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Traffic Offences in Singapore: Demerit Points & Traffic Fines (2023)

John Yong

John Yong

Last updated 12 October, 2022

Just like many other offences in Singapore, traffic offences are not taken lightly and the offender will likely see themselves getting slapped with either demerit points, composite fines, or both.

Although there are different types of vehicle-related fines and offences in Singapore, in this article, we'll cover those pertaining to road or traffic offences, such as speeding, beating the red light, and dangerous road behaviour.

Before diving into the different types of traffic offences, we'll first give you a rundown of the Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS).

 

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Table of Content


What is the Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS)?

The Driver Improvement Points System, or DIPS for short, is a demerit points system that is enforced by the Singapore Traffic Police. It was first implemented by the Traffic Police in 1983 to make motorists adopt safer driving habits.

Every driver in Singapore starts with 0 points, but whenever a traffic offence or violation is committed, demerit points are added to the motorist's name.

 

How many demerit points can I receive before my driving licence is suspended?

New or probationary motorists (P-plate motorists) will have their driving licence revoked if they accumulate 13 or more demerit points during their 12-month probation period. They will also need to retake both the Traffic Police Theory and Practice Exam again to obtain their licence.

Do note that the driving test can only be retaken one year from the date of their licence revocation.

Non-probationary motorists with no previous suspension records who accumulate 24 or more demerit points within 24 months will have their driving licence suspended for up to 12 weeks.

Non-probationary motorists with previous suspension records who accumulate 12 or more demerit points within 12 months will have their driving licence suspended for up to 36 months.

Here is a table that summarises the suspension period for non-probationary motorists:

Suspensions Suspension Period Suspension Criteria
1st Suspension 12 weeks 24 points or more within 24 months
2nd Suspension 24 weeks 12 points or more within 12 months
3rd Suspension 12 months
4th Suspension 24 months
5th Suspension (onwards) 36 months

From 30 June 2021, motorists who promote or partake in illegal street racing will face enhanced penalties.

First-time offenders will be jailed for 1 year and receive a fine of up to S$5,000. As for repeat offenders, they will receive a jail term of up to 2 years and a fine of up to S$10,000. 


Related articles:

Best Petrol Credit Cards in Singapore (2022)
10 Best Car Insurance Plans in Singapore (2022)
Transferring Your Car Ownership in Singapore: Step-by-Step Guide

 

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Traffic Offences in Singapore with Demerit Points and Composite Fines

Now that you have a better understanding of DIPS, let's dive into the types of traffic offences that carry demerit points and composite fines.

FYI: A composite fine is a sum of money that has to be paid in order to avoid court prosecution. In other words, you pay the fine to avoid going to court.

 

0 Demerit Points with S$100/S$150 Composite Fines

Road/Traffic Offences

Demerit Points

Composite Fines

Light Vehicle

Heavy Vehicle

Stopping in a yellow box



-

 

 

 

 

S$100

 

 



S$150

 

 

 

Insufficient warning signals

Making an unauthorised U-turn

Vehicles with a 60km/hr vehicular speed limit failing to keep left


 3 Demerit Points with S$150/S$200 Composite Fines

Road/Traffic Offences

Demerit Points

Composite Fines

Light Vehicle

Heavy Vehicle

Carrying excess pillion/pillion is not sitting astride

3

S$150

S$200

Rider failing to wear a helmet/wears a helmet insecurely while riding

Disobeying traffic direction of a Police officer, an employee of Authority, or a security officer engaged in regulating traffic

Conveying load that is not properly secured

Using tyres with ply or cord carcass exposed

Driver failing to wear a seatbelt or failing to ensure every passenger wears a seatbelt

Driver failing to ensure that a passenger below the height of 1.35m 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 open deck goods vehicle


4 Demerit Points with S$150/S$200 Composite Fines

Road/Traffic Offences

Demerit Points

Composite Fines

Light Vehicle

Heavy Vehicle

Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by 1 to 20 km/hr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


4










S$150

S$200

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 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 a  load

Stopping on the shoulder or verge of an expressway

Stopping or remaining at rest on the carriageway of an expressway


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6 Demerit Points with S$200/S$250 Composite Fines

Road/Traffic Offences

Demerit Points

Composite Fines

Light Vehicle

Heavy Vehicle

Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by 21 to 30 km/hr

6

S$200

S$250

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 to prevent the goods from falling off

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 open deck goods vehicle

Carrying passengers when the clear floor space of the open deck goods vehicle is insufficient

Careless driving (without due care or reasonable consideration, where no hurt is caused)


8 Demerit Points with S$300/S$400 Composite Fines

Road/Traffic Offences

Demerit Points

Composite Fines

Light Vehicle

Heavy Vehicle

Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by 31 to 40 km/hr


8


S$300


S$400

Exceeding the road speed limit by 31 to 40 km/hr


9 Demerit Points with S$300/S$400 Composite Fines

Road/Traffic Offences

Demerit Points

Composite Fines

Light Vehicle

Heavy Vehicle

Carrying passengers on a goods vehicle in a dangerous manner


9


S$300


S$400

Driving without due care or reasonable consideration for other road users


12 or More Demerit Points with Composite Fines or Court Prosecution

Road/Traffic Offences

Demerit Points

Composite Fines

Light Vehicle

Heavy Vehicle

Failing to conform to traffic light signals (beating red light, etc.)


