Singapore Road Safety Council Fundraising Gala Dinner 2025 – Speech by Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Ministry of Home Affairs

Chairman of the Singapore Road Safety Council, Mr Bernard Tay

Distinguished guests, donors, ladies and gentlemen

1. A very good evening to all of you. It is my pleasure to join you at the Singapore Road Safety Council’s (SRSC) Fundraising Gala Dinner 2025. Tonight, we gather not only to celebrate the Council’s many achievements, but also to renew our shared commitment towards building safer roads for all.

2. In fact, since joining MHA and, in particular, joining the road safety portfolio, I think it is my first time meeting many partners of SRSC, which is in and of itself a very important partner for the Home Team, and for the Traffic Police in particular. I am very honoured to have this opportunity to work with everybody on road safety, because prior to coming to MHA, in my day to day work as a Grassroots Advisor, I very often find myself handling road traffic-related concerns and feedback from residents. My residents are drivers, riders as well as pedestrians, so there are many perspectives on this issue. It is something this is absolutely important to Singaporeans’ daily lives, and very importantly, it affects everybody’s safety.

3. Like many Grassroots Advisors who happen to spend more time thinking of these issues, I have many thoughts and ideas, and I am so happy to meet like-minded friends and partners. All of you, because you are donors, you support our people in making roads safe.

4. I know that this is not an easy thing to do, becauseit involves culture change, it also involves enforcement, it involves laws. But this is something that I think we must do, and we must do well. So, first of all, a very big thank you to all of you for supporting this very important mission.

Fundraising Appreciation

5. I want to, in particular, extend heartfelt congratulations to SRSC. You raised a total of $612,000 through this fundraising effort. I understand this is a remarkably high amount compared to recent years. Very well done. This shows the support from the community and from partners, all the wonderful corporates and individuals who are present, and it also underscores SRSC’s mission’s importance. Everyone’s contribution here will go a long way in supporting road safety education and outreach programmes.

Road Safety Situation

6. However, the reality that we face continues to demand our vigilance. The latest road traffic statistics remind us that challenges still remain. While enforcement and education have brought improvements in some areas, the overall number of accidents and fatalities has unfortunately risen compared to the same period last year. From January to September 2025, traffic accidents resulting in injuries and fatalities increased by 7.4% to 5,765, from 5,368 in the same period last year.

7. Motorcyclists and elderly pedestrians continue to be overrepresented in accidents. Accidents involving motorcyclists increased by 7.8% to 3,191, from 2,960, while those involving elderly pedestrians increased by 17.8% to 179, from 152. What makes these statistics troubling is, when we recall what we observe daily on our roads – we see motorcyclists riding without proper protective gear, we also see elderly pedestrians taking dangerous shortcuts across busy roads. These figures that I shared underscore how important it is for us to sustain our efforts, and why the work of SRSC, together with its partners, remains so critical.

Enhanced Measures to Encourage Speed Limiter Installation

8. Recognising the urgent need to address these trends, the Traffic Police is taking decisive action through stepped-up enforcement and enhanced regulatory measures. Since January 2024, TP has commenced the mandatory installation of speed limiters for lorries with a maximum laden weight of between 3,500kg and 12,000kg, capping their speed at 60km/h. Early adopters have demonstrated the effectiveness of this move, with companies that installed speed limiters ahead of the deadline recording near zero speeding violations from January to August this year.

9. However, with 41% of lorries still non-compliant ahead of the January 2026 deadline, we are introducing additional measures to accelerate adoption. From 1 January 2026, companies whose drivers are caught speeding in company-owned non-compliant lorries will be issued with a Remedial Order requiring immediate fleet-wide speed limiter installation, with penalties of up to $50,000 for non-compliance. Additionally, speed limiter compliance will be integrated into the Workplace Safety and Health Council's Risk Management audit for bizSAFE certification and renewal processes. We are also working with insurers to offer incentives such as differentiated insurance premiums for compliant lorries. These targeted interventions demonstrate our commitment to leveraging both technology and partnerships to create safer roads. This multi-pronged approach, combining regulation, enforcement, and education, requires strong collaboration between government agencies and community partners like SRSC and private enterprises, each bringing their unique strengths and reach to the shared mission.

