve the situational awareness of drivers and warns them of collision risks. Today, small and medium enterprises which wish to install ADAS or other vehicular safety technologies on their heavy vehicles can apply for support from the Productivity Solutions Grant, administered by Enterprise Singapore.

6.   That said, we recognise that there will always be errant heavy vehicle drivers who, despite the Government’s outreach efforts, continue to drive irresponsibly. TP will take strong enforcement action against these motorists.