MEASURES TO ENSURE MOTORISTS GIVE WAY TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES

The following Question stood in the name of Mr Robert Chua Teck Chew -

Mr Robert Chua Teck Chew: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs what measures are being taken to ensure that motorists on the road give way immediately to ambulances, fire engines and other emergency vehicles which are in the course of handling emergencies.

Mr Chia Shi Teck: Question No. 9, Sir.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responds to about 5,000 ambulance calls and 400 fire calls every month. The SCDF observes that instances of motorists failing to give way to our emergency vehicles are relatively few. The problem is therefore not serious.

At present, there is adequate legislation to deal with such motorists. Under the Road Traffic Act, all traffic, on the approach of any emergency vehicle, is required to draw in as close as possible to the edge of the road to allow a clear passage for the vehicle. A motorist who fails to give way can be fined up to $1,000 or be imprisoned for a term not exceeding three months. In the case of a second or subsequent offence, the maximum fine and prison term are $2,000 and six months respectively. Every offence also carries four demerit points.

As part of Police enforcement action, a driver of an emergency vehicle may lodge a police report against any motorist who fails to give way to his vehicle. In 1992, five motorists were booked for such an offence. In 1993, to-date, one motorist has been booked.

The SCDF is constantly improving its emergency services. For example, it has introduced the Fast Response Medic (FRM) Scheme where medics on motorcycles are despatched to attend to road accident victims ahead of ambulances. Even then, the Ministry of Home Affairs will continue its efforts to educate motorists on giving way to emergency vehicles. An instance is the recent Traffic Police Road Courtesy Campaign where this message was reinforced.