SRSC’s Key Milestones This Year

10. Against this backdrop of rising accident numbers, SRSC's achievements this year are particularly significant. Each programme, each outreach effort, represents lives that can be saved. This year, SRSC has been especially active in expanding its outreach and deepening its impact, as all of us have seen in the video just now.

11. In June, SRSC partnered TP to host a large-scale Road Safety Carnival during the Singapore Road Safety Month at Suntec City, and I was very privileged to have been part of it. The carnival attracted more than 13,000 visitors over two days, bringing families, road users, and community partners together under one roof. The event demonstrated how road safety education can be both impactful and engaging, transforming complex safety messages into interactive experiences that resonate with all ages.

12. Beyond the Road Safety Carnival, SRSC, together with stakeholders, continues to anchor its efforts with flagship campaigns that target specific groups of road user. Programmes such as Singapore Ride Safe, Singapore Traffic Games, and the Anti-Drink Drive Campaign remain cornerstones of our national outreach on road safety. These sustained efforts ensure that messages of responsibility, safety, and care reach motorcyclists, children, youth, and the wider community throughout the year.

Strengthening Partnerships

13. Building on this momentum, another milestone was the successful hosting of the Singapore Road Safety Awards & Seminar for the second year. This year, the event drew more than 250 participants, a significant increase from 200 last year, reflecting the growing interest and commitment from industry players, fleet operators, and safety professionals. A new award category, in collaboration with the Singapore Armed Forces, was introduced. It recognised military vehicle drivers with exemplary driving records. This partnership highlights the importance of instilling safe driving habits even among our servicemen, who also play a vital role in keeping our roads safe.

14. SRSC has also joined the Bus Safety Tripartite Task Force, alongside the Land Transport Authority, Traffic Police, and public transport operators. In this role, SRSC contributes to community engagement efforts that raise awareness of safe behaviours around buses, both for drivers and commuters. Most recently, SRSC participated in the Bus Safety Roadshow, which brought safety messages directly to the public in an interactive and practical way. This is another strong example of how SRSC works hand-in-hand with partners to extend the reach of road safety education. The taskforce has also submitted a set of recommendations on bus safety to the Minister for Transport, underscoring the importance of both policy-level improvements and ground-up education to safeguard commuters and road users alike.

Recognising Public Spiritedness

15. Tonight, we also celebrate heroes among us. This evening marks the launch of the Commendation Awards for SRSC’s Road Safety Heroes, a meaningful initiative to promote public spiritedness. While education and enforcement are important, we must also encourage individuals to step forward, show graciousness, and take responsibility for one another on our roads.

16. The award will recognise acts of courage, graciousness, and responsibility in keeping our roads safe. Tonight, we are honoured to present the very first medallions to two exemplary bus captains – Bus Captain Yau Minddin Bin Muhamad and Senior Bus Captain Ngui Poh Seng. On 17 August this year, they selflessly assisted a driver whose vehicle was on fire along Bukit Timah Road. Their quick thinking and brave actions prevented further danger and saved lives.

Closing

17. Ladies and gentlemen, road safety is a shared responsibility. Every decision we make on the road has an impact, not just on ourselves, but also on those around us.

18. The road traffic statistics show us clearly that challenges remain, especially for our vulnerable road users. But with stronger partnerships, continued public support, and each of us playing our part, I am confident that we can reverse this trend and make our roads safer and more gracious for all.

19. Let us continue to support the SRSC in their efforts, and let us all do our part to create a culture of safety and graciousness on our roads. Together, we can make Singapore’s roads safer for everyone.

20. Thank you, and let me wish everyone a wonderful evening ahead.