SINGAPORE: Singapore's setting up a new Singapore Road Safety Council by early next year.

It aims to adopt a more focussed and holistic approach to road safety by fostering closer cooperation of all stakeholders involved in activities to prevent road accidents and to enhance safety.

The new council will also be the official body for Singapore to engage with other international road safety councils and programmes that contribute to global road safety outcomes.

It will also serve as a forum for the public to express their views and exchange ideas on road safety matters.

Besides this outreach, 37 of the region's best drivers were all set to perform and entertain in the Formula Drift series at the Changi Exhibition Centre which ends on Sunday.

Kicking off the campaign was Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs, Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee.

He said for the first quarter of this year, the number of fatalities on Singapore's roads dropped by about 32 per cent to 37 cases against 54 in the same period last year.

This year's campaign targets two key audiences - elderly pedestrians and motorcyclists.

Professor Ho said motorcyclists and pillion riders remain a key concern as they form half of those who died on the roads.

To address this, the Traffic Police has also reviewed the Class 2B motorcycle training curriculum and new students since mid-May have to attend additional theory lessons on defensive riding before taking the practical test. - CNA/vm