Assessment by Traffic Police of Suitability to Drive for Drivers with Prescribed Diseases or Disabilities

8 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether Traffic Police (TP) intends to require licensed drivers to notify TP when they develop prescribed diseases or disabilities under the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) Rules after being issued with driving licences so that TP may assess and determine whether their driving licences should be suspended or revoked.

9 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether Traffic Police (TP) intends to require a medical professional to inform TP of licensed drivers whom he/she has examined and are reasonably believed to be suffering from prescribed diseases or disabilities under the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) Rules so that TP may assess and determine whether the drivers' driving licences should be suspended or revoked.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Amrin Amin) (for the Minister for Home Affairs) : Mdm Speaker, may I take Question Nos 8 and 9 together?

Mdm Speaker : Yes, please.

Mr Amrin Amin:The prescribed disabilities and diseases are listed in the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) Rules − examples include mental disorders and epilepsy. The list was drafted in consultation with relevant stakeholders such as Ministry of Health and Singapore Medical Association. This list was last reviewed in 2015.

Drivers should not drive if they develop diseases or disabilities that impede their driving abilities, or if they are unwell and have trouble operating their motor vehicles. Instead, they should get an appointed driver to assist in their commute or use public transport. However, if they decide to drive and subsequently get involved in an accident, they would be liable for having committed a negligent act under the Penal Code, or potentially a rash act if it is proven that they were involved in the accident due to their diseases or disabilities.

Currently, the Traffic Police (TP) require applicants for the Provisional Driving Licence to declare that they are medically fit to drive. TP also require drivers aged 65 and above to undergo medical examinations to determine their fitness to drive.

TP will also subject licence holders to medical examinations to ascertain their fitness to drive, if accidents or other investigations reveal that they might have disabilities or diseases that impede their driving abilities. Drivers who fail the medical examination will have their driving licences revoked. Over the past four years, TP have revoked 69 driving licences due to such disabilities or diseases.

We understand the Member of Parliament's concerns. Not many countries currently compel medical doctors to report such disabilities and diseases to the traffic authority, and requiring individuals to report such disabilities and diseases on their own may have limited effect practically. We will study the practices of other jurisdictions, and what are the best options for us. We have to be mindful that our regulations strike a balance in ensuring that drivers continue to be fit to drive on the roads, without imposing overly onerous reporting requirements.

Mdm Speaker : Mr Murali Pillai.

Mr Murali Pillai (Bukit Batok):I am grateful to the Parliamentary Secretary for his comprehensive response. May I ask whether is the Ministry is of the view that the current system adequately ensures road safety, given that presently, a person who attains the age of 18 and gets a driving licence, has no requirement to update on any adverse conditions until he reaches the age of 65?

Secondly, the experience of countries, such as UK and Australia, which mandate the reporting obligation, as set out in the questions, and also the experience in the UK, in terms of statistics, in 2011, it was reported that 7% of fatal accidents were caused by motorists having illnesses or disabilities.

I understand that Singapore's experience is a bit different. But in Singapore, we do not have yet an obligation to self-report or for a health professional to report in relation to disabilities that their patients may have. And in relation to the possible limited effectiveness of motorists' self-reporting, I think by and large, Singaporeans take their social responsibilities seriously. In any event —”

Mdm Speaker : Mr Pillai, can you please put your supplementary questions?

Mr Murali Pillai: Yes, Mdm Speaker. In any event, the suggestion embedded in the Parliamentary Questions prevent the tail wagging the dog because, for the vast majority of motorists, of course, they are compliant. We are only talking about a small percentage.

Mr Amrin Amin:The Member has summarised the regulations in that at the point of applying for the Provisional Driving Licence, drivers will declare they are medically fit to drive and they will also have to go through medical examinations after age 65. The other thing is, if there is an accident or investigation, then they will be subject to medical examinations.

The data currently does not require such an active intervention. Over the past four years, there were 12 cases in which drivers were involved in an accident and, upon being subjected to medical examination, they were found to be suffering from a prescribed disease or disability, and we have taken stern action. Nevertheless, we note the Member's concern. That is a very good suggestion and we will study that and review it to see what are the best solutions for us.