Singapore is set to increase fines for speeding violations starting next year, January 1 2026. Known for its stringent laws and reputation as “The Fine City,” the fee hike comes after speeding violations peaked in 2024.
SPEEDING AT ITS FINEST
Last February 15, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam revealed that speeding violations are at a 10-year high. “The numbers are still below the levels before Covid-19, but the way they are going up is something that is of concern,” said Shanmugam at the Traffic Police Road Safety Day held last month.
Last year, Singapore recorded 192,000 cases of speeding violations and 7,200 road accidents. 142 of these cases ended in fatalities. 46 fatalities, more than a third of road deaths, were a result of speed-related violations. While authorities have stated that 2024’s numbers are nowhere near pre-pandemic levels, the rate of which road accidents are occurring are worrying.
“People are dying, getting injured on our roads. Every vehicle is a potential missile on the roads. It is dangerous if you do not use it properly,” Shanmugam added. “We discussed this, and we think we need to do more to change behaviour or shape behaviour.”
Singapore’s Traffic Police (TP) tightened enforcement efforts last year by installing red-light 252 cameras across the city-state. These cameras detect accidents or violations, serving as the police’s eyes in accident-prone areas. The police installed these cameras in hopes of improving motorist behaviour.
“This shows that while traffic enforcement cameras are effective in deterring speeding violations, motorists still choose to speed at locations where they think no one is watching,” the TP stated in their announcement last year.
However, Shanmugam believes that these efforts were not enough, thus, higher fines were added for even stricter enforcement. Mr. Shanmugam also emphasised that a culture of road safety needs to be cultivated, as motorists need to improve their driving behaviours accordingly.
The TP have not yet revealed details of its fee hike and additional demerits.
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