Forum: Take lessons in curbing speeding from other states
I refer to the report '
Over 118,000 speeding violations in first half of 2025 ' (Aug 11). The 45.5 per cent increase in offences over the same period last year highlights an urgent road safety issue. Despite the activation of speed enforcement function in new red-light cameras, the measures remain ineffective.
These cameras are found predominantly at traffic junctions, while the most dangerous speeding takes place on expressways. Those on the expressways have fixed locations and are well known. Many drivers simply slow briefly before the cameras and accelerate immediately after, creating the illusion of enforcement without real deterrence.
The lack of visible police presence compounds the problem.
Other countries have shown better results. In the United Kingdom, the use of permanent average speed cameras, which track the speed of a vehicle over several kilometres, were found to reduce injury collisions, especially more serious ones.
Australia and Sweden combine mobile or unmarked patrols with automated enforcement, creating unpredictability that makes drivers think twice before speeding.
Singapore can adopt similar measures. Average speed cameras on expressways, more mobile enforcement units, and rotating their presence unpredictably would raise the perceived risk of being caught. Using accident and GPS data via AI to target hot spots would also make enforcement more effective.
The planned increase in penalties in 2026 is welcome, but the surge in offences shows we cannot wait.
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Every delay risks losing more lives. Stronger enforcement, backed by public education, is needed now to change driver behaviour more effectively than with static cameras alone.
Alex Chan
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