Singapore has some of the strictest traffic laws in the world, aimed at ensuring safety and efficiency on the roads. Traffic offences in Singapore are categorised under the Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS), which penalises errant drivers with demerit points, fines, and even license suspensions for severe violations.
In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of Singapore traffic offences, including penalties, fines, and frequently asked questions. Whether you are a new driver or a seasoned motorist, understanding these rules can help you avoid costly mistakes.
Table of Contents
What Is the Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS)?
The Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS) is a demerit points system introduced by the Traffic Police to monitor and manage drivers’ behaviour.
- Accumulating 24 demerit points in 24 months for non-probationary drivers will lead to a suspension.
- New drivers on probation face stricter rules, with their licenses revoked after accumulating 13 demerit points within the first year.
- Repeat offenders may face longer suspensions or even criminal charges for severe violations.
Full List of Singapore Traffic Offences
Below is a comprehensive table of traffic offences under the DIPS, along with their corresponding demerit points and composition fines:
Singapore Traffic Offences with No Demerit Points
| Offence | Composition Fine (Light Vehicle) | Composition Fine (Heavy Vehicle) |
|---|---|---|
| Stopping in a yellow box | $100 | $150 |
| Insufficient warning signals | $100 | $150 |
| Making an unauthorised U-turn | $100 | $150 |
| Vehicles with a 60km/h vehicular speed limit failing to keep left | $100 | $150 |
Singapore Traffic Offences with 3 Demerit Points
| Offence | Composition Fine (Light Vehicle) | Composition Fine (Heavy Vehicle) |
|---|---|---|
| Carrying excess pillion or pillion not sitting astride | $150 | $200 |
| Rider failing to wear or secure a protective helmet | $150 | $200 |
| Disobeying traffic direction of police officer or authorised personnel | $150 | $200 |
| Driver failing to wear seat belt | $150 | $200 |
| Parking abreast of another vehicle | $150 | $200 |
| Stopping in a zebra controlled area | $150 | $200 |
| Driver failing to ensure every passenger wears a seat belt | $150 | $200 |
| Using a motor vehicle where a person below 1.35m is not properly secured by an approved restraint | $150 | $200 |
| Parking within a Demerit Points No Parking Zone | $150 | $200 |
| Stopping within a Demerit Points No Stopping Zone | $150 | $200 |
| Failing to fill up every passenger seat in the driver’s cabin before carrying persons on the floor of an open deck goods vehicle | $150 | $200 |
Singapore Traffic Offences with 4 Demerit Points
| Offence | Composition Fine (Light Vehicle) | Composition Fine (Heavy Vehicle) |
|---|---|---|
| Exceeding speed limit for vehicle by 1 to 20 km/h | $150 | $200 |
| Exceeding speed limit on a road by 1 to 20 km/h | $150 | $200 |
| Failing to give way to oncoming traffic at controlled junction | $150 | $200 |
| Failing to give way at uncontrolled junction | $150 | $200 |
| Failing to give way at junction | $150 | $200 |
| Failing to give way at roundabout | $150 | $200 |
| Crossing double white lines | $150 | $200 |
| Crossing road divider | $150 | $200 |
| Obstructing flow of traffic | $150 | $200 |
| Forming up incorrectly when turning left or right | $150 | $200 |
| Failing to give way to ambulance, fire brigade, or police vehicle | $150 | $200 |
| Driving while carrying load on a motor vehicle in a dangerous manner | $150 | $200 |
| Stopping on the shoulder or verge of an expressway | $150 | $200 |
| Stopping or remaining at rest on the carriageway of expressway | $150 | $200 |
Singapore Traffic Offences with 6 Demerit Points
| Offence | Composition Fine (Light Vehicle) | Composition Fine (Heavy Vehicle) |
|---|---|---|
| Exceeding speed limit for vehicle by 21 to 30 km/h | $200 | $250 |
| Exceeding speed limit on a road by 21 to 30 km/h | $200 | $250 |
| Driving on the shoulder of an expressway | $200 | $250 |
| Failing to securely tie or attach goods to a goods vehicle to prevent their falling off | $200 | $250 |
