New defensive riding workshops for platform workers; Govt aims to reach 1,400 riders in two years

Second Minister for Home Affairs Sim Ann (fourth from left) at the launch of the Singapore Ride Safe campaign at the Singapore Expo on Sept 12.

ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Published Sep 12, 2026, 05:00 PM

Updated Sep 12, 2026, 05:00 PM

Fatal accidents fell by 23.1% in early 2026, but injuries among motorcyclists and pillion riders rose by 5.8%, with these groups involved in over half of injury and death accidents.

Platform workers face higher road risks, with four workplace deaths in six months; the government launched “Ride Smart, Ride Safe” workshops targeting 1,400 riders in two years.

Authorities urge employers to improve work practices, avoid rushing incentives, and manage fatigue, while emphasising shared responsibility to enhance road safety for all riders.

SINGAPORE – Platform workers providing food delivery or courier services will have access to a workshop conducted by the three driving schools to equip them with skills, knowledge and confidence to ride their motorcycles safely.

The Ride Smart, Ride Safe workshop will see the driving schools partner with the National Delivery Champions Association and platform operators to deliver free monthly defensive riding sessions at the Singapore Safety Driving Centre in Woodlands.

The Government is aiming to reach 1,400 platform workers over the next two years, said Second Minister for Home Affairs Sim Ann.

According to Ministry of Manpower (MOM) figures, about 15,300 Singapore residents worked as regular delivery platform workers, including in the food and courier space, in 2024.

Announcing the workshop on Sept 12 at the National Bikers’ Weekend at the Singapore Expo, Sim said platform workers face greater exposure to road risks as they spend significantly more time on the road than the average person.

“They do provide an important service to our community, and collectively, we have a responsibility to help them ride safely,” said Sim, who also helped launch the 2026 Singapore Ride Safe campaign at the Expo.

She said the workshop collaboration brings together the motorcycling community, industry partners and government agencies.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility. It is not something that any one agency or any individual can achieve alone. It requires all of us to play our part to make our roads safe for everyone every day,” Sim added.

MOM’s mid-year Workplace Safety and Health Report, released on Sept 8, showed that four platform workers were among the 21 workplace deaths between January and June 2026, compared with the two in 18 workplace fatalities in the same period in 2025.

Of the four platform workers, three were delivery workers, and one was a ride-hailing worker.

The figures also showed that about 86 per cent of platform workers with fatal or major injuries in the first half of 2026 had been involved in a vehicular incident.

More injuries were reported among workers who provided delivery services than among those in ride-hailing work.

Sim noted that platform workers face a higher risk from road accidents.

“They spend significantly more time on the roads than the average rider. As a result, they face greater exposure and greater risks,” she said.

Sim said that beyond equipping platform workers with the skills to ride safely, employers must also support them by adopting practices that allow them to ride safely.

She added: “We regularly engage employers and platform operators to encourage them to adopt responsible workplace practices.

“This includes avoiding time-based incentives or penalties, as we do not want platform workers to rush on the roads, and ensuring that there are appropriate work-rest arrangements to manage their fatigue.”

Sim said that the Multi-Agency Workplace Safety and Health Taskforce, established in October 2022 to strengthen workplace safety and health outcomes in higher-risk sectors, has joined forces with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Traffic Police (TP) to address work-related traffic risks.

The workshop’s introduction comes after the August release of TP statistics, which showed that the number of road traffic accidents and casualties has risen over the past three years.

Police statistics showed that the number of injured motorcyclists and pillion riders went up by 5.8 per cent in the first half of 2026, even as the total number of fatal accidents fell by 23.1 per cent.

Motorcyclists and pillion riders accounted for 45.9 per cent of all road deaths. They were involved in 55.6 per cent of all traffic accidents resulting in injuries and death.

In her speech, Sim said riders must also take responsibility, including wearing the right riding gear and avoiding risks, including speeding.

In this regard, she said a checklist will be made available on delivery apps, physical banners and at motorcycle parking lots at participating malls to remind riders to cultivate safer habits and make better choices on the roads.

Said Sim: “Road safety is a shared responsibility. Government agencies will continue to strengthen our policies, outreach and enforcement. Industry partners must continue to champion safe riding practices. Every rider must continue to make safe choices on every journey.

“If each of us plays our part, we can make our roads safer for everyone.”

Andrew Wong is a correspondent with The Straits Times’ court and crime desk.

