Number of Sign-ups for Safe Driving Course under Driver Improvement Points System and Its Success in Improving Driving Behaviour
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Gan Thiam Poh's inquiry regarding the enrollment and effectiveness of the Safe Driving Course (SDC) and license reinstatement policies. Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam stated that 41,278 motorists signed up for the SDC from November 2017 to February 2022, with 78% remaining offence-free for one year. He clarified that motorists with suspensions under 12 months receive automatic license reinstatement, whereas those suspended for 12 months or more have their licenses revoked. Such individuals must retake driving competency tests, as the SDC is only available to motorists who are not yet liable for suspension.
Transcript
9 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked 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.
Mr K Shanmugam: 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.
From 1 November 2017 to 28 February 2022, 41,278 motorists had signed up for the Safe Driving Course.
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.
Motorists whose licences were 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.
Motorists whose driving licences have been suspended for 12 months or more, will have their licences revoked. They would be required to retake the necessary driving tests of competency before they can drive again.