Question:
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what benchmarks and targets has the Ministry set for road traffic fatality rates; and (b) what additional measures are being contemplated to address the rise in accidents and casualties involving motorcyclists and pillion riders.
Answer:
Mr Goh Pei Ming, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of Social and Family Development:
1. The Ministry has a range of measures, both legislative and relating to public education to encourage drivers and riders to be more careful. The Ministry has for example raised penalties for speeding, to try and reduce accidents.
2. Ultimately, whether these measures succeed depend on all our road users.
3. In terms of benchmarks and targets, in all of these areas, whether relating to crime, or to accidents, or other matters, as such, the Government must approach on the basis that there is zero tolerance, in that we should aim to prevent such accidents completely. Every fatality is one too many.
4. But we should also be realistic to accept, that in any society, there will be crime, in every society, there will be accidents, and there will be other such incidents going forward. Some people will get into accidents, commit crime, regardless of the penalties and attempts to prevent them from doing so, will not deter some.
5. To enhance road safety for all motorcyclists, the Traffic Police (TP) recently updated the standards for motorcycle helmets, which will take effect from 1 November 2025. In addition, the Land Transport Authority will require all newly registered motorcycles to be equipped with an Anti-Lock Braking System from 1 April 2027. This will reduce the risk of skidding and maintain vehicle stability during sudden and hard braking.
6. TP also runs public education campaigns targeted at the riding community. TP launched the Singapore Ride Safe campaign in conjunction with the Singapore Road Safety Month in 2025, which reached out to more than 13,500 people, and public awareness campaigns such as the 'Reward the Sensible Motorist'. These campaigns overall encourage motorcyclists to adopt safe riding habits and don protective riding gear.
