Measures for Managing Speeding on Roads

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many speed camera traps are there in Singapore; (b) how much does each camera cost; (c) whether there are plans to upgrade the current cameras; (d) if so, when will these plans be implemented; and (e) whether the police will consider installing new speed cameras at Yishun Avenue 1.

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) if he will provide the number of motorists who had been booked for speeding in 2011 compared to 2010 and a breakdown of the type of vehicles; (b) what were the penalties imposed on these speedsters; and (c) how many of these booked were in Nee Soon GRC.

Mr Teo Chee Hean: The Traffic Police (TP) enforces against speeding in a few ways, including using cameras to detect speeding violations. There are a total of 18 static speed enforcement camera locations across Singapore. These are supplemented by portable speed cameras that are deployed flexibly island-wide.

Yishun Avenue 1 is one of the locations where a portable speed camera can be deployed, if necessary. TP is monitoring the situation closely. TP will be happy to have Dr Lee's views on this matter.

The cost of speed camera system varies depending on the technology employed and other factors. TP will be upgrading the cameras to digital technology in the near future.

TP takes a firm and active enforcement stand against speeding. In 2011, TP detected 225,550 speeding violations. This is an increase of about 10% from 2010. TP's records show speeding violations by location, that is, by name of roads and expressways. As many roads and expressways straddle more than one constituency, TP is unable to provide the number of speeding violations for Nee Soon GRC specifically, as requested by the Member. Over the past several months, the Member and her residents have expressed to TP on various occasions their concern about motorists speeding on a few of the arterial roads within the GRC. In response, TP has stepped up its enforcement actions on these roads. TP will monitor the situation closely.

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Motorcar drivers form the majority of speeding offenders, followed by motorcyclists, and drivers of light goods vehicles, such as vans and pick-ups. This is generally consistent with their respective vehicle populations.

The penalties for speeding are calibrated according to speed travelled in excess of the speed limits. An offender who exceeds the speed limit by less than 40km/h may be allowed to compound the offence. However, those who travel above that threshold will be prosecuted in court and are liable to fines not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment of up to three months, or both. Repeat offenders face up to double the punishment.

Demerit points will also be imposed for speeding offences. These demerit points cannot be reduced or waived. A driver who accumulates 24 demerit points within 24 months is liable to having his driving licence suspended.

To succeed in reducing the incidence of speeding, we will require a shared commitment. On its part, TP will maintain its firm enforcement stance and will continue educating the public on the dangers of speeding. Motorists must themselves play their part by keeping within the speed limits at all times.