A blood-stained pink kick scooter lying among road debris in Tampines serves as a haunting reminder of the fragility of life on Singapore’s roads. For Traffic Police Inspector Mohamed Yazid Mohamed Yusoff, the sight was particularly devastating, as it mirrored the toy owned by his own five-year-old son.
A Decade-High Surge in Fatalities
Singapore is currently facing its most dangerous period on the roads in years. Traffic deaths reached a 10-year high of 149 in 2025, surpassing the 141 deaths recorded in 2016.
Insp Yazid, who spent six years with the fatal accident investigation team, has witnessed the human cost of these statistics firsthand. He describes the immense difficulty of breaking news of a death to grieving families, noting that his voice still cracks despite years of professional experience.
Tragedies of Chance and Negligence
Some fatalities stem from heartbreaking coincidences. In a 2020 Tampines accident, a five-year-old girl and her grandmother died after a van driven by the girl’s grandfather collided with several cars and a barricade.
Insp Yazid noted that the victims usually sat in the front, but on that day, the girl chose to sit in the back with her scooter. He believes they probably would have survived had they been seated in the front.
The grandfather was subsequently disqualified from driving for eight years and fined $8,000 for driving without due care and attention causing death.
The High Cost of Recklessness
Other accidents are the result of extreme negligence. In August 2017, a speeding driver in Woodlands caused a collision that killed a married father of three who had just moved into a latest home.
More recently, in December 2021, a drunk driver named Jeremiah Ng ploughed into vehicles stopped at a red light in Tampines. Ng was driving at 169kmh in a 60kmh zone.
The crash killed a Gojek driver and injured six others. One motorcyclist, Mahmud Azmani Fikri, suffered multiple fractures and a traumatic brain injury that left him unable to walk for months.
A district judge remarked that Ng treated the roads like a Grand Prix driving circuit. Ng was sentenced to seven years in jail and disqualified from driving for 12 years; his appeal was dismissed by the High Court in 2025.
A Plea for Shared Responsibility
Insp Yazid maintains that every accident can be avoided if road users set aside their egos and adhere to speed limits. He emphasizes that losing concentration can directly impact the lives of others.
Reflecting on his career, the officer stated that he would not mind being put out of a job if it meant that no one died on the roads.
Future Implications
If road users continue to disregard speed limits and sobriety, fatality rates may remain at these elevated levels. However, a shift toward shared responsibility and stricter adherence to safety protocols could potentially lead to a decrease in avoidable deaths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many road deaths occurred in Singapore in 2025?
There were 149 traffic deaths in 2025, which marks a 10-year high.
What were the consequences for Jeremiah Ng after the 2021 Tampines crash?
Jeremiah Ng was sentenced to seven years in jail and disqualified from driving for 12 years. His appeal against this jail term was dismissed by the High Court in 2025.
What does Insp Yazid believe is the most difficult part of his job?
He states that the toughest part of his job is breaking the news to a victim’s family that their loved one has died.
Do you believe stricter penalties are the most effective way to reduce reckless driving, or is a shift in road-user culture more key?
