eft
 

 

Information - Driver's Improvement Point System (DIPs)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

What is DIPS?

The Road Traffic Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS) was introduced in March 1983. This system was designed to identify high-risk motorists or habitual offenders and to stop them from driving for a specified period of time. The system also requires recalcitrant offenders to undergo a re-training and pass a driving test before they are allowed to drive again.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

How does DIPS operate?

A driver may not accumulate 24 or more demerit points within 24 months before he becomes liable for suspension. If a driver has been suspended before, he may not accumulate 12 or more demerit points within 12 months from the date of his last offence.

A first time suspension will last three months. Subsequent suspensions may be up to three years.
Where the suspension period lasts a year or longer, the motorist will have his licence revoked and will have to re-sit and pass all the prescribed tests in order to obtain a new driving licence.

A new driver's licence will be revoked if he accumulates 13 or more demerit points within a period of 12 months from the date his licence is granted.

A person shall not be allowed to register or take a test of competence to drive any class of vehicle on the following situation

  1. during the period of suspension of a licence, whether for the same or for a different class of licence held by him;

  2. during the period for which he has been disqualified from holding or obtaining a licence, whether for the same or for a different class of licence; or

  3. within the period of one year from the date of the revocation of a licence, whether for the same or for a different class of licence held by him.
A motorist who maintains a 12-month free of offences with demerit points from the date of his last offence, will have all his previous points cancelled from his record. Those who maintain a 24-month period free of offences with demerit points from the date of expiry of the last suspension, will also have all previous suspensions cancelled from their records.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Does DIPS extend to foreign licence holders driving in Singapore?

Yes. DIPS apply to foreign licence holders driving in Singapore.

A foreign driver who accumulates 24 demerit points or more within a period of 24 months will be served a Prohibition Order, which will disallow him to drive in Singapore. The duration for a first-time prohibition is 3 months, and subsequent prohibitions can be up to 3 years.