There’ll Be Extra Demerit Points & Higher Fines for Traffic Offences at Silver & School Zones from 1 Jul

If you’re intending to reenact the events of “Baby Driver” while driving along roads in Singapore, you may wish to reconsider. 

Ansel Elgort may be Tokyo Drifting his way through life with no consequences, but do the same and you’ll be faced with heavier penalties than before.

Basically, don’t Singapore Drift.

Here’s all that you need to know. 

There’ll Be Extra Demerit Points & Higher Fines for Traffic Offences at Silver & School Zones from 1 Jul

Starting from next month (1 July) onwards, fines and demerit points will be increased for violations of traffic rules at Silver Zones and School Zones. 

This is to enhance the safety of roads for seniors and students.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), two more demerit points will be given to motorists who commit traffic offences at pedestrian crossings, as well as to people who put pedestrians at risk in Silver Zones and School Zones. 

The fines for such offences will be increased by S$100. 

However, there is one exception to the increased fines. 

Heavy vehicle operators who beat the red light will still face a fine of S$500, which is the maximum possible amount. As stipulated by the Road Traffic Act, this amount cannot be further increased. 

MHA shared in a statement that the heavier penalties are meant to prevent irresponsible driving. 

According to MHA, the increased demerit points and heavier fines would be used on motorists who do not slow down or give way when approaching pedestrian crossings in Silver Zones and School Zones. 

Other traffic offences that endanger road users, such as speeding and driving against the flow of traffic, will also be covered by heavier penalties.

Silver Zones were introduced by the government in 2014 at residential areas housing higher concentrations of senior citizens. 

Silver Zones have a lower speed limit, typically 40km/h. The speed limit is accompanied by other features such as narrowed lanes, road humps, and speed regulating strips for the purpose of slowing down traffic. 

As for School Zones, speed limits are lowered at specific timings during school days. 

Older pedestrians make up a disproportionate number of road accidents that have resulted in injuries or death. 

Traffic accidents saw a reduction in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic as there were less people out and about on the roads. 

However, despite this decline, 15 out of 18 pedestrians who had been killed in road accidents last year had been seniors. 

MHA acknowledged that jaywalking by senior pedestrians did contribute to some of these accidents, but many accidents “arise from irresponsible driving behaviour on the motorist’s part”, and that road safety can be enhanced “with greater care on the part of motorists”. 

Feature Image: Twinsterphoto / Shutterstock.com