12



S$400

S$500

Using mobile communication devices while driving (on the road or public place)

1st offence: Fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment of up to 6 months or both

2nd offence: Fine not exceeding $2,000 or imprisonment of up to 12 months or both

Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by 41 to 50 km/hr



Prosecution in court



Exceeding the road speed limit by 41 to 50 km/hr

Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by 51 to 60 km/hr

18

Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by 51 to 60 km/hr

Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by more than 60 km/hr

24


Exceeding the road speed limit by more than 60 km/hr

Reckless or dangerous driving (where hurt is caused or not caused)


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Traffic Offences Within Silver and School Zones

To ensure the safety and protection of senior citizens and student pedestrians, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has enhanced the demerit points and composite fines for traffic-related offences in Silver and School Zones.

These zones can usually be identified by a blue sign and road markings, as well as increased road safety features such as road humps and pedestrian crossings.

Motorists who commit traffic offences in Silver and School Zones will incur two additional demerit points on top of the original demerit points. In addition, composite fines will be raised by S$100.

Road/Traffic Offences

Demerit Points

Composite Fines

Light Vehicle

Heavy Vehicle

Disobeying traffic directions of a Police officer, an employee of Authority, or a security officer engaged in regulating traffic


9


S$300


S$400

Driving without due care or reasonable consideration for other road users









6


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 









S$300


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 









S$350


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exceeding the road speed limit by 1 to 20 km/hr

Forming up incorrectly when turning left or right

Driver failing to give way to oncoming traffic at a controlled junction

Driver failing to give way at an uncontrolled junction

Driver failing to give way at a junction of a one-way road where traffic flows from left to right

Driver failing to give way on the right at a junction

Driver failing to give way at a roundabout

Crossing double white lines or road divider

Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by 21 to 30 km/hr




8

 

 

 

S$400

 

 

 

 

 

 

S$500

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exceeding the road speed limit by 21 to 30 km/hr

Driving or riding against the flow of traffic

Driving without due care or reasonable consideration for other road users (where no hurt is caused)

Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by 31 to 40 km/hr


10

 

Exceeding the road speed limit by 31 to 40 km/hr

Driving without due care or reasonable consideration for other road users (where hurt is caused)

11

Failing to conform to traffic light signals (beat red light, etc.)

14

S$500

S$500

Using a mobile communicative device while driving (on the road or public place)

14

1st offence: Fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment of up to 6 months or both

2nd offence: Fine not exceeding $2,000 or imprisonment of up to 12 months or both

 

Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by 41 to 50 km/hr


14

 














Prosecution in court

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exceeding the road speed limit by 41 to 50 km/hr

Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by 51 to 60 km/hr


20

 

Exceeding the road speed limit by 51 to 60 km/hr

Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by more than 60 km/hr


26

 

 

Exceeding the road speed limit by more than 60 km/hr

Reckless or dangerous driving (where hurt is caused or not caused)


Frequently Asked Questions

What's the penalty for beating a red traffic light?

The penalty for beating a red traffic light is 12 demerit points with a S$400/S$500 composite fine for light and heavy vehicles respectively.

If the offence was committed in a Silver or School Zone, the penalty is 14 demerit points with a S$500/S$600 composite fine for light and heavy vehicles respectively.

 

Can I still drive my vehicle if I have demerit points?

Yes, you can! You are only barred from driving if your driving licence is suspended or revoked.

P-plate motorists will have their driving licence revoked if they accumulate 13 or more demerit points within their 12-month probationary period.

For non-probationary motorists with no previous suspension records, their licence will be suspended if they accumulate 24 or more demerit points within 24 months.

For non-probationary motorists with previous suspension records, their licence will be suspended if they accumulate 12 or more demerit points within 12 months.

 

Are my demerit points permanent?

Demerit points do not stay on your record permanently. They will be wiped clean if you avoid committing any new traffic offences for 12 months after your last offence.

 

Is there any way to reduce the number of demerit points that I have?

Yes! Drivers can remove 4 demerit points from their record by completing a Safe Driving Course at the respectively Driving Schools.

The course fee is priced at S$125.19 and includes a 3.5 hours theory session, followed by a 50 minutes practical session. The 4 demerit points will only be deducted upon successful completion of both the theory and practical sessions.

 

How do I check my demerit points?

Motorists can check their demerit points via the Singapore Police Force website or SingPass App (recommended for convenience).

Follow these steps to check your demerit points on the SPF website:

1) Enter NRIC/FIN and your date of birth
2) Enter your Licence/Card Serial Number

Your current offences as well as their description will be shown via the SPF website.

 

How do I pay for my traffic or driving fines?

You can pay for your composite fines via the SPF website (SingPass login required), AXS machine or AXS e-station or through LTA/OneMotoring.

 

How do I make an appeal for a traffic offence?

Traffic offences can be appealed through the SPF website. Do note that appeals will only be considered for medical emergencies and all submitted appeals will need to be supported by relevant documentary proof.

To file an appeal, you will need the following:

1) Report reference number
2) Relevant documentary proof
3) Valid email address

 

Are there any benefits from being free of demerit points?

Select insurance companies will reward motorists with a Certificate of Merit (COM) discount. This 5% discount on their motor insurance (after deducting NCD) will be awarded to vehicle owners who remain free of demerit points for the past 3 years. 

 

 

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Plus, stand a chance to win a year's worth of free petrol (worth S$5,200) when you successfully apply for a participating car insurance product. Valid till 31 March 2024. T&Cs apply.

 

 

 


Read these next:

How Much Does It Truly Cost To Maintain A Car In Singapore?
15 Ways To Reduce Car Insurance Costs in Singapore 2022

Best Car Loans in Singapore: Interest Rate And Features Comparison

 

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