“From next year, motorists caught speeding will face higher fines and more demerit points,” stated Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam on Saturday (Feb 15). He mentioned that offenders will be fined at current rates until the end of the year, but will receive an advisory informing them of the upcoming heavier penalties from January 1, 2026. This advance notice is aimed at allowing people several months to acclimate to the idea and, hopefully, to influence their driving behavior.
Details of the revised penalties will be announced by the Traffic Police in due course. Minister Shanmugam explained that the decision to increase the penalties, both fines and demerit points, is driven by the need to change behavior and address the rising number of road accidents.
According to Minister Shanmugam, since 2020, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of road accidents, even though the numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels. The rising trend is concerning, as evidenced by the almost 44 percent increase in speed-related fatal accidents from 2023 to 2024. Additionally, the number of speeding violations reached a decade-high of 192,000 cases, despite intensified enforcement efforts, including the activation of the speed enforcement function in red-light cameras.
To address this issue, Minister Shanmugam emphasized the need for everyone – drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists – to play a role in road safety. He stressed the importance of building a culture where road safety is a priority, with motorists staying focused and driving carefully. The police will continue to ramp up enforcement, including daily roadblocks at various locations.
The move to impose stricter penalties for speeding offences reflects the Singapore government’s commitment to enhancing road safety and reducing the number of road accidents.
