Singapore saw 38 traffic accidents involving suspected drug or etomidate use from 2023 to 2025, with half of the crashes—19 in total—proving fatal, authorities reported [1, 2, 3].
Of the 19 fatal cases, 9 involved etomidate, an anesthetic detected in e-vaporisers known as Kpods, while the other 10 involved drugs only [1, 2, 3]. The substance first emerged in these incidents in 2024 but increased sharply in 2025 [1, 2, 3].
The annual number of such accidents surged from 2 in 2023, none involving etomidate, to 7 in 2024 (with one case involving etomidate), then jumped to 29 cases in 2025, of which 18 involved etomidate [1, 2, 3]. Out of the 18 etomidate-linked cases that year, 7 involved concurrent use of both etomidate and other drugs [1, 2, 3].
A fatal collision in May 2025 in Punggol drew attention to the issue when police found 42 e-vaporisers and over 1,200 pods containing etomidate in the car; both occupants tested positive for the substance. A 28-year-old female passenger died in the crash [1, 2, 3]. In November 2025, an 83-year-old woman was killed in Teck Whye Lane when a car mounted the pavement; the driver was under the influence of etomidate [1, 2, 3].
Police have mandated blood tests in accidents when drug or etomidate use is suspected. Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam said, "If the Traffic Police suspect drug or etomidate use in the event of a traffic accident, a blood test will be required. There are already enhanced penalties if a motorist causes an accident while driving under influence" [1].
Penalties for dangerous driving causing death under the influence include up to 10 years imprisonment and a minimum 12-year driving disqualification for first-time offenders [1, 2, 3]. Cases linked to drug and etomidate use are at various stages of investigation and prosecution [1, 2, 3].
The police and government continue to monitor the rise in such accidents, especially amid the widespread use of etomidate-containing vaping products. The enforcement measures established in early 2025 respond to questions raised in Parliament that February by Ms Valerie Lee on protocols for suspected drug- or vaping-related traffic accidents [1, 2, 3].
