Holistic Study to Inform Singapore's Path Towards Vision for Zero Road Fatalities
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether a holistic structural study on road engineering and infrastructure will be commissioned to achieve the Vision Zero target, as raised by MP Low Wu Yang Andre. Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam replied that the Government adopts a multi-pronged approach involving enforcement, public education, and collaboration between the Traffic Police and Land Transport Authority. Key infrastructure initiatives include implementing traffic calming measures at accident-prone locations and expanding the "Friendly Streets" project to all towns by 2030 to reduce speed limits. The Minister noted that Singapore draws reference from international models like Finland while emphasizing that risky driver behaviours, such as drink driving and speeding, remain major accident causes. Consequently, the Government continues to focus on combining infrastructure design, strict penalties, and education to mitigate these risks and reduce road fatalities.
Transcript
24 Mr Low Wu Yang Andre asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs given that road fatalities have risen for five consecutive years to a 10-year high despite successive enforcement measures, whether the Traffic Police has commissioned or intends to commission a holistic structural study, including road engineering and infrastructure design factors, to inform Singapore's path towards the Vision Zero target of zero road fatalities.
Mr K Shanmugam: The Government adopts a holistic approach to road safety. Besides enforcement, the Traffic Police (TP) and Land Transport Authority (LTA) work together on road infrastructure, regulations and penalties and public education.
On road infrastructure and design, TP and LTA take into account community feedback to implement traffic calming measures, in particular at violation- and accident-prone locations. LTA will also be expanding Friendly Streets to all towns by 2030, which will entail roads with reduced speed limits and road markings to assist vehicle drivers to be more careful.
Vision Zero is an example of successful intervention in road safety in Finland. The Government also approaches road safety on the basis that every fatality is one too many. We will draw reference from the example in Finland, as well as others, in reducing road accidents. However, road accidents are often caused when drivers engage in risky behaviour, for example, drink driving or speeding and other such behaviour. This happens despite the penalties and despite the public education that is going on.