Why these cameras are appearing now
Singapore is testing a new generation of traffic cameras to catch violations that have long been hard to enforce at scale, such as illegal U turns, crossing double white lines, stopping in yellow boxes and ignoring directional signs. In the first month of the trial, which began in September 2025, the system detected more than 6,000 potential offences across 11 locations, according to information released by the police. No penalties are being issued during this phase. Officers are reviewing the footage to validate accuracy and to calibrate the system before any enforcement kicks in. Full operations are planned for the first quarter of 2026.
The push comes amid a rise in road accidents and casualties in early 2025. While speeding has received heavy enforcement, authorities say other risky behaviors also contribute to collisions and congestion. Today these technical violations are typically enforced by officers on the ground. That approach is resource intensive and cannot provide round the clock coverage. A camera network, by contrast, can operate continuously, capture clear evidence and be redeployed to match changing conditions.
The trial devices are painted in bright orange with white stripes so they stand out to motorists, similar to existing enforcement cameras. They are also mobile. Units can be moved to accident prone areas or places where the public reports frequent violations. Police said locations will be published on the Singapore Police Force website once the system is ready for full rollout, a step aimed at transparency and deterrence. During testing, the most common issue flagged has been drivers crossing double white lines, especially where traffic is heavy and motorists attempt quick turns or lane changes.
How the new system works
The Traffic Violation Enforcement Camera system uses video analytics paired with automatic number plate recognition. The analytics module builds a model of vehicle movement within a detection zone. When a vehicle performs an illegal action, the system captures a short video or image series and records key details such as plate number, timestamp and suspected offence type. Analysts then verify and prepare cases for enforcement when the cameras go operational.
Unlike fixed speed cameras that focus on a single metric, these devices are designed to spot a broader set of behaviors that often lead to conflicts on the road. The list includes illegal U turns, crossing continuous double white lines, running a red light, ignoring mandatory directional signs and stopping in yellow box junctions. The cameras can be redeployed as patterns shift, which lets enforcement follow risky behavior instead of waiting for officers to witness it in person.
Why are double white line crossings so common
Continuous double white lines indicate that traffic in opposite directions should remain in their lanes. The Highway Code does not allow U turns or right turns across such lines, and drivers should not straddle them. Overtaking is only allowed if a vehicle stays fully to the left of the lines. In busy corridors and near junctions, frustration and tight gaps can tempt some motorists to cross to gain an advantage. Police data from the trial period indicates this is the top violation flagged by the new cameras. The penalties already on the books for these offences are not changing with the trial. Typical fines for crossing double white lines range from 150 to 200 Singapore dollars, and illegal U turns usually draw fines between 100 and 150 Singapore dollars.
Where the trial cameras are operating
Eleven sites have been part of the test and calibration phase since September. The devices are mobile, so locations can change as the trial progresses. Authorities have said they will publish final locations when the network becomes fully operational.
- Bidadari Park Drive
- Dunearn Road
- Simei Street 5
- Tampines Avenue 4
- Queensway outside Queensway Shopping Centre
- Bishan Street 14
- Jervois Lane
- Tampines Street 91
- Tanjong Katong Road near the junction with Wareham Road
- Hillcrest Road near Raffles Girls Primary School
- West Coast Way near West Coast Grove
During the first month of the trial, about 20 offences a day were picked up across these 11 sites. No action is being taken during testing while the system is tuned and the detections are reviewed. Once enforcement begins in 2026, the locations will be listed on the police website to help drivers plan routes and adopt safer habits.
Singapore’s road safety picture in 2025
The mid year statistics for 2025 showed an increase in road traffic accidents and casualties compared with the same period in 2024. There were 3,818 accidents that resulted in injuries or deaths in the first half of 2025, compared with 3,507 a year earlier. Fatal accidents rose from 70 to 78, and fatalities increased from 72 to 79. Vulnerable road users, especially motorcyclists and elderly pedestrians, continue to make up a large share of deaths and injuries. Accidents involving elderly pedestrians rose, and 15 elderly pedestrians died in the first half of 2025. The number of accidents involving motorcyclists grew as well, and motorcyclists and pillion riders still accounted for more than half of road deaths.
Speeding violations climbed sharply. More than 118,000 speeding offences were recorded in the first half of 2025, up about 45 percent from the same period in 2024. To slow drivers down, the police have enabled the speed enforcement function in many red light cameras since 2024, which has already detected tens of thousands of speeding cases. Even with stricter speed enforcement, collisions linked to red light running and unsafe maneuvers continue to occur. That is why authorities are turning to technology that can also detect technical rule breaks that escalate into crashes or gridlock.
A strategy that targets more than speed
Speed cameras play a big role, but they do not catch everything. Illegal U turns, stopping in a yellow box and crossing double white lines can cause side swipes, rear end collisions and intersection blockages. These behaviors often spike at specific junctions and corridors. Until now, officers had to be present to observe and act. A network of cameras that flags these behaviours in real time provides coverage 24 hours a day and frees up officers for duties that require a human touch. The new devices supplement the existing camera fleet, which includes fixed speed cameras and red light cameras that can also enforce speed.
