Have you seen the Traffic Police’s enforcement cameras around? Find out how these cameras keep our roads safe!
By: Al Cheng
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) released its Annual Road Traffic Situation on 20 February 2024. The number of speeding violations detected by cameras decreased by 26%, from 73,152 cases in 2022 to 52,237 cases in 2023. This shows that speed cameras are effective in deterring speeding violations at locations where speed cameras are installed.
Leveraging Technology for Traffic Enforcement
To make our roads safer, the Traffic Police (TP) leverages technology as a force multiplier for round-the-clock traffic enforcement. Today, TP’s enforcement cameras can be found at over 320 locations island-wide.
These cameras are meant to shape motorists’ on-road behaviour, and inculcate safe driving habits. Otherwise, these cameras would act as the TP’s “eyes” and help take errant motorists to task.
To enhance the visibility of the cameras to motorists, the cameras have been painted in bright orange and white livery. Clear warning signs with the road speed limits are also placed before traffic camera enforcement zones to forewarn motorists.
By being transparent about the locations of the enforcement cameras and implementing measures to alert motorists of such enforcement zones, the TP aims to deter motorists from committing traffic offences, ensuring safer roads for all road users.
How the Traffic Enforcement Cameras Work
The Red-Light Camera is one of several types of enforcement cameras deployed by the TP, with up to 252 of these cameras deployed island-wide, intended to capture errant motorists who run the redlight at traffic junctions. From second quarter of 2024, the TP will also progressively activate the speed enforcement function in selected Red-Light Cameras from April 2024, prioritising accident-prone and violation-prone locations to improve road safety.
Another enforcement camera used by the TP is the Police Speed Laser Camera. This portable handheld camera allows officers to track and identify speeding vehicles from a distance. It also has infra-red detection capabilities and can be deployed at night.
The TP also uses Fixed Speed Cameras that can detect speeding vehicles from afar. Currently, there are a total of 20 Fixed Speed Cameras deployed island-wide.
The Mobile Speed Camera is a digital speed enforcement camera that can be deployed at short notice and transmits images of speeding violations wirelessly. This type of camera enables flexibility in deployment and can be shifted to accident- and violation-prone locations for enforcement, shape road behaviour and improve road safety.
The Average Speed Camera captures the entry and exit time of the vehicles as they enter and leave a section of road known as an “average speed enforcement zone”. Using the formula of distance over time, the camera then computes the corresponding average speed, which determines if a vehicle has committed a speeding offence.
Road safety is a shared responsibility. The TP will not hesitate to take enforcement actions against errant motorists who endanger the lives of other road users. Be a responsible road user and get to your destination safely. Together, let’s do our part to keep Singapore roads safe for everyone!
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