Certificate of Merit. What is it? And how can you get one?
Getting a driver’s licence ensures that you are qualified to drive. But along with that comes the responsibility of making sure you drive safely, not just for your sake but also for the sake of other road users. To ensure that drivers are aware of this and keep safety uppermost on their minds while driving, the Traffic Police has instituted a system of rewards and punishments. In March 1983, the Traffic Police introduced the Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS).
Forum: Various initiatives in place to encourage safe driving, Forum News
We thank Mr Nam Lee Seng for his suggestions to incentivise motorists to drive safely (Surprising note from Traffic Police, Sept 3). We do quite a bit of that. For instance, motorists who maintain a demerit-point-free record for three consecutive years will be eligible for a certificate of merit. This entitles them to an offence-free discount of 5 per cent on vehicle insurance premiums from participating insurance companies, over and above their no-claim discount. And to deter motorists from dangerous driving, the penalties for irresponsible driving offences were increased last year. For example, mandatory minimum imprisonment sentences will be imposed for egregious, irresponsible driving offences, such as causing death or grievous hurt while driving under the influence of alcohol.
Safe Driving Course - A Negative Reinforcement
SINGAPORE — Motorists who have accumulated more than half of their maximum allowable demerit points now have a chance to redeem themselves via the Traffic Police’s Safe Driving Course (SDC), set to be introduced next month. Designed to educate motorists on safe driving techniques, correct dangerous driving behaviour and encourage good road habits, the SDC is an enhancement to the Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS). Motorists who complete the SDC will have three demerit points cancelled from their driving records, but they can only get demerit points cancelled twice during their lifetime. The SDC will consist of both theory and practical sessions for a total of 4 hours. These can be completed within a day or on two different days at one of the licensed driving schools - ComfortDelGro Driving Centre, Singapore Safety Driving Centre and Bukit Batok Driving Centre. Eligible motorists will receive an invitation from the Traffic Police to attend the SDC.
Traffic Police giving out vouchers for safe driving
When Mr Lim Kan Seng's Toyota Previa was pulled over by the Traffic Police along New Upper Changi Road yesterday morning, he panicked a little. Mr Lim, 50, a hawker, thought he might be in for a summons, but what he received instead were a zebra plush toy and $40 worth of petrol vouchers. "I thought I had done something wrong... but the police said they saw me giving way to another driver, and wanted to commend me," he said. "I had just turned left into the main road when another car was trying to cut into my lane from the right, so I let him pass."
Are Higher Fines Really The Solution to Deter Speeding?
(Photo Credit: Straits Times) On Monday (8 July), Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Walter Theseira suggested in Parliament that to deter speeding, motorists who drive luxury cars should pay higher fines for the same offence compared to those who drive economical vehicles. Under such a system, fines for traffic offences would be pegged to the open market value of the offending motorist's vehicle, which is believed by some to enhance the deterrent effect against unsafe driving. NMP Theseira said that this system would make fines more effective as a deterrent for the wealthier motorists in Singapore. He went on to say that, "I think it reasonable to presume that the driver of a large luxury car is able to pay more than one driving a cheaper vehicle, and would likely regard the demerit points and other consequences of an offence as far more serious than the value of the fine itself.”
Road accident statistics in Singapore 2020
Last Updated: January, 2020. Latest available data from May, 2019. Highlights There were 7,690 road accidents involving injuries in 2018120 people were killed in traffic accidents in 2018Elderly pedestrians accounted for two-thirds of all pedestrian fatalities. (1 in 2 accidents involving elderly pedestrians was due to jaywalking)Motorcyclists and pillion riders account for about 1 in 2 of overall road fatalities73% of heavy vehicle drivers speed when traffic is lightSingapore’s road fatality rate of 2.73 per 100,000 citizens is higher than London, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Road Safety Month begins as Singapore reopens, Singapore News
SINGAPORE - The eighth Singapore Road Safety Month was launched on Tuesday (June 2), with traffic expected to increase as Singapore enters the first day of its post-circuit breaker reopening. Posters and banners will be fixed on trains, bus shelters and lamp posts during the month-long campaign to remind pedestrians to "ensure that all vehicles have come to a stop before crossing", and motorists to "slow down when approaching traffic lights". Winners of a road safety art competition in March will also have their works printed on ez-link cards for distribution. Although primarily focused on the heartland and areas near schools, banners will also be displayed - for the first time - in residential estates in Bukit Timah, the police and the Singapore Road Safety Council said. The campaign is jointly organised by the two, together with the Land Transport Authority (LTA), Ministry of Education, People's Association and the Automobile Association of Singapore.
DirectAsia.com Safer Roads Campaign 2015
In conjunction with the final day of the Home Team Festival 2015, the Traffic Police (TP) and the Singapore Road Safety Council (SRSC) held the DirectAsia.com Safer Roads Campaign 2015 today. This marked the third year that DirectAsia.com is sponsoring the campaign in support of the Safer Roads Singapore action plan – to foster a culture of safe and courteous road use in Singapore. The event was graced by Mr Amrin Amin, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs. DirectAsia.com Safer Roads Campaign 2015 The campaign's tagline this year is Drive to Zero Accidents, which serves to encourage all road users to adopt good road safety habits with the aim of zero traffic fatalities. To reinforce this, a road safety-themed video – called Drive to Zero will also be broadcasted from November 2015 to January 2016 at Golden Village Cinemas.
Certificate of Merit. What is it? And how can you get one?
Getting a driver’s licence ensures that you are qualified to drive. But along with that comes the responsibility of making sure you drive safely, not just for your sake but also for the sake of other road users. To ensure that drivers are aware of this and keep safety uppermost on their minds while driving, the Traffic Police has instituted a system of rewards and punishments. In March 1983, the Traffic Police introduced the Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS).
