According to the Singapore Police Force’s Annual Road Traffic Situation 2023 and 2024, the number of traffic accidents is on an upward trend. Who are the most vulnerable on our roads? They are motorcyclists and elderly pedestrians. While motorcycles make 14.7% of the vehicle population, motorcyclists or pillion riders were involved in 55.2% of traffic accidents and close to 60% of traffic fatalities. The elderly made up close to 12.5% of the population but were involved in 44% of all pedestrian fatalities. Separately, accidents involving foreign workers on lorries have seen three fatalities a year from 2020-2022.
I propose greater public participation with incentives to nudge road users to drive safely. Would the Ministry consider encouraging road users to report to the Traffic Police with video evidence unsafe, negligent and rash road behaviour committed against motorcyclists and elderly pedestrians? If summonses are issued to and paid by errant road users, a percentage of the summons amount, after accounting for administrative costs, can be given to the person who first reported the incident, to incentivize the reporting of unsafe road practices. Such an approach will significantly supplement Traffic Police enforcement operations, particularly in view of national manpower challenges.
A similar approach can be taken towards drivers who transport foreign workers in lorries. Should they speed or drive in an unsafe manner, roads users should be encouraged to report such behaviour and should expect to receive some percentage of the fine amount for their act of civic consciousness. To this end, can the Minister tell us whether the Traffic Police can consider reintroducing the blinking amber light that used to be commonly seen on top of the cabins of commercial vehicles, so that roads users can be alerted to commercial vehicles carrying goods and workers more easily.
