SINGAPORE, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Singapore will require all newly registered motorcycles to be equipped with anti-lock braking systems (ABS) starting April 1, 2027, in a move aimed at improving vehicle and road safety.

The motor industry will have an 18-month transition period to clear existing stocks and introduce ABS-equipped models, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a statement on Tuesday.

Motorcycles currently without ABS will not need to be retrofitted. The LTA noted that, as of the end of 2024, roughly half of all motorcycles in Singapore were already fitted with ABS.

ABS helps reduce the risk of skidding by modulating brake pressure and maintaining vehicle stability during sudden or hard braking.

According to the Traffic Police's 2024 annual report, the number of fatal accidents involving motorcyclists in Singapore rose by 20.8 percent from 2023 to 2024, while fatalities involving motorcyclists and pillion riders increased by 25 percent. ■