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Traffic offences in Singapore: Demerit points and composition fines explained (2024)

03/12/2024

7.8 min read

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Have you ever found yourself cruising down the expressway only to catch a flash from one of those red light cameras? It can really make your heart sink. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of dealing with traffic offences in Singapore, from understanding demerit points and composition fines to appealing against a licence suspension or revocation.

Understanding demerit points and composition fines

Demerit points are enforced as part of the Driver Improvement Point System (DIPS), which identifies and monitors offending drivers. Depending on the severity of the traffic offence, the driver might get 3 to 12 demerit points and will be offered a composition fine, which is the sum of money you need to pay to settle the offence without going to court.

For traffic offences that result in severe damage, injury, or death, the driver may accumulate up to 24 demerit points and receive a court summons, which can lead to heavier court fines, a jail term or even the suspension of their driving licence. Offending drivers must pay the composition fine by the expiration date to avoid facing harsher penalties.

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(Photo: Singapore Police Force)

Traffic offences with demerit points and composition fines

Traffic offence	Demerit points	Composition fine (Class 2B/2A/2, 3C/3/3CA/3A)
Stopping in a yellow box Insufficient warning signals Making an unauthorised U-turn Going the vehicular speed limit of 60km/hr and failing to keep left	–	$100
Carrying excess pillion or pillion is not sitting astride Rider failing to wear a helmet or wearing a helmet improperly Disobeying traffic direction of a police officer, employee of Authority, or security officer engaged in regulating traffic* Conveying load not properly secured Using tyres with ply or cord carcass exposed Driver failing to wear a seatbelt or not ensuring every passenger wears a seatbelt Driver failing to ensure that a passenger below the height of 1.35 metres is properly secured by an approved child restraint or body-restraining seatbelt Parking abreast of another vehicle Parking within a pedestrian crossing Stopping in a zebra crossing area Parking within a Demerit Points No Parking Zone Stopping within a Demerit Points No Stopping Zone Driver failing to fill up every passenger seat in the driver’s cabin, or any additional cabin or enclosed space provided for the carriage of passengers or goods, before carrying any person on the floor of an open deck goods vehicle	3	$150
Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by 1 to 20 km/hr* Exceeding the road speed limit by 1 to 20 km/hr* Failing to give way to oncoming traffic at a controlled junction* Failing to give way at an uncontrolled junction, junction, or roundabout* Crossing the double white lines or a road divider* Obstructing the flow of traffic Forming up incorrectly when turning left or right* Failing to give way to emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire brigades or Police vehicles Driving in a dangerous manner while carrying loads Stopping on the shoulder or verge of an expressway Stopping or remaining at rest on the carriageway of an expressway	4	$150
Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by 21 to 30 km/hr* Exceeding the road speed limit by 21 to 30 km/hr* Driving on the shoulder of expressways Failing to securely tie or attach goods to a goods vehicle Offences committed by motorists at a pedestrian crossing* Driving or riding against the flow of traffic as indicated by traffic signs* Carrying passengers on a motor vehicle or trailer in a dangerous manner Reversing unnecessarily on expressways Failing to obey the 1.1 metres height restriction for persons carried on an open deck goods vehicle Carrying passengers when the clear floor space of the open deck goods vehicle is insufficient Careless driving that endangers life*	6	$200
Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by 31 to 40 km/hr* Exceeding the road speed limit by 31 to 40 km/hr*	8	$300
Carrying passengers on a goods vehicle in a dangerous manner Careless driving that causes hurt*	9	$300
Failing to conform to traffic light signals*	12	$400
Using mobile communication devices while driving*	12	$400
Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by 41 to 50 km/hr* Exceeding the road speed limit by 41 to 50 km/hr*	12	Prosecution in court
Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by 51 to 60 km/hr* Exceeding the road speed limit by 51 to 60 km/hr*	18	Prosecution in court
Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by more than 60 km/hr Exceeding the road speed limit by more than 60 km/hr Reckless or dangerous driving	24	Prosecution in court

(Adapted from: Singapore Police Force)

* Drivers committing certain offences at pedestrian crossings or in zones that endanger pedestrian safety such as School or Silver Zones will receive an extra two demerit points and $100 increase in composition fines, capped at a maximum total fine of $500. Silver zones are residential areas with a high proportion of seniors. They usually have designated speed limits ranging from 30 to 40 km/hour.

