NOISE POLLUTION FROM INCESSANT HONKING

Mr Hawazi Daipi asked the Minister for Home Affairs how the Traffic Police will overcome the problem of noise pollution from incessant honking early in the morning by buses and lorries at the Singapore Immigration checkpoint in Woodlands.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Bus and lorry drivers, and motorcyclists honk their horns early in the morning at queue-cutters along the Causeway Bridge and at the road leading to the mini-checkpoint, which operates between 6 and 9 am to clear motorcyclists entering Singapore. Some motorcycles also spill onto the path of buses and lorries, impeding their movement and posing an accident risk.

The cause of the indiscriminate use of horns at the checkpoint is queue jumping and spill over of motorcyclists into the paths of other vehicles during the peak period. Police has addressed this problem by enhancing its presence at the road leading to the mini-checkpoint to deter drivers and riders from jumping queue, and from blocking the movement of other vehicles. For example, its officers are now deployed at the Causeway Bridge one-hour earlier, from 5 am. It has also issued summonses to motorists who honk unnecessarily. In addition, Traffic Police (TP) is working with the Land Transport Authority to put up more signs reminding motorists not to horn unnecessarily. Police is also preparing advisory leaflets to remind motorists to drive in an orderly manner and not to cause a nuisance by horning. These leaflets will be distributed to motorists entering and departing Singapore.

Nevertheless, the Police can only do so much. It is only through public education that we can encourage our motorists and motorcyclists to be courteous to other road users.

Loud horning is an offence if there is a gazetted "No horning" sign displayed. There is such a sign located near the Causeway Checkpoint. This offence can be compounded with a fine of $50. For severe cases, TP can charge the offender in Court, for which he can be fined up to $1,000 or be jailed up to 3 months for first time conviction, or fined up to $2,000 or be jailed up to 6 months for subsequent convictions.