{"id":45927,"date":"2026-04-20T11:50:42","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T03:50:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=45927"},"modified":"2026-04-20T11:50:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T03:50:42","slug":"traffic-accidents-in-singapore-impact-beyond-injuries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=45927","title":{"rendered":"Traffic accidents in Singapore: Impact beyond injuries"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 <!-- -->On the floor of Tan Tock Seng Hospital\u2019s (TTSH) accident and<!-- --> <!-- -->emergency (A&amp;E) department sat a bloodied plastic bag containing the shattered leg bones of a lorry driver. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Around it, the trauma team moved in a frantic blur, trying to save his life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Minutes<!-- --> <!-- -->earlier, the man, in his 30s, had been pinned inside his vehicle after a collision with another lorry.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The impact had crumpled the cabin inwards, trapping him. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Singapore Civil Defence Force<!-- --> <!-- -->used hydraulic tools to free him, while gathering the fragments of his crushed limb. <\/p>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col gap-16 p-16 tablet:p-24 border border-default nested-element rounded-md break-words tablet:break-normal\" data-testid=\"nested-elements-test-id\">\n<div class=\"article-list-container\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-test-id\">\n<ul class=\"pl-22 list-disc article-list-wrapper\">\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">National Mindline: 1771 (24 hours) \/ 6669-1771 (via WhatsApp)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) \/ 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500\/1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Women\u2019s Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Seniors Helpline: 1800-555-5555\u00a0(weekdays,\u00a09am to 5pm)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Tinkle Friend (for primary school-age children): 1800-2744-788<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-list-container\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-test-id\">\n<ul class=\"pl-22 list-disc article-list-wrapper\">\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">We Care Community Services: 3165-8017<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Shan You Counselling Centre: 6741-9293 <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Clarity Singapore: 6757-7990<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"article-list-item list-item\" data-testid=\"bulleted-article-list-item-test-id\">\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Care Corner Counselling Centre: 6353-1180<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Ms Eunice Tay, an advanced practice nurse at TTSH, said it was one of the worst accidents she had seen in recent years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">She said: \u201cHis leg was so badly crushed it did not resemble a leg any more.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Despite the medical team\u2019s efforts, the<!-- --> <!-- -->man died.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Ms Tay<!-- --> said TTSH\u2019s trauma team sees about four cases of severe trauma injuries from road traffic accidents every week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Established in 2003 as Singapore\u2019s first dedicated trauma unit, the TTSH Trauma Centre serves as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/care-model-to-improve-trauma-outcome-in-central-spore-fashioned-after-bicycle-wheel?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">critical hub for the island\u2019s most complex emergencies<\/span><\/a>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The centre\u2019s director,<!-- --> <!-- -->Adjunct Assistant Professor Teo Li-Tserng, said he sees up to 10 major trauma cases a week.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/85627e6d42ac71ea4825369ba1db7efe203732446405cde272b1a0e813e7662b?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/85627e6d42ac71ea4825369ba1db7efe203732446405cde272b1a0e813e7662b?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/85627e6d42ac71ea4825369ba1db7efe203732446405cde272b1a0e813e7662b?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/85627e6d42ac71ea4825369ba1db7efe203732446405cde272b1a0e813e7662b\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/85627e6d42ac71ea4825369ba1db7efe203732446405cde272b1a0e813e7662b\" alt=\"Tan Tock Seng Hospital\u2019s trauma psychology lead Lum Khay Xian, Trauma Centre director Teo Li-Tserng and advanced practice nurse Eunice Tay.\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 flex flex-col gap-08 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">(From left) Trauma psychology lead Lum Khay Xian, Trauma Centre director Teo Li-Tserng and advanced practice nurse Eunice Tay are from Tan Tock Seng Hospital, whose trauma unit serves as the critical hub for the most complex emergencies.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\">ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">H<!-- -->e said that if he was seeing a road accident patient at the hospital, it meant that the patient had probably been in a very serious incident.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He recalled a shocking case involving an upper primary schoolboy who had been run over by a cement truck. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The child arrived with a fiercely red face and bloodshot eyes caused by blood being forcefully trapped in his upper body, along with a fractured femur piercing his skin.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Prof Teo said: \u201cHe looked like someone right out of a zombie movie, but he was just a kid.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">While the instinct might be to immediately treat the leg injury to ease the patient\u2019s pain, Prof Teo noticed the boy\u2019s laboured breathing and suspected more severe internal injuries. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">With the patient\u2019s blood pressure plunging, panic threatened to overtake the room.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Prof Teo recalled: \u201cEverybody was rushing to do stuff to him. We had to take a step back and prioritise doing what was more important for the patient at that point in time to save his life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The protruding femur, he said, was visually shocking, but was not critical.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Stripping away the boy\u2019s shirt revealed tyre marks across his chest, signalling severe damage to his heart and lungs.