To check if you’ve been charged with a traffic offence and the penalties incurred, you can head over to the Electronic Driver Data Information & Enquiry System (EDDIES). You can also choose to pay composition fines at the same portal or at AXS payment channels. However, please do note that EDDIES only displays records of outstanding traffic offences issued by the Traffic Police. If you’re being investigated for a traffic offence but have not been charged with a traffic offence, it will not appear on EDDIES.

Suspension or revocation of driving licence: What you can do

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(Photo: Mothership)

Whether you’re a new or experienced driver, hearing that your driving licence is getting suspended or revoked can be tough news to take. However, understanding the consequences and your available options can help lessen the impact. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know, depending on your licence status.

If you’re a new licence holder, you’re probably aware of the one-year probation period that starts from when you receive your driving licence. During this period, if you accumulate 13 or more demerit points, your driving licence will be revoked and rendered invalid. This means that you’ll have to retake all the necessary driving tests again, but only after 1 year from the revocation date.

If you’ve passed your probationary period, your driving licence can be suspended if you accumulate a threshold of demerit points within a specific timeframe. If it’s your first or second time getting your driving licence suspended, you can choose to go for the DIPS Retraining Course to reduce the duration of your suspension.

Number of suspensions	Threshold	Suspension duration	Suspension duration after completion of DIPS Retraining Course
1st	≥ 24 demerit points within 24 months	12 weeks	4 weeks or 1 week if the offences are not accident-related
2nd	≥ 12 demerit points within 12 months	24 weeks	12 weeks
3rd	≥ 12 demerit points within 12 months	1 year	–
4th	≥ 12 demerit points within 12 months	2 years	–
5th	≥ 12 demerit points within 12 months	3 years	–
6th	≥ 12 demerit points within 12 months	4 years	–
7th	≥ 12 demerit points within 12 months	5 years	–

If your suspension duration lasts 1 year or more, your driving licence will be revoked and rendered invalid. During this time, it’s advisable to regularly refresh your driving knowledge to stay prepared for when your probation ends. You might also want to consider transferring your car ownership temporarily to a trusted friend or relative or selling your car to avoid pilling expenses.

Appealing against traffic offences, suspensions or revocations

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(Photo: Benzoix)

If you’ve been charged with a traffic offence or had your driving licence suspended or revoked, it’s still possible to have it dropped. However, the Traffic Police will only consider appeals with serious circumstances like medical emergencies, provided you have the relevant supporting documents. You can submit an appeal online through EDDIES, where you’ll need the report reference number, a valid email address, and the supporting documents as proof.

Removal of demerit points and suspension from driving record

The good news is that you can get your demerit points and suspension removed from your driving record! To remove demerit points from your record, you’ll just need to avoid committing any traffic offences for 12 months from the date of your last traffic offence. Similarly, to remove a suspension from your record, just refrain from committing any traffic offences for 24 months from the date of your last traffic suspension.

Here’s another incentive that might motivate you to become a responsible driver – if you haven’t made any insurance claims and maintain a clean driving record for 3 consecutive years, you’re eligible for a 5% discount when renewing your car insurance at selected insurers. This discount can be used together with the No-Claim Bonus!

Navigating traffic offences in Singapore

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Accidents can happen to anyone regardless of their driving history. Whether you’ve committed a traffic offence in the past or not, understanding the associated penalties can help you become more aware of how important it is to be a safe driver in Singapore.

(Featured photo: TODAY)

Safe travels 🚙,
Amanda

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