Singapore Road Safety Council Fundraising Gala Dinner 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

Commissioner of Police, Mr How Kwang Hwee

Deputy Chief Executive, Corporate & Development, LTA, Mr Alvin Chia

President of the Automobile Association of Singapore, Mr Bernard Tay

Distinguished guests,

Donors,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Introduction

1. A very good evening to everyone.

2. It’s a pleasure to join you this evening at the Singapore Road Safety Council Fundraising Gala Dinner 2026.

3. Tonight is much more than a celebration of the Council’s achievements. It is a renewed pledge from all of us to make every journey on Singapore’s roads a safer one.

4. For the past 17 years, the Singapore Road Safety Council, or SRSC, has been a steadfast champion for safer roads, educating the public, encouraging responsible behaviour and strengthening our road safety culture. That mission is as vital today as it has ever been.

5. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation to Mr Bernard Tay for his contributions as former Chairman of the Council. Please stand up. Thank you, Bernard. Now, his commitment and leadership over the last 17 years have been exemplary. He really gave his heart and soul into the work of promoting road safety, and we are really grateful for his strong dedication. At the same time, I want to thank Mr Patrick Kho for stepping up to take on the role of Chairman. Now, having served as Vice Chairman, Patrick brings with him valuable experience as well as familiarity with the team, and I am confident that he and the Council will build on the great work that Bernard has put in place and lead us forward.

6. Now, the Council has also been refreshed to include diverse voices representing seniors, schools, as well as our vernacular-speaking communities. This ensures that our road safety efforts can speak directly to every segment of society in ways that are accessible and impactful.

7. This year, the SRSC raised more than $500,000 through its fundraising programmes, which is a remarkable achievement. I congratulate the Council, and I want to thank every donor. Your generosity is not merely a contribution. It is an investment in safer roads and, ultimately, in lives protected.

8. Now, these contributions will enable the SRSC to broaden the reach of its education and outreach programmes and strengthen its efforts to make our roads safer for everyone.

Road Safety Remains a Shared Priority

9. But even as we celebrate everyone’s efforts, the latest mid-year road traffic statistics give us pause. They are a sobering reminder that safer roads cannot be taken for granted – and that we must do more.

10. From January to June 2026, traffic accidents resulting in injury or death rose by 2.7%, from 3,826 cases in the same period last year to 3,929 this year.

11. These are not just numbers. Behind every statistic is a person whose life may have changed in an instant; a family living with the dire consequences; and a community reminded of how fragile safety can be. That is why we have strengthened our enforcement, legislation and policy to deter irresponsible behaviour before it causes irreversible harm.

12. But legislation and enforcement can only take us so far. A truly safe road culture begins with individual responsibility, consideration for others and the commitment to look out for one another. This is where SRSC makes a vital difference by educating, engaging and empowering road users to choose safety, every day and on every journey. Essentially, you are our leaders on a very long and important change management journey.


A Stronger and More Vibrant SRSC

13. To sustain that impact, SRSC must continue to evolve without losing sight of the purpose that has guided it from the start.

14. Tonight, we mark three significant milestones in that journey.

15. First, a new corporate video will bring SRSC’s impact to life and recognise the important role partners and supporters play in advocating road safety causes.

16. Second, SRSC has refreshed its corporate logo to reflect an identity that is forward-looking yet firmly rooted in the Council’s founding purpose. It signals SRSC’s determination to engage a new generation while continuing to promote awareness, responsibility and consideration among all road users.

17. Lastly, SRSC will introduce a new family of road safety mascots in 3D. Relatable, engaging and memorable, they will help bring safety messages to different groups of road users and become a friendly and familiar presence at community events across Singapore.

Strengthening Partnerships

18. Road safety cannot be achieved by any one organisation acting alone. It depends on sustained and purposeful partnership. SRSC’s success rests on the strong partnerships that it has built over the years, including its close collaboration with the Traffic Police.

19. Together, the two organisations protect road users of all ages and backgrounds. Every May, during Singapore Road Safety Month, they unite schools, businesses and grassroots organisations around a common purpose: to address speeding and jaywalking, and to protect vulnerable road users. SRSC also reaches the motorcycling community through SG Ride Safe, while its Anti-Drink Drive campaign highlights the dangers of drink driving.

20. To recognise those who set a positive example on our roads and foster a stronger culture of road safety, SRSC partners the Automobile Association of Singapore, or AA Singapore, to honour companies, drivers and riders through the Singapore Road Safety Awards.

21. SRSC’s partnerships also bring road safety closer to different communities. Through the Singapore Traffic Games, SRSC and AA Singapore instill good road safety habits from a young age. This is complemented by SRSC’s outreach to students in collaboration with MOE.

22. Together with LTA and People’s Association, SRSC takes road safety messages into our communities and heartlands. Its partnership with SAF Transport extends this outreach to military vehicle drivers, reinforcing safe and responsible driving across the SAF community.

23. I am heartened by the breadth of support behind SRSC. Each partner brings different expertise, perspectives as well as connections. Together, they carry the road safety message into every part of our country. And they are united by one simple conviction: every life matters and we all have a part to play for safer Singapore roads.

Closing

24. The new Council is well-placed to take SRSC’s work to the next level, particularly in entrenching the message that road safety is a shared responsibility, among our youths, seniors and diverse communities, who may each face distinct challenges on our roads. Reaching these groups meaningfully will require creativity, empathy and the kind of diverse perspectives that the new Council brings.

25. I also look forward to the new Council taking an active role in reimagining the Road Safety Community Park. For generations of Singaporeans, a visit to the Park has been a memorable experience that brought road safety lessons to life in a very hands-on way. With fresh ideas and broader community input, the new Council is well-placed to help shape its next chapter, one that will continue to inspire generations to come.

26. To our donors who are here this evening: your support makes all of this possible. Whether it is outreach to seniors, engagement with schools, or efforts to reach Singaporeans across communities, your generosity is what enables SRSC to do more and do better. Thank you for standing with the Council in this very important work.

27. Let us move, together, towards a future with zero preventable road fatalities because every journey should end with people arriving home safely.

28. Let me now wish everyone an enjoyable evening, and thank you for your strong support.