Majority of Singapore Drivers Annoyed and Stressed on Roads

SINGAPORE, January 20, 2016 – Singapore drivers are frustrated on the roads, with more than three quarters (77 per cent) saying they are annoyed about driving conditions in Singapore, while more than half (53 per cent) report feeling stressed. This is according to research¹ released today by AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. Ltd. ('AIG Singapore').

The top three causes of irritation for Singaporean drivers are reckless driving (60 per cent), drivers changing lanes without indicating (54 per cent), and drivers not letting in cars wanting to change lanes (50 per cent).

AIG Singapore’s Head of Auto, Ms Wong Siew Lee, said Singapore drivers are frustrated on the roads as they have to deal with escalating unsafe and inconsiderate behaviour.

“This rise in impatient and reckless driving can be seen in latest Traffic Police data where the number of speeding violations increased by 6.5 per cent from 261,540 violations in 2013 to 278,545 violations in 2014. Fatal accidents involving speeding also increased, from 39 accidents in 2013 to 42 in 2014,” said Ms Wong.

AIG Singapore’s research (click here to view the survey infographic) also found that younger drivers, in particular, engage in risky driving behaviour, with 63 per cent of drivers aged 18 to 35 admitting to being unsafe on the roads. More than a quarter (27 per cent) of these drivers accelerate when the traffic lights turn to amber.

The research further revealed that the drivers, who are predominantly well-educated working professionals, frequently have young children on board.

Ms Wong said, “It is worrying that the children are being placed at risk. Our survey results show that these drivers are more likely to programme their GPS (24 per cent), text (20 per cent) and use or check their mobile phones (18 per cent) while driving.”

Young and single drivers are also more likely to be involved in a road accident. AIG Singapore’s claims data shows that drivers making the highest number of auto claims are under 35 and single, and these drivers are often fully or partially to blame for the accident².

AIG Singapore has encountered cases of young drivers who borrow their parents’ cars and do not drive with care. A customer’s young son has been involved in nine accidents in the past eight years. In one of the instances, a motorcyclist was injured.

Ms Wong stressed that road safety awareness and good driving habits need to be cultivated from a young age.

She added, “Regardless of whether the drivers are young parents or young adults, it is important to abide by road traffic rules, drive safely and show courtesy to other drivers.  This will help tremendously in keeping Singapore’s roads safe and stress-free for all road users.”

As part of its advocacy efforts for safer communities, AIG Singapore launched a road safety education programme in 2015 to help keep children in Singapore safe by teaching them basic traffic rules. So far, the programme has reached more than 2,600 pre-schoolers aged four to six years old.

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¹Online survey conducted in September 2015 of 800 respondents.
²AIG Singapore paid out over 16,000 claims for car accidents in Singapore in 2015, which amounted to about S$117 million.