In-vehicle Register for Heavy Vehicles to Record Exceeding of Speed Limit
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns MP Louis Ng Kok Kwang’s proposal to install speed counters on passenger-ferrying heavy vehicles and establish a fine and demerit system for drivers caught speeding. Senior Minister of State Desmond Lee stated that heavy vehicles exceeding specific weights must already use speed limiters set at 60 kilometres per hour. He detailed that these vehicles undergo annual inspections and that drivers face composition fines, demerit points, or imprisonment for speeding and tampering with limiters. Senior Minister of State Desmond Lee further noted that the Traffic Police and Land Transport Authority are reviewing additional measures to further curb heavy vehicle speeding. The Ministry will consider the Member’s suggestion regarding military-style speed recording systems as part of this ongoing review to ensure the safety of all road commuters.
Transcript
3 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Ministry will consider (i) putting a speed counter on heavy vehicles that are allowed to ferry passengers which will register each time the vehicle exceeds the speed limit for a prolonged period (ii) establishing a fine and demerit system for drivers caught speeding through these speed counters.
The Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs (Mr Desmond Lee) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Madam, currently, all heavy vehicles with maximum laden weight exceeding 12 tonnes for goods vehicles and 10 tonnes for public service vehicles are required by law to be installed with speed limiters, which restrict their maximum speed to 60 kilometres per hour. This includes vehicles such as public or private buses, which ferry passengers. Such vehicle owners are required to send their vehicles for annual inspections at registered vehicle inspection centres to ensure that the speed limiters are in working condition. Heavy vehicles with speed limiters are also required to undergo additional speed limiter inspections, if these vehicles were caught speeding. Those caught tampering with their speed limiters can be fined up to $1,000 or imprisoned up to three months, while repeat offenders can be fined up to $2,000 or imprisoned up to six months.
Heavy vehicle drivers caught exceeding the speed limit by up to 40 kilometres per hour will be given composition fines ranging from $160 to $200 and four to eight demerit points. Heavy vehicle drivers caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 40 kilometres per hour will be charged in court and given 12 to 24 demerit points.
The Traffic Police (TP) and the Land and Transport Authority (LTA) are reviewing measures to curb heavy vehicle speeding and will announce the changes later this year.
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon): I just wish to clarify that what I am suggesting is what we already put in our military vehicles. You would realise that for the military vehicles, nobody is speeding, but most of us on the ground would see that a lot of the heavy vehicles are speeding, especially those carrying a lot of passengers in the back. If an accident happens, it is the loss of a lot of lives, including other commuters on the road. I am hopeful that this can be implemented or at least, a review will take place to make sure that we can curb this problem.
Mr Desmond Lee: I thank the Member. We will take that onboard when we review.