Source: Ministry of Home Affairs
Strengthening Deterrence Against Irresponsible Driving
To deter irresponsible behaviors by motorists, Singapore Police plans to enhance criminal penalties, especially for serious offences where the motorist exhibits egregious driving behavior and causes serious harm to the victim. Police will do so by imposing heavier imprisonment terms and fines.
a) Police will create two classes of irresponsible driving offences – Dangerous Driving and Careless Driving – in the Road Traffic Act(RTA), which correspond broadly to Rash Act and Negligent Act in the Penal Code.
b) Dangerous Driving will be distinguished from Careless Driving through:
i) The manner of driving (e.g. whether the motorist was driving at an excessively high speed, or maneuvering his vehicle within very close proximity to other vehicles);
ii) Whether the motorist was driving when he was clearly not in a state to drive safely (e.g. when he was sleep-deprived, or not wearing any visual aid when he needed it); and
iii) Whether the situation required the motorist to exercise extra care (e.g. when approaching zebra or pedestrian crossings) but he did not.
c) Each offence class of Dangerous Driving and Careless Driving will be further broken down into four tiers catering to different levels of harm caused, i.e. Death, Grievous Hurt, Hurt and Endangers Life (i.e. no hurt caused).
d) Each Dangerous or Careless Driving offence will come with a longer maximum imprisonment term and a higher maximum fine, where applicable, than the corresponding Rash Act or Negligent Act offence in the Penal Code. The basis for higher penalties is that motorists, being in control of a vehicle that they know can potentially cause great harm to other road users, ought to exercise greater care and responsibility.
e) If a Dangerous or Careless Driving offence was committed while the motorist was driving under the influence (“DUI”) of alcohol or drugs, he will be liable for additional penalties, which will run consecutively.
f) Mandatory Minimum Sentences (“MMS”) for imprisonment will be imposed for the most egregious irresponsible driving offences, e.g. where the motorist drives dangerously or while under the influence of alcohol, and causes Death or Grievous Hurt.
g) The maximum penalties and MMS terms for repeat offenders will be higher than those for first-time offenders. An individual will be deemed a repeat offender, as long as he has been convicted in Court for any Dangerous/Careless Driving or related offence before.
Pedestrian and Cyclist Offences
MHA also raise composition sums for pedestrian and cyclist offences. These composition sums have also not been increased for more than 20 years. Please refer to the appended table for the revised sums.
MHA – https://bit.ly/2OFxoM3
