Traffic accidents in 2023 have increased from previous years, including those that result in fatalities and injuries. The statistics were reported in a press release published yesterday (20 February 2024).

Accidents resulting in fatalities increased significantly from 104 cases in 2022 to 131 cases in 2023. This exceeded the pre-COVID level of 117 cases in 2019. The number of fatalities went up by 25.9%, from 108 persons in 2022 to 136 persons in 2023. 

Traffic accidents resulting in injuries also increased, albeit slightly from 6,779 cases in 2022 to 6,944 cases in 2023. This is lower than the pre-COVID level of 7,705 cases in 2019.

Accidents resulting in injuries went up slightly by 2.4%, from 6,779 cases in 2022 to 6,944 cases in 2023, but remained below the pre-COVID level of 7,705 cases in 2019. 

The number of injured persons increased by 5.8%, from 8,441 persons in 2022 to 8,931 in 2023, also remaining below the pre-COVID level of 9,833 persons in 2019.

Of these, the Traffic Police said there was a marked increase in the number of accidents where the cause was failure on the part of the motorist to keep a proper lookout, failure to have proper control of the vehicle, and changing of lanes without due care.

Overall, the number of red-light running violations and accidents has gone down. However, the number of fatal accidents due to red-light running and speeding increased. 

The number of red-light running fatal accidents increased from 3 cases in 2022 to 8 cases in 2023 while that of speeding-related fatal accidents saw a bigger jump from 18 cases in 2022 to 33 cases in 2023. The number of fatal drink-driving accidents also increased from 10 cases in 2022 to 11 cases in 2023.

Motorcyclists and elderly pedestrians, aged 60 and above, continue to account for a disproportionate number of traffic accidents resulting in injuries or death. 

Classified by the Traffic Police as 'vulnerable road users', the TP said the number of fatal accidents in 2023 involving motorcyclists and elderly pedestrians increased by 44.0% and 13.0%, respectively.

In 2023, 26 cases of elderly pedestrians passed away from traffic accidents compared to 23 cases in 2022. A similar increase was observed in the number of injured elderly pedestrians, from 220 persons in 2022 to 251 persons in 2023. 

Fatalities concerning motorcyclists and pillion riders went up by 0.3%, from 4,276 persons in 2022 to 4,290 persons in 2023. In total, the number of fatal accidents involving motorcyclists increased by 44.0%, from 50 cases in 2022 to 72 cases in 2023.

The TP said that there was a decrease in violations detected by traffic enforcement cameras in 2023. However, the number of speeding violations detected by other Police enforcement operations has increased. This shows that speed cameras are effective in deterring speeding, and that motorists choose to speed at locations where they think no one is watching.

In 2023, the number of speeding-related fatal accidents increased by 83.3% compared to 2022, and the proportion of fatal accidents due to speeding increased to 25.2% from 17.3% in 2022.

To buck the worrying trend of increasing traffic accidents and related casualties, TP said it will progressively activate the speed enforcement function in Red Light Cameras (RLCs) across the island, starting from the second quarter of 2024. 

This will be done particularly "at locations that are more accident-prone or violation-prone, to improve driver behaviour," said TP.

RLCs are prominently displayed in orange and white. They are accompanied by warning signs that clearly indicate the speed limit of that road.

TP is concurrently working to increase the composition sums and demerit points for certain traffic offences. It said more details will be announced in the later part of 2024. 

TP will step up enforcement and presence to tackle the increasing number of traffic accidents and casualties. It will also continue to engage the public to shape motorists' mindsets, attitudes and behaviours to inculcate in road users "road safety as a shared responsibility".