Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Motorists and Drivers Committing Same Traffic Offence in Past 3 Years by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law

Question

581. Mr Gan Thiam Poh: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs
(a) how many motorists have committed the same traffic offence (i) once (ii) twice and (iii) more than thrice in each of the past three years; (b) what is the percentage of such offenders against the total number of licensed motorists; (c) how many of such offences have been successfully appealed against; and (d) what is the percentage of successful appeals out of the total number of offences in each category.

582. Mr Gan Thiam Poh: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs
(a) how many taxi drivers have committed the same traffic offence (i) once (ii) twice and (iii) more than thrice per year in each of the past three years; (b) what is the percentage of such offenders against the total number of licensed taxi drivers; (c) how many offences have been successfully appealed against; and (d) what is the percentage of successful appeals out of the total number of offences by taxi drivers in each category.

Answer:

1. The majority of motorists who committed traffic violations were not repeat offenders.

1. 1. For the most common traffic violation of speeding, in the past three years, 4.7% of all licensed motorists were first-time offenders, 0.6% had offended twice, while 0.1% had offended more than twice.2. The numbers are lower for other violations. In the past three years, for running a red light, 1.6% of all licensed motorists were first-time offenders, while 0.02% were repeat offenders.

2. The proportion of taxi drivers who were traffic offenders was higher.

1. 1. For speeding, in the past three years, 8.9% of all taxi drivers were first-time offenders, 2.2% had offended twice, while 0.8% had offended more than twice.2. For running a red light, 2.7% of all taxi drivers were first-time offenders, while 0.1% were repeat offenders.

3. The Traffic Police (TP) has continually engaged motorists, taxi drivers, the taxi companies and National Taxi Association (NTA) on safe driving practices. For example, TP has collaborated with taxi companies to remind taxi drivers of accident-prone and enforcement areas through the Mobile Data Terminals in taxis. To reduce speeding and beating of red lights, TP has erected more prominent warning signs of the use of enforcement cameras.

4. In respect of appeals, it has to be noted that traffic violations impact on the safety of other motorists and pedestrians. Very few appeals are acceded to, and only where there are very strong extenuating factors such as a medical emergency.