What research says about cameras and compliance
Studies in Singapore and abroad have found that enforcement cameras reduce violations when drivers expect a high chance of detection. Research on intersections equipped with red light cameras showed that approaches covered by cameras had far fewer red light running incidents than similar approaches without cameras. In high volume settings, the difference in violation rates can be several fold. That aligns with experience in many cities that have used cameras to prevent drivers from gambling on late yellow phases or quick turns through prohibited areas.
The relationship between cameras and safety can be complex at first. For example, some sites see more rear end braking conflicts when cameras are newly installed, while others see immediate reductions in dangerous conflicts. Over time, the general pattern in peer reviewed evaluations is that compliance improves when technology makes detection consistent. The new Singapore system focuses on a wider range of behaviors than traditional speed or red light enforcement, which may help reduce conflicts that are not captured by a speed reading alone.
What drivers should expect by 2026
The police aim to operationalise the traffic violation enforcement cameras in the first quarter of 2026. During the ongoing test and calibration phase, no summonses will be issued for detections by the new system. Once enforcement begins, police will publish camera locations and proceed with action based on verified evidence captured by the devices. The cameras are deliberately painted in highly visible colors, a practice that encourages drivers to change behavior without needing a ticket.
Penalty schedules for offences like illegal U turns, crossing double white lines and yellow box violations are already defined under current rules. There are no indications of changes to fines for these specific offences as part of the camera rollout. Heavier penalties for speeding are planned from January 2026, and separate measures such as speed limiters for certain heavy vehicles are being phased in. Together with the new cameras, these policies form a broader attempt to reduce deadly behaviors on the roads.
Drivers who receive a notice after the system goes live can expect that the evidence will include images or video tied to the time and place of the offence and to the vehicle plate. As with other automated enforcement, there will be a process to contest a notice if a motorist believes there is an error. That is one reason the police are spending months validating the system before enforcement begins, to make sure detections are accurate and consistent.
Common questions from motorists
Many drivers support tougher action against risky behaviors, though some worry about false positives or new rules to learn. The following points address the questions that come up most often in the trial period.
Will the trial result in fines
No. The trial phase is for testing, calibration and validation. Police have said they will not take action during this period. Enforcement starts only when the system becomes operational, which is targeted for the first quarter of 2026.
How are the cameras different from speed and red light cameras
Traditional speed cameras measure speed against a posted limit. Red light cameras capture vehicles that enter a junction after the signal turns red, and many can also enforce speed. The new devices are designed to spot an expanded list of violations such as illegal U turns, yellow box offences, crossing double white lines and ignoring directional signs. They use analytics to interpret movement patterns rather than relying on a single beam or loop sensor.
What counts as stopping in a yellow box
A yellow box marks a keep clear space at a junction. Drivers should enter only if their exit is clear so they do not block cross traffic. One exception applies when a driver is turning right and waiting in the box for a gap in oncoming traffic or vehicles also turning right, and the exit is otherwise clear. Stopping in the box when the exit is blocked can lead to a fine because it disrupts the entire junction.
How can drivers avoid mistakes
Small changes in habits reduce the risk of accidental violations and keep traffic flowing.
- Plan the turn early. If a U turn is not allowed at a junction, proceed to a legal U turn point instead of cutting across double white lines.
- Approach yellow box junctions slowly. Enter only when there is space to exit on the far side.
- Watch for directional signs. If a lane requires you to go straight or turn, do not change the plan at the last moment.
- Leave extra time in heavy traffic. Most violations occur when drivers are rushing or improvising.
- Follow lane discipline. Do not straddle continuous double white lines to overtake or turn.
What it means for daily commuting
The new cameras extend coverage from pure speed control to precision monitoring of conflict prone behavior at junctions and corridors. That matters for everyday journeys, because a single vehicle stopping in a yellow box can cascade into gridlock, and a quick illegal U turn can cause a side impact crash. High visibility units and published locations tilt the program more toward deterrence than surprise. The goal is to change habits in places where the rules are often ignored, rather than to catch drivers out of sight.
Technology is not a silver bullet. It works best alongside road design, public education and targeted operations by officers. Singapore has already upgraded many red light cameras to enforce speed and is tightening penalties for serious speeding. The trial of violation cameras fills a separate gap where technical rule breaks lead to costly conflicts. If the trial validation holds up, the network will provide consistent evidence, constant coverage and the flexibility to follow problem spots as they emerge.
The Bottom Line
- New mobile cameras flagged more than 6,000 suspected violations in the first month of a trial that began in September 2025.
- No action is taken during the trial while police validate accuracy and calibrate the system.
- Full operations are targeted for the first quarter of 2026, with camera locations to be published on the police website.
- The system uses video analytics and number plate recognition to detect illegal U turns, double white line crossings, yellow box offences, red light running and directional sign violations.
- Trial sites include 11 locations such as Bidadari Park Drive, Dunearn Road, Tampines and Queensway, and cameras can be moved to new hotspots.
- Accidents and casualties rose in the first half of 2025, and speeding violations increased by about 45 percent compared with 2024.
- Existing red light cameras have been enabled to enforce speed, and tougher penalties for speeding start in January 2026.
- Fines for double white line crossings and illegal U turns remain under current rules, typically 150 to 200 dollars and 100 to 150 dollars respectively.
- High visibility units and published locations aim to deter violations and improve compliance across the island.
