TRAFFIC SUMMONS FOR SPEEDING

Parliament of Singapore · 22 January 2007

Official Report, 22 January 2007, Vol 82, Issue 7 · Open in the reader (summaries, search, filters)

18.

Dr Teo Ho Pin asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs in the last five years (a) how many traffic summons were issued for speeding; and (b) how many driving licences were revoked or suspended.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Traffic Police issued a total of 35,360 summonses for speeding offences in 2002. This number rose 38% to 48,930 summons in 2003, and a further 68% to 82,140 summons in 2004. This increase can be mainly attributed to the introduction of the portable Police Speed Laser Cameras (PSLC), which enabled more flexible and active enforcement by Traffic Police.

Column: 1069

In 2005, as part of Police’s overall enforcement strategy, more resources were diverted to ensure greater police presence on our roads to deter motorists from flouting traffic rules. The public had by then become more aware of the PSLC deployment through Traffic Police’s website and radio. This contributed to the number of summonses issued for speeding falling 37% to 51,800 in 2005 as compared to 2004. In 2006, the number of summonses issued for speeding decreased 13% to 45,130 compared to the 51,800 summonses issued in 2005.

Under the Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS), a driver who accumulates more than 24 demerit points within 24 months is liable to be suspended. Over the last 5 years, the number of driving licences suspended annually has remained relatively stable, hovering between 400 to 540 per year, with 2005 registering a high of 587 suspensions. Suspension periods last from 3 to 12 months.

Table 1: No. of Driving Licences Suspended: Year

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

---|---|---|---|---|---

1st Suspension (3 mths)

315

249

269

419

381

2nd Suspension (6 mths)

125

131

157

145

134

3rd Suspension or more (12 mths)

Total :

468

409

450

587

543

In addition, a driver who is charged for very serious traffic offences such as causing death by dangerous driving (Sec 66 RTA) or causing death by a rash and negligent act (Sec 304A Penal Code) may have his licence suspended with immediate effect.

Under the Road Traffic Act, a driving licence may be revoked if the driver is certified to be medically unfit to drive by a doctor. A driving licence can also be revoked if a new driver accumulates 13 or more demerit points or if he fails to display the Probation (P) plate twice within the 12-month period after obtaining his Driving Licence. If the driving licence is revoked, the person must wait a year before being allowed to take a driving test.

There were 140 and 240 driving licences revoked in 2002 and 2003 respectively. In 2004, the number of licences revoked increased by 32% to 320. This was mainly due to new drivers who were caught for not displaying the P-plate twice or for chalking up 13 or more demerit points within the first year of obtaining their driving licences. Police has since worked with the driving schools to educate new drivers on traffic offences through their training packages, especially during the advance theory lessons.

The number of driving licences revoked has since fallen to 170 in 2005, which is 48% lower compared to 2004. In 2006, the number of driving licences revoked was 90 as compared to the 170 licences revoked in 2005. This reduction was partly due to a significant reduction in the licences revoked for probationary drivers.

Traffic Police takes a strong enforcement stance against those who drive dangerously, including those who speed on our roads, as they not only put their own lives at risk but also the lives of other road users. Suspension and revocation of driving licences take such errant drivers off the roads and help contribute to the safety of other road users.

Column: 1071

Besides enforcement, Police, supported by private sector partners, has been organising many public education programmes. Police launched the Road Safety Outreach 2006 (RSO 2006) in conjunction with the Police Week Carnival in June 2006 as part of its on-going road safety public education efforts. The launch of RSO 2006 kicked off a year-long series of road safety activities, such as exhibitions and workshops, reaching out to all categories of road users to heighten their awareness on the importance of road safety, including the dangers of speeding.

Column: 1071

Source: Singapore Parliament Official Report (Hansard) for 22 January 2007. Republished on SGParliament.