Singapore Road Safety Awards and Seminar 2026 – Speech by Ms Sim Ann, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for Home Affairs

Chairman of the Singapore Road Safety Council, Mr Patrick Kho,

Commander Traffic Police, Senior Assistant Commissioner Serene Chiu,

Group Director of Traffic and Road Operations of LTA, Ms Tan Lijun,

CEO of the Automobile Association of Singapore, Mr Lee Wai Mun,

Distinguished guests,

Award recipients,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Introduction

1. A very good afternoon to everyone.

2. It is my pleasure to join all of you today at the Singapore Road Safety Awards and Seminar 2026. We are here for two reasons. First, to recognise companies and individuals who have made road safety a part of how they work every day. Second, to remind ourselves that road safety is a collective responsibility. Safer roads do not happen by chance.

3. They are the result of choices. The choice to slow down. The choice not to drink and drive. The choice to train drivers well, maintain vehicles properly, and to put safety before convenience.

4. Through these awards, we seek to inspire continuous improvement in safety management, responsible driving behaviour, and the adoption of best practices across industries.

5. Today’s seminar also brings together five distinguished speakers from law enforcement, policy, workplace safety and industry, offering a well-rounded view of road safety in Singapore.

The Road Traffic Situation 2026

6. The road traffic situation in the first half of 2026 gives us some encouragement but at the same time, areas of concern remain.

7. Fatal accidents and fatalities have declined. This is meaningful progress. But overall road traffic accidents rose by 2.7%, and casualties rose by 3.6%, compared with the same period in 2025. Our road safety situation therefore remains a concern.

8. Vulnerable road users continue to be disproportionately represented. Motorcyclists and pillion riders accounted for 45.9% of fatalities. Elderly pedestrians made up half of all pedestrian fatalities.

9. The decline in fatalities in the first half of this year is meaningful progress and a testament to the collective efforts of our enforcement agencies, policymakers, industry partners, and the public.

10. But behind every statistic is a person, a family, and a journey that did not end as it should have. So, while we should recognise the progress made, we cannot remain satisfied. Every life lost on our roads is one too many. No family should have to grieve a preventable loss.

Deterring Dangerous Behaviour

11. We have taken firm steps to deter dangerous road behaviour.

12. Since 1 January 2026, we have enhanced penalties for speeding offences through higher composition sums and more demerit points.

13. From 1 January 2027, we will tighten the demerit points regime for Singapore driving licence holders. For non-probationary motorists, the suspension threshold will be lowered from 24 to 18 demerit points within 24 months. For probationary motorists, the threshold will be lowered from 13 to 12 points during the probation period. Suspension periods will also be lengthened.

14. The signal is clear. Those who repeatedly endanger other road users should not remain on our roads unchecked. We must also take a firm stance against speeding and drink-driving. In the first half of 2026, there were more speeding violations and drink-driving arrests, compared with the same period in 2025. These trends show that we must remain relentless in our efforts to change road user behaviour.

15. The Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2026, which was passed in Parliament in August, will tighten prescribed alcohol limits. The breath alcohol limit will be reduced from 35 micrograms to 15 micrograms. The blood alcohol limit will be reduced from 80 miligrams to 30 miligrams per 100 mililitres of blood.

16. The message is simple: if you plan to drive, do not drink.

Strengthening Our Response

17. However, enforcement alone is never enough. Lasting change comes when safety is built into systems, training, leadership and daily decisions, and this is where strong industry partnership comes in.

18. The expanded speed limiter regime is a good example.

19. As of 1 January 2026, more than 12,000 lorries were fitted with speed limiters under this regime. Speeding violations committed by these lorries fell by 94%, from 384 cases in the first six months of 2025 to 23 in the same period in 2026.

20. More lorries will be fitted with speed limiters. As of 1 August 2026, the number has grown to more than 16,000 lorries.

21. This shows what can be achieved when regulation, technology and industry commitment work together. We will continue to work closely with our partners to uphold and build on this progress.

Recognising Road Safety Excellence

22. Today, we recognise 42 award recipients who have demonstrated that commitment.

23. 14 companies will receive the Company Award for their fleet management systems, structured training programmes, and strong records of traffic compliance. They show that safety is not a slogan. It is an organisational DNA, led from the top and practised by company staff every day. I encourage others in the industry to follow their lead.

24. We will also present the Safe Driver Awards to 28 professional drivers and SAF national servicemen with exemplary safety records. These individuals have shown that safe driving is not merely a habit, but a responsibility that each of us must take seriously every time we get behind the wheel.

Singapore Road Safety Award Winners

25. Let me highlight three award recipients.

26. PEC Pte. Ltd. has received the Company Award across three categories for the second consecutive year: Excellence for Light Goods Vehicles, Excellence for Private Bus, and Merit for Heavy Goods Vehicles. This remarkable consistency across different vehicle categories is no coincidence. PEC's fleet is backed by a dedicated Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) team, GPS-based speed and idling monitoring with real-time driver alerts, strict daily vehicle checks, and site-level safety ambassadors who watch for driver fatigue and licensing compliance. It reflects sustained effort, strong leadership, and a safety culture that is embedded across the company.

27. Next, Senior Bus Captain, Mr Lee Boon Hua, from SBS Transit has maintained a 26-year driving record with no accidents, safety-related incidents, or demerit points. He has also chosen to pass on what he has learnt. As a Training School instructor and Service Mentor, he trains and guides new and experienced bus captains. He helps to build the next generation of safe drivers.

28. Mr Kalaisalvan S/O Chithamparam, from SP Powergrid Ltd has maintained a 22-year driving record without any accidents or violations. This is a remarkable record, and a standard for others to emulate. Mr Kalaisalvan also regularly shares video footage of safe and unsafe driving behaviours with his peers during section communication sessions. His dedication reflects a genuine commitment to building a safer driving culture within his team.

29. These award recipients show us that road safety is achieved through habits repeated over time, standards upheld even when no one is watching, and the willingness to look out for others.

Conclusion

30. To all our award recipients this year, my heartiest congratulations.

31. Your achievements matter beyond this ceremony. You have shown that individual commitment and organisational attention can build a safer road environment for everyone.

32. Let us build on the progress we have made. Government agencies will continue to enforce the law and strengthen our road safety framework. Companies must continue to invest in sound systems, training and supervision. Drivers and road users must continue to make safe choices on every journey.

33. Let us continue to foster stronger partnerships across industries and agencies. Let’s sustain our public education efforts and hold ourselves to the highest safety standards, so that we can collectively work towards a future where every journey is a safe one.

34. Thank you all for being part of this shared mission. Once again, congratulations to all award recipients, and I wish everyone a fruitful seminar ahead.