From November 2019 onwards, those prone to being reckless on the roads will be given more cause to think twice.

That's because the amendments to the Road Traffic Act are set to take effect from Nov. 1, 2019.

A Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) press release is reminding the public that heavier imprisonment terms and fines would be imposed on motorists who exhibited "egregious driving behaviour".

Under the new Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2019, which was passed in Parliament on July 8, 2019, irresponsible driving offences will now be classified into two categories:

• Reckless or dangerous driving
• Driving without due care or reasonable consideration, i.e. careless driving

In her speech during the second reading of the bill, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo explained that dangerous driving would be considered more serious than careless driving and that the two would be differentiated on a case-by-case basis.

The act will establish four tiers delineating different levels of harm which offences will be categorised into:

• Death
• Grievous hurt
• Hurt
• Endangers life

Under the act, each dangerous or careless driving offence will have higher maximum imprisonment terms and fines, as compared to the existing penalties under the Penal Code and Road Traffic Act.

Additionally, any motorist who commits a dangerous or careless Driving offence under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be liable for further penalties, which will run consecutively.

Repeat offenders will also be liable for higher maximum penalties as compared to first-time offenders.

More provisions in the act pertaining to licence suspension will take effect in the second half of 2020.

Top image from Jo.sau via Flickr