Driving In Singapore

Information on Dangerous , Inconsiderate and Careless Driving

Dangerous Driving

"If any person drives a motor vehicle on a road recklessly, or at a speed or in a manner which is dangerous to the public, having regard to all the circumstances of the case , including the nature, condition and use of the road, and the amount of traffic which is actually at the time, or which might reasonably be expected to be, on the road, he shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both, and in the case of a second or subsequent conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both."

"On the second or subsequent conviction under this section, the convicting court shall exercise the power conferred by section 42 of ordering that the offender shall be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence unless the court, having regard to the lapse of time since the date of the previous or last previous conviction or for any other special reason, thinks fit to order otherwise, but this provision shall not be construed as affecting the right of the court to exercise the power aforesaid on a first conviction."

"Any police officer may arrest without warrant any person committing an offence under this section."

Examples of Dangerous Driving

Failure to conform to the Pedestrian Crossing Rules resulting in pedestrians taking evasive action by stopping abruptly in their tracks or 'jumping back' to avoid being collided into;
Sped (exceeding speed limit by 20 kph) through a junction against the traffic red light signal resulting in other vehicles having to take evasive action to avoid a collision or a near collision;
(1) Cutting across double white lines, or
(2) Overtaking in the face of on-coming traffic,
and forcing on-coming vehicles to take evasive action to avoid a collision or a near collision;
Switching lanes repeatedly at speed well exceeding speed limit by 40 kph without signal or driving in a zigzagged manner at speed exceeding limit by 40 kph, and by so doing encroached into the path of vehicles resulting near collision with these vehicles.

Inconsiderate & Careless Driving

The Law - Driving without due care and attention or reasonable consideration is prescribed for in Section 65 of the Road Traffic Act Chapter 276 which states:

"If any person drives a motor vehicle on a road without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, he shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both, and in the case of a second or subsequent conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both."

There are two distinct offences under this section: careless driving (ie driving without due care and attention) and inconsiderate driving ( ie driving without reasonable consideration).

Careless driving is furthermore prescribed under Rule 29, Road Traffic Rules, which states :

"No vehicle shall be driven or ridden upon a road otherwise than in an orderly and careful manner with due regard for the safety of others ."

Careless driving is punishable under Section 131(1A) Road Traffic Act Cap 276 which states:

"A person who is guilty of an offence under this Act shall be liable on conviction, where no special penalty is provided in the case of the first offence, to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months and in the case of the second or subsequently offence to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months."

Examples of careless driving

A driver who whilst reversing failed to look behind him for possible traffic and almost caused a collision;
A driver who crossed the centre white line when overtaking and failed to look towards the direction of oncoming vehicles as his attention was diverted;
A driver has switched his turn left signal and makes a right turn. This caused confusion and panic to those motorists driving behind his vehicle.

A driver when reversing looked back and saw an on-coming car but chose to ignore it. This is a selfish, inconsiderate thought and the offence becomes one of inconsiderate driving. In fact, it could as well be dangerous driving depending upon the circumstances;
A driver overtook a car and crossed the centre white line knowing there was an oncoming vehicle on the other side and chose to ignore it. This again could also be inconsiderate or dangerous driving;
A driver switched his indicator to change lanes and did it so soon resulting in forcing the vehicle behind him to apply its brakes to avoid a collision. This is an example of inconsiderate driving.

Swerving into the path of another vehicle without thought or regard for other road users thereby forcing them to take evasive action by applying brakes or swerving;
Cutting across the path of another vehicle when executing a turn-right, left or 'U' turn;
Failure of a driver in a vehicle emerging from a minor road to give way to vehicles on a major road especially at road junctions and causing vehicles to apply brakes or to slow down;
Failure of a driver to give way to another vehicle on his right at an uncontrolled junction;
Changing lanes or coming to an abrupt halt without prior warning thereby causing other vehicles to slow down or apply brakes;
Failing to obey traffic light signals and causing a near collision;
Failing to form up correctly and thereby causing a near collision or other drivers to take evasive action;
Failing to conform to directional arrows and thereby causing traffic congestion or near collision.

NOTE: These examples are merely illustrative. Every situation is assessed factually on a case-by-case basis and the evidence available.