Top Traffic Offences in Singapore

Singapore Motorist Guide: In collaboration with 'Use Your Roadsense', an initiative by Traffic Police

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In this series of articles in collaboration with Use Your Roadsense, an initiative by the Singapore Traffic Police, Bridgestone Tyre Singapore brings to you tips and advice to be a better road user in Singapore.

For the first in a six-part series, we take a close look at the top traffic offences in Singapore, based on data collected by the Singapore Traffic Police in 2019. These range from seemingly harmless offences such as speeding, to serious offences such as drink driving which may result in a jail term.

So how are Singaporean drivers performing so far? In the first half of 2020, the number of speeding-related, drink-driving, and red-light running accidents decreased, when compared to the same period in 2019. Unfortunately, however, the number of speeding-related violations and drink-driving accidents that resulted in fatalities had increased.

Speeding

“I’m rushing to an important meeting,” you might say. Or “I had a terrible stomachache after eating mala xiang guo for lunch,” Or worse still, “the road was empty, it was tempting.”

Whatever your excuse for speeding, do keep in mind that the Singapore Traffic Police take a very dim view of speeding. This means exceeding the posted speed limit by any amount – whether its 5km/h, or 50km/h, you’re liable for a traffic summon if nicked.

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In the first half of 2020, the number of speeding-related accidents decreased 8.1% compared to the same period in 2019, from 358 cases to 329. However, the number of speeding violations – i.e. summons issued – increased by 5.2% compared to the same period in 2019. A whopping 94,359 violations were recorded, up from 89,718 in the previous year.

Speeding places the lives of both yourself and other road users at great risk. In a study done by the Road Accident Research Unit of the University of Adelaide, it was found that a 5km/h reduction in speed can lead to a minimum 15% decrease in crashes.

Top Tip: Exceeding the posted speed limit by just 1-20km/h could net you a ticket costing $150 (that’s a full tank of petrol!) and 4 demerit points.

Drink Driving

Kicking back and relaxing with a drink or two, maybe even three – is perfectly fine. What isn’t fine, however, is getting in your car and driving home after downing some booze.

Drink driving is up there as one of the most, if not the most selfish thing any driver can ever do. It’s one of the leading causes of traffic accidents and injuries all over the world, with drunk drivers often having zero recollection of their drive home or any accidents they might have caused.

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In the first half of 2020, the number of drunk-driving accidents decreased 36% compared to the same period in 2019, from 86 cases to 55. Additionally, the number of drivers arrested for drunk-driving decreased 31.9% compared to the same period in 2019. Unfortunately, the number of drunk-driving accidents resulting in fatalities increased 50% from 4 to 6 cases.

By law, drink driving is defined as having a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08%. However, any amount of alcohol is enough to impair driving – especially if you’re a lightweight. In a review of 109 research studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the USA, they found that alcohol impaired a driver’s reaction time, even when their BAC was as low as 0.02%.

Top Tip: Driving under the influence of alcohol will get you a minimum $1,000 fine, and up to 6 months in jail.

Beating Red Lights

“We could just run them red lights,” goes the popular dance track. Don’t. No, really, don’t run red lights. Beating a just-turned-red light might save you two minutes of waiting, but it might just cost another road user their life.

There’s no appealing against a red light-running summon, either. Going by traffic rules, you should have already slowed down or come to a complete stop when the traffic light turned amber, unless you’re responding to an emergency in an ambulance or fire engine.

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In the first half of 2020, the number of red-light running accidents decreased 59.6% compared to the same period in 2019, from 99 cases to 40. Additionally, the number of drivers arrested for running red lights decreased 14.3% compared to the same period in 2019.

More often then we’d like, we’ve all heard the familiar tale of a motorist killing another road user by beating the red light, with several high-profile cases over the years. In a study done by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety in the USA, it was found that more than two people each day were killed on American roads, just by red-light runners.

Top Tip: Beating a red light will net you a ticket costing $400 (that’s a return air ticket to Hong Kong!) and 12 demerit points.

Download the full Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS): Updated as of 2020

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For more information about 'Use Your Roadsense', an initiative by the Singapore Traffic Police, visit their Facebook page. For other articles sharing nifty driving tips, head on over to our Tyre Clinic.

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