Motor Insurance Protection for Innocent Third-party Victims of Drink Driving Accidents

3 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Transport how are innocent third-party victims of drink driving accidents protected by motor insurance.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act requires all drivers of vehicles to be insured against third-party claims on bodily injury or death before they can drive their vehicles on our roads. Insurance policies cannot be restricted from paying out for such liabilities incurred from drink driving. This protects innocent third-party victims of drink driving accidents. Neither do they prevent the insurer from recovering the sum paid out from the insured.

Drivers who contravene the above requirement may on conviction be fined up to $1,000 and/or be imprisoned for up to three months. They may also be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving license for 12 months from the date of conviction.