| Offences committed by motorists at pedestrian crossing | $200 | $250 |
| Driving or riding against the flow of traffic as indicated by traffic signs | $200 | $250 |
| Driving without due care or reasonable consideration (where no hurt is caused) | $200 | $250 |
| Carrying passengers on a motor vehicle or trailer in a dangerous manner | $200 | $250 |
| Reversing unnecessarily along an expressway | $200 | $250 |
| Failing to obey 1.1m height restriction for persons carried on open deck goods vehicle | $200 | $250 |
| Carrying passengers when the clear floor space of the open deck of goods vehicle is insufficient | $200 | $250 |
Singapore Traffic Offences with 8 Demerit Points
| Offence | Composition Fine (Light Vehicle) | Composition Fine (Heavy Vehicle) |
|---|---|---|
| Exceeding speed limit for vehicle by 31 to 40 km/h | $300 | $400 |
| Exceeding speed limit on a road by 31 to 40 km/h | $300 | $400 |
Singapore Traffic Offences with 9 Demerit Points
| Offence | Composition Fine (Light Vehicle) | Composition Fine (Heavy Vehicle) |
|---|---|---|
| Driving without due care or reasonable consideration (where hurt is caused) | $300 | $400 |
| Carrying passengers on a goods vehicle in a dangerous manner | $300 | $400 |
Singapore Traffic Offences with 12 or More Demerit Points
| Offence | Demerit Points | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Exceeding speed limit for vehicle by 41 to 50 km/h | 12 | Prosecution in court |
| Exceeding speed limit on a road by 41 to 50 km/h | 12 | Prosecution in court |
| Failing to conform to traffic light signals (beat red light) | 12 | Composition fine: Light Vehicle – $400; Heavy Vehicle – $500 |
| Use of mobile communication devices while driving | 12 | 1st offence: Fine up to $1,000 or imprisonment up to 6 months or both; 2nd offence: Fine up to $2,000 or imprisonment up to 12 months or both |
| Exceeding speed limit for vehicle by 51 to 60 km/h | 18 | Prosecution in court |
| Exceeding speed limit on a road by 51 to 60 km/h | 18 | Prosecution in court |
| Exceeding speed limit for vehicle by more than 60 km/h | 24 | Prosecution in court |
| Exceeding speed limit on a road by more than 60 km/h | 24 | Prosecution in court |
| Reckless or dangerous driving | 24 | Prosecution in court |
| Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) | 24 | 1st offence: Fine between $2,000 and $10,000 or imprisonment up to 1 year or both; 2nd offence: Fine between $5,000 and $20,000 and imprisonment up to 2 years |
| Driving while under suspension or disqualification | 24 | Prosecution in court |
| Driving without a valid licence | 24 | Prosecution in court |
| Causing death or serious injury while driving | 24 | Prosecution in court |
| Failure to stop after an accident | 12 | Prosecution in court or composition fine, depending on severity |
| Participating in illegal road racing | 24 | Prosecution in court; penalties may include fines, imprisonment, and disqualification from driving |
Note: Offenders prosecuted in court may face additional penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and disqualification of the driving licence, depending on the severity of the offence.
Singapore Traffic Offences Within School and Silver Zones
In Singapore, School Zones and Silver Zones are designated areas aimed at enhancing road safety for students and senior pedestrians, respectively. To bolster protection for these vulnerable groups, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has implemented stricter penalties for specific traffic offences committed within these zones. Effective from 1 July 2021, motorists face increased demerit points and composition fines for certain violations in these areas.
Key Enhancements in Penalties:
- Additional Demerit Points: Motorists incur two extra demerit points for specified offences committed within School Zones and Silver Zones. For instance, an offence typically carrying 6 demerit points will result in 8 points if committed in these zones.
- Increased Composition Fines: An additional $100 is added to the composition fines for these offences within the designated zones. However, for heavy vehicle drivers, the maximum composition fine for 12-demerit point offences is capped at $500, in line with the Road Traffic Act.
