Drink-driving accidents registered a spike last year while traffic offences such as red-light running violations and accidents also jumped, according to statistics released by the Traffic Police in February 2019.
There were 176 cases of drink-driving accidents last year, up by 17.3 percent from 150 in 2017.
The number of motorcyclists who were drink-driving and got involved in accidents also rose – by 51.3 percent from 39 cases in 2017 to 59 last year.
The number of drink-driving arrests dropped by 3.7 percent to 2002 persons last year, despite an increase in the number of enforcement operations conducted.
Violations such as red-light running saw a 15.7 percent increase to 53,910 cases last year, from 46,599 in 2017.
Accidents arising from the beating of red lights also rose slightly, by 2.6 percent to 120 cases last year, from 117 in 2017.
Motorcycle-related accidents still rising
Another concerning trend is in the area of accidents involving motorcyclists.
Likewise, motorcyclist and pillion rider fatalities rose by 38.6 percent to 61 last year, from 44 in 2017.
These deaths accounted for almost half of all road traffic fatalities last year.
Incidents resulting in injuries where motorcyclists were involved increased by 2.1 percent to 4358 cases last year, from 4270 in 2017.
Motorcyclist and pillion rider injuries increased slightly, by 0.7 percent to 4837 last year, from 4803 in 2017.
Road fatalities also rising
Overall, the road traffic fatality rate per 100,000 population rose slightly from 2.16 to 2.2 last year, reversing a gradual decline seen since 2010.
There were slight increases in the number of fatal accidents and the number of fatalities last year, by 2.6 percent and 2.5 percent respectively.
But mishaps resulting in injuries dropped slightly by 0.5 percent to 7690 cases last year, from 7726 in 2017, according to the statistics, which showed bright sparks in some areas.
The number of speeding-related accidents dipped by 5.6 percent to 719 cases last year, while speeding violations detected also dropped by 5 percent to 156,157.
The number of incidents involving elderly pedestrians dropped by 6.2 percent to 259 last year, from 276 in 2017.
Elderly pedestrian fatalities also dipped marginally from 26 in 2017 to 25 last year.
But Traffic Police (TP) Commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) Gerald Lim, speaking to the media on the sidelines of an event held at the Road Safety Community Park in East Coast Parkway on Thursday, said elderly pedestrians remain a concern.
