CAR TELEPHONES (Regulation for use)

Mr Chin Harn Tong asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether he considers the use of telephones by motorists while driving a hazardous practice and, if so, whether he intends to regulate such use.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Prof. S. Jayakumar): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the advice of the Police is that motorists should not use handphones while driving. This is because a driver's concentration on driving as well as his ability to control the vehicle and his observance of road safety will be affected. Therefore, when a motorist is on the road and wishes to make a call, or has an incoming call, such calls should be attended to by others in the vehicle. If he is alone and driving on a major road or expressway, he should turn off into a side road. If he is driving on a minor road, he should pull up at a safe spot before using the handphone.

For the present, the Traffic Police hope to educate motorists on this as part of their overall road safety programme. Enforcement by regulation will be considered if this approach proves ineffective.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh: Sir, what period of education does the Minister envisage?

Prof. Jayakumar: There can be no hard and fast rule here. We will have to ask the Traffic Police to make their judgment on this, especially from their observations and also by an analysis of the causes of accidents that occur.