TRAFFIC LAWS (Stricter enforcement to curb accidents)

Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Defence whether he will adopt stricter enforcement of traffic laws in view of the alarming increase of fatal accidents recently.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am glad to say that statistics show that there was a decrease in the number of fatal accident cases in 1969 as compared with the previous year. In 1969, a total of 302 persons were killed on the road, whereas in 1968, the number of road accident victims killed was 312. The traffic police are already stepping up action against motorists who show no consideration for other road users on the roads, and the traffic laws are being enforced as strictly as possible.

The scale of composition fines that can be imposed for traffic offences which are compoundable has been reviewed, and the Ministry of Communications has been urged to introduce legislation in order to raise the maximum composition fine from $20 to $50 so that the habitual offender will not get off as lightly as the first offender. The majority of road accidents in 1969 involved pedestrians who crossed the road heedless of road traffic. The question of prohibiting jaywalking is now being considered by the Ministry of Communications.