Advisory notices and summonses for offences within enhanced school zones

Question:

Mr Cai Yinzhou: To ask the Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs whether the Traffic Police will consider (i) issuing advisory notices instead of summonses to first-time speeding offenders at recently-enhanced Enhanced School Zones (ESZs) (ii) issuing individual penalties for offenders who speed multiple times in the same ESZ during a short journey and (iii) waiving summonses for speeding offences at ESZs, for incidents where the offender had not yet received the first notice of traffic offence.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs:

1. Our roads are becoming less safe. The number of accidents resulting in fatalities or injuries increased by 7%, from around 7,200 cases in 2024 to around 7,700 cases in 2025. Speeding is a contributing factor towards such accidents. This is why the Traffic Police has stepped up enforcement against speeding, and why the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also enhanced the penalties for speeding with effect from 1 January 2026.

2. There is no reason to relax the rules for those driving in Enhanced School Zones (ESZs). In fact, ESZs warrant more attention from drivers and higher penalties for offenders because they are places where vulnerable pedestrians frequent. To alert drivers to be more careful, ESZs have identifiable features such as prominent traffic signs, “SLOW” and “SCHOOL” markings painted on the road, and red-coloured road 16 surfaces along the school frontage. Drivers will also receive On-Board Unit alerts when they are entering and driving within School Zones.

3. Depending on the facts of the case and the driver’s record, offenders may be issued separate advisories or summons for distinct violations occurring within different sections of an ESZ.

4. All drivers should be aware of their surroundings and adhere to the appropriate speed limits, regardless of whether they have received notice of a prior traffic offence.