The Singapore Road Safety Council (SRSC) held its first fundraising gala dinner since the COVID-19 pandemic on 14 October 2022. The dinner seeks to raise funds for the many road safety education programmes organised by SRSC, and also to allow the gathering of like-minded individuals who share and support the vision of making our roads safer in Singapore.
The Guest of Honour, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development, expressed his appreciation towards the organisations and individuals who had supported SRSC strongly, despite a challenging economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. SRSC had successfully raised $186,000 in a Fundraising Golf event in February this year, and the gala dinner had raised another $550,000. Associate Professor Faishal also hoped for the continued support of the community, in working with SRSC to make our roads safer for all.
Associate Professor Faishal also commended SRSC, Traffic Police, and LTA for their sustained efforts to reach out to road users through online channels, to increase awareness of road safety amidst COVID-19 safety measures, as road safety remains a key priority.
With the easing of COVID-19 safe management measures, traffic volume has increased and SRSC’s work will continue to be critical to ensure that our roads stay safe. Based on the Mid-Year Traffic Statistics reported by the Police this year, there continue to be areas of concern to improve on, although traffic accidents resulting in fatalities have declined in general:
- Firstly, traffic accidents in the first half of 2022 had gone up, compared to the same period in 2021. In particular, speeding-related violations and accidents, as well as persons arrested for drink-driving, have risen in the first half of 2022.
- Secondly, accidents involving vulnerable road users, such as elderly pedestrians and motorcyclists, remain a concern, as they account for a disproportionate number of traffic accidents resulting in injuries and deaths.
Any fatality or accident is still one too many and Associate Professor Faishal urged all road users to play their part in keeping the roads safe. “Public education and strong partnerships remained the key strategy to ensure safer roads, and SRSC has been taking a leading role in this area, with various programmes targeting at vulnerable groups like children, seniors and motorcyclists.”, said Associate Professor Faishal.
In May 2022, SRSC and the Traffic Police launched the Singapore Road Safety Month 2022, with a focus to raise awareness on red-light running and speeding. In August 2022, a Road Safety Concert for Seniors was also organised to remind the elderly of road safety measures they can adopt. The concert was well received by the seniors who attended it, taking away with them flashing LED lanyards that could be worn at night or in low visibility conditions, for this vulnerable group to appear more visible to other road users, thus keeping them safer on the roads.
Associate Professor Faishal presented tokens of appreciation to donors for their contributions to the fundraising event. He also presented the Singapore Road Safety Awards 2022 (SRSA), Excellence Awards for Companies and Safe Drivers Awards. The SRSC recognised efforts of industrial players by giving out SRSA Company Awards to those that made conscientious effort to put in place safety measures to ensure that their vehicle fleet and drivers are safe on the roads. It also recognised the efforts of vocational drivers who demonstrated their personal responsibility in ensuring their own safety and that of other road users, while they ply the roads at work.
This year, Vac-Tech Engineering Pte Ltd won the Excellence Award in the Company Awards, Heavy Goods Vehicle Fleet category. Vac-Tech is an industrial waste management company that maintains a fleet of heavy vehicles to carry waste. The company implemented safety requirements like installing speed limiters and blind spot mirrors in their vehicles. In addition, the company proactively adopted GPS technology to track and monitor the movement of these vehicles. Arising from these good practices, Vac-Tech Engineering has seen an improvement in their safety records.
From Left to Right: Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development and Mr Retna Vinod, Safety Manager, Vac-Tech Engineering Pte Ltd
Light goods vehicles are common mode of transport for small-medium enterprises in Singapore, for the transportation of goods and equipment around the island. Drivers that ply the roads regularly on delivery trips, like all other vocational drivers, need to conscientiously follow traffic rules and stay safe on the roads. This year, Mr Law Pit Soon of Call Lade Enterprise was being highlighted for winning the Safe Driver Awards in the Light Goods Vehicle Fleet category. Mr Law carried out his duties with care and maintained a spotless driving safety record with no violations in his four years at the company.
