SINGAPORE - The number one cause of road accidents resulting in death or injury is inattentiveness and surprisingly not speeding or drink driving.

'Failing to keep a proper lookout' consistently made up about one third of all causes each year over a five-year period from 2007 to 2011.

Inattentiveness, where a driver fails to notice a pedestrian or another motorist, caused 69 deaths and almost 2,743 injuries last year. A total of 197 people were killed and 5,602 were injured in road accidents last year.

'Failing to have proper control' of a vehicle (18.5 per cent) and 'failing to give way to traffic with right of way' (13.2 per cent) ranked second and third-highest causes in the same five-year period, reported The Straits Times.

'Running a red light', which makes up about 5 per cent of all causes in the period, was the fourth-highest cause.

The number of pedestrians crossing the road without heeding traffic gives rise to cause for concern. The paper reported that nearly 40 per cent of such accidents attributable to pedestrians were caused by jaywalking or crossing without looking.

According to Traffic Police statistics, this is the leading cause of accidents for pedestrians, with 9 fatalities last year.

Singapore Road Safety Council chairman Bernard Tay pointed out that the statistics show too many motorists with bad and dangerous driving habits.

In a written statement to the media he urged motorists to conduct a self-evaluation on their driving/riding habits.

"Ask yourself if you have accelerated on seeing the amber light when approaching an intersection, instead of reducing speed and coming to a complete halt at red light. If your answer is yes, we urge you to take immediate action to cut out this bad, unsafe habit before it becomes a dangerous, deadly act that could kill," he wrote.

He advised drivers to consciously apply good, safe driving skills and techniques for the next three weeks or even more.

"After a few weeks, the good habits should be established and replace the old bad ones."

Here are his tips:

Obey traffic laws and keeping to the speed limit.

As you approach an intersection, anticipate that the traffic lights may change and be prepared to reduce speed. When the amber signal comes on, immediately slow down to come to a safe stop. Do not accelerate to beat a red light, whether it is to go straight through the intersection or to make a turn.

"You are breaking the law if you do not stop at red light and can be charged for beating a red light. Even worse, you are putting yourself and other road users at grave risk," said Mr Tay.

Urge friends, families and colleagues with bad driving habits to stop them

"If you have noticed unsafe driving habits amongst your friends, families and colleagues and are concerned for their safety, please speak out and urge them to stop behaving irresponsibly on the roads.

If necessary, encourage them to sign up for a refresher driving course to help them improve their driving/riding skills and attitudes."

dassa@sph.com.sg, cyap@sph.com.sg

Netizens flag reckless drivers Click on thumbnail to view. Story continues after photos. (Photos: Stomp)

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