Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Legal Action Against Companies whose Heavy Vehicle Drivers Accumulate More Than Three Speeding Summons Per Year, by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law

Question:

Mr Lim Biow Chuan: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Ministry will consider taking legal action against companies whose heavy vehicle drivers accumulate more than three speeding summons per year.

Answer:

1. 1. Under law, drivers are personally liable for violating traffic rules. This is understandably so. Third parties, including employers, could be liable in specific situations: for example, if the employer got the employee to drive while under suspension.2. In addition, there are obligations on companies that own heavy vehicles. Heavy vehicle owners are required to ensure that the vehicles are fitted with speed limiters that prevent them from exceeding the speed limit of 60km/h. If the speed limiter is absent, not in good working order, or tampered with, the owners could be charged under the Road Traffic Act. First-time offenders are liable for an imprisonment term of up to three months or a fine of up to $1,000.