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Source:
www.mha.gov.sg |
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Written Answer to
Parliamentary Question on Traffic Summons for Speeding, 22 January
2007 |
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Dr Teo Ho Pin: |
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To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister for Home Affairs in the last five years |
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(a) how many traffic summons were
issued for speeding; and |
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(b) how many driving licences were
revoked or suspended. |
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Mr Wong Kan Seng: |
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Traffic Police issued a total of 35,360
summonses for speeding offences in 2002. |
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This number rose 38% to 48,930 summons in 2003, and
a further 68% to 82,140 summons in 2004. |
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This increase can be mainly attributed to the
introduction of the portable Police Speed Laser Cameras (PSLC), which enabled
more flexible and active enforcement by Traffic Police. |
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In 2005, as part of Police¨s overall
enforcement strategy, more resources were diverted to ensure greater
police presence on our roads to deter motorists from flouting traffic
rules. |
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The public had by then become more aware of the PSLC
deployment through Traffic Police¨s website and radio. |
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This contributed to the number of
summonses issued for speeding falling 37% to 51,800 in 2005 as
compared to 2004. In 2006, the number of summonses issued for
speeding decreased 13% to 45,130 compared to the 51,800 summonses
issued in 2005. |
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Under the Driver Improvement Points
System (DIPS), a driver who accumulates more than 24 demerit
points within 24 months is liable to be suspended. |
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Over the last 5 years, the number of
driving licences suspended annually has remained relatively
stable, hovering between 400 to 540 per year, with 2005
registering a high of 587 suspensions. Suspension periods last
from 3 to 12 months. |
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Table 1: No. of
Driving Licences Suspended
| Year |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
| 1st Suspension (3
mths) |
315
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249
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269
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419
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381
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| 2nd Suspension (6
mths) |
125
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131
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157
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145
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134
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| 3rd Suspension or
more (12 mths) |
28
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29
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24
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23
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28
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| Total : |
468 |
409 |
450 |
587 |
543 |
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In addition, a driver who is charged
for very serious traffic offences such ascausing death by
dangerous driving (Sec 66 RTA) or causing death by a rash and
negligent act (Sec 304A Penal Code) may have his licence suspended
with immediate effect. |
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Under the Road Traffic Act, a driving
licence may be revoked if the driver is certified to be medically
unfit to drive by a doctor. |
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A driving licence can also be revoked
if a new driver accumulates 13 or more demerit points or if he
fails to display the Probation (P) plate twice within the 12-month
period after obtaining his Driving Licence. |
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If the driving licence is revoked, the
person must wait a year before being allowed to take a driving
test. |
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There were 140 and 240 driving
licences revoked in 2002 and 2003 respectively. In 2004, the
number of licences revoked increased by 32% to 320. This was
mainly due to new drivers who were caught for not displaying the
P-plate twice or for chalking up 13 or more demerit points within
the first year of obtaining their driving licences. |
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Police has since worked with the
driving schools to educate new drivers on traffic offences through
their training packages, especially during the advance theory
lessons. |
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The number of driving licences revoked
has since fallen to 170 in 2005, which is 48% lower compared to
2004. |
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In 2006, the number of driving
licences revoked was 90 as compared to the 170 licences revoked in
2005. This reduction was partly due to a significant reduction in
the licences revoked for probationary drivers. |
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Traffic Police takes a strong
enforcement stance against those who drive dangerously, including
those who speed on our roads, as they not only put their own lives
at risk but also the lives of other road users. |
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Suspension and revocation of driving
licences take such errant drivers off the roads and help
contribute to the safety of other road users. |
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Besides enforcement, Police, supported
by private sector partners, has been organising many public
education programmes. |
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Police launched the Road Safety
Outreach 2006 (RSO 2006) in conjunction with the Police Week
Carnival in June 2006 as part of its on-going road safety public
education efforts. |
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The launch of RSO 2006 kicked off a
year-long series of road safety activities, such as exhibitions
and workshops, reaching out to all categories of road users to
heighten their awareness on the importance of road safety,
including the dangers of speeding. |
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Source:
www.mha.gov.sg News Release 22
Jan 2007 |
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FrontPage Edition: Wed 7 February 2007
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