<!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Prioritising the patient\u2019s failing lungs and heart over the shattered leg, the team rushed the boy into emergency surgery. He survived after months of operations and treatment in the hospital.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Prof Teo said medical staff can get emotional, especially when their patient is a child. But they have a job to do, and they know that clouded judgment can spell disaster. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He said: \u201cWe do feel the pain, especially when a young child is injured. But you know you need to recalibrate and stay focused, otherwise the patient is going to die. Our emotions at that time are not important.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Singapore\u2019s roads are now at their most dangerous in years, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/courts-crime\/road-traffic-fatalities-hit-10-year-high-in-2025-with-149-dead-elderly-deaths-more-than-double?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">traffic deaths hitting a 10-year high<\/span><\/a> of 149 in 2025, compared with 141 in 2016.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">There were 142 deaths from traffic incidents in 2024.<!-- --> <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The number of traffic-related injuries also surged from 9,342 in 2024 to 9,955 in 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Given the dire situation on Singapore\u2019s roads, The Straits Times will be running stories to remind all road users to be responsible.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Stories will include those of accident victims, investigation officers and trauma experts, among many others, to highlight the irreversible consequences in a traffic accident, regardless of whose fault it is.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Prof Teo said the frustration for medical professionals is that almost all of these tragedies are avoidable.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He added: \u201cIf one has a heart attack or stroke while driving, then yes, an accident may not be avoidable. But most of the time, accidents are preventable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He cited distraction, fatigue, intoxication and sheer recklessness as the primary<!-- --> <!-- -->reasons for accidents, and added that these dangerous behaviours applied to all road users.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Prof Teo said simple safety measures, such as wearing seat belts and helmets, are what give his team a chance to save lives.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He said: \u201cIf you are involved in an accident while observing safety rules, you are more likely to arrive alive, so I can do something for you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">But if a road user was not observing safety rules, he added, \u201c<!-- -->the injuries may be so devastating that even if you arrive alive, my team and I may not be able to save you\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Prof Teo said that the devastation of a road traffic accident extends beyond the operating table.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cSolving the physical injury is relatively easy. If the bone is fractured, we will fix it. If the liver is ruptured, we will put it back together,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cBut when we deal with the psychological rehab and returning the patient to a quality of life or a semblance of what they think life should be, that, I think, is the challenging part.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Ms Lum Khay Xian, TTSH\u2019s trauma psychology lead, estimates that about<!-- --> <!-- -->one in five accident survivors may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">She said victims who endure the agony of being trapped in a crushed vehicle face a long road to mental recovery.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">She added:<!-- --> <!-- -->\u201cWhen they finally come to the hospital, they get treated for their physical injuries. The body might have got out, but the mind is still at the scene.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Ms Lum said the aftermath could shatter families long after the physical wounds have healed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cAfter<!-- --> a road accident, it is not just the injured person who is affected.<!-- --> <!-- -->Their loved ones also feel a lot of emotional pain, and that can strain relationships,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In some cases, survivors lose limbs or become dependent on others for their daily activities. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">This can affect their sense of self-worth and cause tension in the family, with extreme cases sometimes ending in divorce.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In the boy\u2019s case, his parents blamed each other for the incident.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">For some survivors, the trauma can be triggered months later by something as simple as a passing sound or an image. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Ms Lum said those who suffer from PTSD may constantly be on high alert and become easily irritable, which can also strain relationships.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">While she and her colleagues do their best to listen and help, she urges road users to think about the consequences of their actions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cI hope we can all make that careful decision to slow down, observe the rules and look around, to safeguard yourself and someone else\u2019s loved one,\u201d Ms Lum said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cWhat if because of you slowing down, someone gets to go home safely, and someone\u2019s family stays whole?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/courts-crime\/death-trauma-divorce-how-impact-of-traffic-accidents-in-spore-extends-beyond-ae-operating-rooms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 On the floor of Tan Tock Seng Hospital\u2019s (TTSH) accident and emergency (A&amp;E) department sat a bloodied plastic bag containing the shattered leg&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45928,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=45927"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45927\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/45928"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=45927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=45927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=45927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}