Question:
Mr Gan Thiam Poh: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many drivers have signed up for the Safe Driving Course introduced under the Driver Improvement Points System since 1 November 2017; (b) how many drivers have signed up to reinstate their driving licence after their suspension period is over; and (c) how successful has the course been in ensuring that these drivers no longer repeat their offences.
Answer:
Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law:
1. The Safe Driving Course was introduced in 2015 as a voluntary programme to help motorists who have accumulated demerit points, but not yet liable for suspension, improve their driving behaviour. The course was revised on 1 November 2017, to widen the eligibility criteria and raise the number of demerit points expunged from motorists' records, so that more motorists would be able to benefit from attending it.
2. From 1 November 2017 to 28 February 2022, 41,278 motorists had signed up for the Safe Driving Course.
3. The course has seen some success in improving driving behaviour among participants. Since 1 November 2017, 78% of motorists who had completed the course remained offence-free for at least one year after completing the course.
4. Motorists whose licence has been suspended are not eligible for the Safe Driving Course. Those with licence suspension of less than 12 months will have their licence automatically reinstated at the end of their suspension period. They do not need to apply to reinstate their licences.
5. Motorists whose driving licence have been suspended for 12 months or more will have their licenses revoked. They would be required to retake the necessary driving tests of competency before they can drive again.
