Cyclist accidents hit four-year high in Singapore

Singapore reported 772 traffic accidents involving cyclists in 2025, up from 620 the previous year and the highest in four years, according to police figures cited by The Straits Times and Malay Mail.

The figure marks a jump of nearly 25 per cent from 2024 when compared with the year before. A police spokesman told The Straits Times that more than half of the accidents were linked to cycling in a disorderly manner and failing to keep a proper lookout.

The rise comes amid a broader deterioration in road safety, with traffic deaths reaching a 10-year high of 149 in 2025, while the number of people injured rose to 9,955 from 9,342 in 2024. As reported by Malay Mail and The Straits Times, the 2025 death toll compares with 141 in 2016.

Fatal accidents and historical trends

Seventeen of the cyclist-related accidents in 2025 were fatal, up from 13 in 2024 but slightly above the 15 recorded in 2023, as reported by both outlets.

The figures cover cyclists using conventional bicycles as well as power-assisted bicycles, recumbent bicycles, trishaws and tricycles.

Accidents involving cyclists had previously climbed above 780 in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic, before falling below 750 in 2022 as restrictions on public gatherings were eased, according to police data cited by both reports.

Police guidance and rules for cyclists

The police spokesman said cyclists riding on roads are expected to comply with all traffic rules, including obeying traffic signals and road markings, and should ride in a predictable and consistent manner, keep left and be mindful of other road users.

Cyclists are prohibited from riding in expressway tunnels and should not travel in groups of more than 10. Those transitioning from the road to a pedestrian crossing may do so if they proceed safely and do not endanger pedestrians, the spokesman added.

Penalties for unsafe cycling

Cyclists who fail to ride in an orderly manner or with due regard for safety can face up to three months in jail and a fine of up to S$1,000, with penalties doubled for repeat offenders, as reported by both outlets.

More serious cases involving injuries can result in charges of rash act causing hurt, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to S$5,000, or rash act causing grievous hurt, carrying up to four years in jail and a fine of up to S$10,000.

Online videos of errant cyclists

The Straits Times reported that videos of errant cyclists have frequently been shared online. Recent footage showed a group of cyclists beating a red light at the junction of Jalan Bahar and Nanyang Avenue near Nanyang Technological University, a cyclist riding inside the Marina Coastal Expressway tunnel, and a large group of young people cycling along West Coast Highway, with some allegedly holding on to moving lorries.

The Straits Times is running stories to remind all road users to be responsible given the dire statistics, the outlet said.