Red light cameras will also be used to ensnare speeding motorists from Q2 2024 onwards.
In case you didn’t know, red light cameras (RLCs) at traffic light-controlled junctions in Singapore have an in-built speed-detection and enforcement function.
This function has remained dormant until now.
Also in case you didn’t know, there are 242 RLCs dotted around our island. A full list of RLC locations can be found here.
According to a press release by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), this speed enforcement function will progressively be turned on in RLCs islandwide from the second quarter of 2024 onwards, starting at locations that are more accident- or violation-prone.
The press release also states that although the number of red light-running violations decreased in 2023, speeding violations reportedly increased by 22%, from 52,016 cases in 2022 to 63,468 in 2023.
This is the reason behind the progressive activation of RLCs’ speed enforcement functionality from Q2 2024 onwards. Our best guess is for this initiative to be rolled out islandwide by the end of 2024, but we reserve the right to be wrong.
An RLC is activated when a traffic light turns red, and the induction-loop sensors before and after the stop line are sequentially triggered by a vehicle that runs the red light.
Two bright flashes mean said vehicle’s licence plate has been photographed, which then also likely leaves a Titanic-level sinking feeling in the offending driver’s stomach.
Now with the speed enforcement functionality about to be turned on, our best guess is that this function will be active from whenever it is green light to just after red. Best guess because we were told by SPF in an email-reply that “information related to Police’s operations are confidential in nature”.
Best then to assume the worst, and watch your speed closely while approaching a junction with an active RLC.
Also, unless you’re right on the edge of the stop line, don’t think about accelerating to get past an amber light due to the possibility of getting nailed for both red-light running and speeding.
Alongside the above, the Traffic Police (TP) is also working on increasing composition fines and demerit points for certain traffic offences, and more details will be announced later this year.
Again, our best guess is that this initiative possibly points to potentially increased speed-enforcement action from TP in the future via dedicated speed cameras.
A list of speed-camera locations can be found here.
So the next time Waze or Google Maps says “red light camera ahead” or “speed camera ahead” in this fine city of Singapore, take heed.
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