From Left to Right: Mr Chandrasekar s/o Palanisamy, Chairman Singapore Road Safety Awards Committee (SRSC Council Member), Senior Assistant Commissioner Gerald Lim, Commander Traffic Police, Mr Tien Toh Kiat, Income Insurance Ltd, Mr Law Pit Soon, Call Lade Enterprises Pte Ltd, Mr Tay Chiang Hin, SMRT Buses Ltd, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development, Mr Chai Suk Yung, PSA Corporation Limited, Mr Wong Soon Wang, ComfortDelGro Bus Pte Ltd, Mr Yeo Swee Wang, Comfort Transportation Pte Ltd, and Mr Bernard Tay, Chairman, Singapore Road Safety Council
Associate Professor Faishal thanked all award winners for their roles in keeping our roads safe.
SRSC hopes to see more companies which own sizeable fleet of vehicles investing in the improvement of the condition of their vehicle fleet and using new technology like GPS tracking to improve their fleet performance. It is similarly important that companies improve driver morale and working conditions, to ensure that they are fit for the road. SRSC hopes to see more companies meeting the criteria to apply for the Singapore Road Safety Awards in the future, as this is an opportunity for them to showcase the result of the good efforts of companies in contributing to road safety in Singapore.
The journey towards an accident-free road is one that requires the effort of every road user. Everyone can play their part by looking out for their own safety and that of others, while on the road, be it motorists or pedestrians. We can achieve better road safety records when all road users stick by the traffic rules, are mindful of other road users and are gracious enough to give way to others.
Annex A
1) Singapore Road Safety Awards 2022, Excellence awards
Company Award
|
Category |
Company |
|
Heavy Goods Vehicle Fleet |
Vac-Tech Engineering Pte Ltd |
Safe Driver Awards
|
Category |
Winner |
Company |
|
Heavy Goods Vehicle Fleet |
Mr Chai Suk Yung |
PSA Corporation Limited |
|
Light Goods Vehicle Fleet |
Mr Law Pit Soon |
Call Lade Enterprises Pte Ltd |
|
Private Bus Fleet |
Mr Wong Soon Wang |
ComfortDelGro Bus Pte Ltd |
|
Public Bus Fleet |
Mr Tay Chiang Hin |
SMRT Buses Ltd |
|
Motorcycle Fleet |
Mr Tien Toh Kiat |
Income Insurance Ltd |
|
Point-to-Point Transport Services |
Mr Yeo Swee Wang |
Comfort Transportation Pte Ltd |
Singapore Road Safety Awards 2022, Merit awards
|
Category |
Company |
|
Heavy Goods Vehicle Fleet |
PSA Corporation
Koh Kok Leong Enterprise Pte Ltd
Samwoh Ready Mix Pte Ltd |
|
Light Goods Vehicle Fleet |
TSG Food Pte Ltd
Federal Express (Singapore) Pte Ltd |
|
Private Bus Fleet |
ComfortDelGro Bus Pte Ltd |
|
Public Bus Fleet |
SMRT Buses Ltd |
|
Motorcycle Fleet |
Income Insurance Ltd |
Company
|
Category |
Company |
|
Heavy Goods Vehicle Fleet |
PSA Corporation
Koh Kok Leong Enterprise Pte Ltd
Samwoh Ready Mix Pte Ltd |
|
Light Goods Vehicle Fleet |
TSG Food Pte Ltd
Federal Express (Singapore) Pte Ltd |
|
Private Bus Fleet |
ComfortDelGro Bus Pte Ltd |
|
Public Bus Fleet |
SMRT Buses Ltd |
|
Motorcycle Fleet |
Income Insurance Ltd |
Safe Driver
|
Category |
Winner |
Company |
|
Heavy Goods Vehicle Fleet |
Mr Tai Eng Kuai |
Samwoh Premix Pte Ltd |
|
Mr Koh Hock Heng |
Samwoh Corporation Pte Ltd |
|
|
Mr Goh Cheng Huat |
Poh Tiong Choon Logistics Ltd |
|
|
Light Goods Vehicle Fleet |
Mr Azman Sanusi |
Federal Express (S) Pte Ltd |
|
Mr Ong Qing Fu |
SWIA Pte Ltd |
|
|
Private Bus Fleet |
Mr Lim Chye Whatt |
ComfortDelGro Bus Pte Ltd |
|
Public Bus Fleet |
Mr Ong Shi Chuin |
SBS Transit Ltd |
|
Mr Marzuki Zafran Bin Sulaiman |
SMRT Buses Ltd |
|
|
Mr John Korea Anak Bahak |
SBS Transit Ltd |
|
|
Point-to-Point Transport Services |
Tan Boon Tong |
Comfort Transportation Pte Ltd |
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
15 October 2022 @ 9:20 AM