New Penalties For Traffic Offenders

The Traffic Police is constantly working to make our roads safer for all users. However, despite regular public education efforts, some traffic offences like beating red lights, driving/stopping on the shoulder of expressways, hit-and-run accidents and reckless driving by heavy vehicle drivers are still on the rise.

According to the Traffic Police, the number of summonses issued for failing to conform to traffic lights has increased by 32% to 64, 818 in 1998 as compared to 1997. Over the past 3 years, fatal and injury accidents have also taken place along the road shoulder of expressways. In the first half of 1999 alone, 10 accidents had occurred along the road shoulders of the expressways as compared to 7 in 1998. As motorists travel at a higher speed on expressways, such accidents are usually more severe compared to other road traffic accidents of similar nature. Hit-and-run offences are also deemed as serious offences against the Road Traffic Act, Cap 276. Vehicles carrying loads can cause potential dangers to other road users as a result of reckless driving.

Traffic Police is concerned that the current low penalties does not reflect the seriousness of the offence. To deter these offenders, they have introduced stiffer penalties with effect from Feb 1 2000.

The new penalties are:

ANNEX B
With effect from 1 Feb 2000, composition fines for non-scheduled moving offences involving motorists other than pedal-cyclists.