Removal of mandatory minimum sentences for some dangerous driving offences to kick in from June 12

Updated legislation covering dangerous and careless driving offences, with mandatory minimum sentences for first-time offenders removed, will take effect on June 12.

The first tranche of amendments in the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act will lower the mandatory minimum jail terms for repeat offenders of dangerous driving causing death or grievous hurt to two years’ jail and one year’s jail, respectively.

The mandatory minimum jail term and disqualification period for first-time offenders will also be removed.

No changes will be made to the maximum penalties for repeat offenders. Those convicted of dangerous driving causing death can face up to 15 years’ jail, while those who cause grievous hurt can be jailed for up to 10 years.

In a June 11 statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said: “The courts will have the flexibility to decide on the appropriate sentence in every case, and MHA expects egregious offenders to continue to be subject to stiff penalties.”

Annual statistics released by the Traffic Police (TP) on Feb 21 showed a five-year high in the number of people killed or injured in accidents across 2024.

The figures showed that of the 139 fatal accidents in 2024, a total of 46 cases – or one in three – were related to speeding. A total of 142 people died in road accidents in 2024.

“MHA continues to be concerned about the road safety situation in Singapore. TP has intensified its enforcement efforts against egregious driving behaviour, including drink driving,” MHA said.

“We recently announced increases in the penalties for speeding offences, and are reviewing other laws and policies to promote a culture of responsible driving and ensure sufficient penalties for offenders.”

Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim had said in Parliament on Jan 7 that the amendments do not mean the Government is signalling a more lenient stance towards repeat offenders.

Rather, the changes were made to recalibrate the balance between deterrence and proportionality.

Prosecutors will also be given more flexibility to proceed on a “hurt” charge even when “grievous hurt” is caused, he said.

This is to enable the prosecution to take into account other circumstances that could have been involved. They include the nature of the victim’s injury and whether other road users were partly responsible for the accident.

The refreshed Act will also adjust how motorists’ track records affect their classification as repeat offenders for dangerous or careless driving offences.

Under the new Act, motorists will be classified as repeat offenders only if they have at least two prior speeding convictions in excess of 40kmh of the road or vehicle’s speed limit.

At least two of the speeding convictions will also need to have occurred within five years of the dangerous or careless driving offence they are currently facing.

Motorists with previous convictions for dangerous or careless driving, or found to have conducted illegal speed trials, will continue to be classified as repeat offenders if found to have committed another similar offence.

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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