Specified Traffic Offences with Enhanced Penalties:
The following table outlines the offences subject to enhanced penalties when committed within School Zones and Silver Zones:
| Offence | Demerit Points Outside Zones | Demerit Points Within Zones | Composition Fine Outside Zones | Composition Fine Within Zones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failing to give way to pedestrian, cyclist, mobility vehicle user, or PMD rider at pedestrian crossing while turning | 6 | 8 | $200 | $300 |
| Failing to slow down before reaching a pedestrian crossing | 6 | 8 | $200 | $300 |
| Failing to give way at uncontrolled crossing | 6 | 8 | $200 | $300 |
| Failing to give way at controlled crossing | 6 | 8 | $200 | $300 |
| Disobeying traffic direction of police officer or authorised personnel | 3 | 5 | $150 | $250 |
| Forming up incorrectly when turning left or right | 4 | 6 | $150 | $250 |
| Failing to give way to oncoming traffic at controlled junction | 4 | 6 | $150 | $250 |
| Failing to give way at uncontrolled junction | 4 | 6 | $150 | $250 |
| Failing to give way at junction of a one-way road where traffic flows from left to right | 4 | 6 | $150 | $250 |
| Failing to give way on the right at junction | 4 | 6 | $150 | $250 |
| Failing to give way at roundabout | 4 | 6 | $150 | $250 |
| Crossing double white lines | 4 | 6 | $150 | $250 |
| Crossing road divider | 4 | 6 | $150 | $250 |
| Driving or riding against the flow of traffic | 6 | 8 | $200 | $300 |
| Driving without due care or reasonable consideration for other road users (no hurt caused) | 6 | 8 | $200 | $300 |
| Driving without due care or reasonable consideration for other road users (hurt caused) | 9 | 11 | $300 | $400 |
| Using a mobile communication device while driving | 12 | 14 | $400 | $500 |
| Failing to conform to traffic light signals | 12 | 14 | $400 | $500 |
| Speeding* | 4–24 | 6–24 | $150–$300 | $250–$400 |
*Note: The demerit points and fines for speeding offences vary based on the extent to which the speed limit is exceeded.
For a detailed breakdown of these offences and penalties, refer to the Singapore Police Force’s official guidelines on penalties for traffic offences.
Important Considerations:
- Ongoing Updates: Traffic regulations and penalties are subject to change. Motorists are advised to stay informed about the latest rules and exercise caution, especially in School Zones and Silver Zones, to ensure the safety of all road users.
- Heavy Vehicle Drivers: The maximum composition fine for 12-demerit point offences committed in these zones is capped at $500 for heavy vehicle drivers, as per the Road Traffic Act. MHA will monitor accident rates involving heavy vehicles in these zones and may review this cap if necessary.
Prosecution for Severe Offences
For severe offences such as exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h or reckless driving, offenders are prosecuted in court. Penalties may include:
- Hefty fines
- Suspension or revocation of the driving licence
- Imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offence
Tips to Avoid Traffic Offences in Singapore
- Adhere to Speed Limits: Regularly check speed signs, especially in School Zones and Silver Zones.
- Use Hands-Free Devices: Avoid using your mobile phone while driving to prevent distractions.
- Be Courteous on the Road: Always give way to emergency vehicles and pedestrians.
- Stay Updated on Traffic Laws: Regulations may change periodically, so keep informed through official sources like the Singapore Police Force.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Do I Pay My Traffic Fines?
You can pay traffic fines through the following methods:
OneMotoring Portal: Visit the LTA’s website and log in using your SingPass.
AXS Machines: Pay at any AXS machine or station.
Singapore Police Force Website: Log in with SingPass to settle your fines online.
How Can I Remove Demerit Points?
emerit points are automatically removed if no further offences are committed within 12 months. Alternatively, eligible drivers can attend the Safe Driving Course (SDC), which reduces four demerit points.
Will My Traffic Offence Leave a Criminal Record?
Minor offences (e.g., speeding or illegal parking) do not result in a criminal record. However, serious violations (e.g., reckless driving or DUI) may result in criminal prosecution and a record.
Can I Still Drive With 24 Demerit Points?
No. Accumulating 24 or more points within 24 months leads to an immediate suspension of your driving licence.
Singapore’s strict traffic laws ensure road safety and discipline. Understanding the Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS), penalties for offences, and ways to avoid fines can save you from unnecessary stress and expenses. By practicing safe driving habits and staying informed, you can contribute to a safer driving environment for everyone.