9月12日，新加坡内政部第二部长沈颖（左四）在新加坡博览中心出席“新加坡安全骑行”活动启动仪式。

《海峡时报》摄影：JASON QUAH

发布于2026年9月12日下午5:00

更新于2026年9月12日下午5:00

2026年初，致命事故下降了23.1%，但摩托车骑手和乘客的受伤人数上升了5.8%，这两个群体占受伤和死亡事故的一半以上。

平台工人面临更高的道路风险，六个月内发生了四起工作场所死亡事故；政府启动了“智能骑行，安全骑行”研讨会，目标是在两年内培训 1400 名骑手。

当局敦促雇主改进工作方式，避免仓促发放奖励，并控制疲劳，同时强调提高所有骑行者道路安全的共同责任。

新加坡——提供外卖或快递服务的平台工作者将有机会参加由三所驾驶学校举办的培训班，以提升他们安全驾驶摩托车的技能、知识和信心。

“安全驾驶，智慧驾驶”研讨会将由驾驶学校与国家配送冠军协会和平台运营商合作，在兀兰的新加坡安全驾驶中心提供免费的每月防御性驾驶课程。

内政部第二部长沈颖表示，政府的目标是在未来两年内吸引 1400 名平台工作者。

根据新加坡人力部 (MOM) 的数据，到 2024 年，约有 15,300 名新加坡居民在送货平台担任固定工作人员，包括食品和快递领域。

Sim在9月12日于新加坡博览中心举行的全国摩托车周末活动上宣布举办此次研讨会时表示，平台工人面临着更大的道路风险，因为他们在路上花费的时间比普通人要多得多。

“他们为我们的社区提供了一项重要的服务，我们共同有责任帮助他们安全骑行，”沈先生说道。他还在世博会上帮助启动了2026年新加坡安全骑行活动。

她表示，此次研讨会的合作将摩托车界、行业合作伙伴和政府机构聚集在一起。

“道路安全是每个人的共同责任。任何一个机构或个人都无法独自完成这项工作。这需要我们所有人共同努力，才能确保道路每天都安全畅通，”沈先生补充道。

人力部于 9 月 8 日发布的年中工作场所安全与健康报告显示，2026 年 1 月至 6 月期间发生的 21 起工作场所死亡事故中，有 4 名平台工人；而 2025 年同期发生的 18 起工作场所死亡事故中，有 2 名平台工人。

这四名平台工作人员中，三名是送货员，一名是网约车司机。

数据显示，2026 年上半年，约 86% 的站台工人因致命或重伤而卷入车辆事故。

报告的受伤人数中，送货员比网约车司机更多。

Sim指出，平台工人面临更高的交通事故风险。

“他们花在路上的时间比普通骑行者多得多。因此，他们面临着更大的风险和更多的危险，”她说。

Sim表示，除了让平台工人掌握安全骑行的技能外，雇主还必须通过采取能够让他们安全骑行的做法来支持他们。

她补充道：“我们定期与雇主和平台运营商沟通，鼓励他们采取负责任的工作场所做法。

“这包括避免采用基于时间的奖励或惩罚措施，因为我们不希望平台工人赶时间上路，并确保有适当的工作休息安排来缓解他们的疲劳。”

Sim表示，为加强高风险行业的工作场所安全与健康成果，于2022年10月成立的多机构工作场所安全与健康工作组已与内政部和交通警察（TP）携手合作，以应对与工作相关的交通风险。

本次研讨会的举办是在 8 月份交通警察局发布统计数据之后，数据显示，过去三年道路交通事故和伤亡人数有所上升。

警方统计数据显示，2026 年上半年摩托车事故中受伤的摩托车骑手和乘客人数增加了 5.8%，而死亡事故总数下降了 23.1%。

摩托车驾驶员和乘客占所有道路交通事故死亡人数的45.9%。他们卷入了所有造成人员伤亡的交通事故的55.6%。

在她的演讲中，沈女士表示，骑手也必须承担责任，包括穿戴合适的骑行装备和避免风险，例如超速行驶。

在这方面，她表示，将在外卖应用程序、实体横幅和参与活动的商场的摩托车停车场提供一份清单，以提醒骑手养成更安全的习惯，并在道路上做出更好的选择。

Sim表示：“道路安全是每个人的责任。政府机构将继续加强政策、宣传和执法力度。行业合作伙伴必须继续倡导安全骑行。每位骑行者都必须在每次出行中做出安全的选择。”

“如果我们每个人都尽自己的一份力，我们就能让道路对每个人都更安全。”

Andrew Wong 是《海峡时报》法庭与犯罪新闻部的记者。