From June 30, amendments to the Road Traffic Act (RTA) will take effect to improve measures against irresponsible driving and penalise e-bike riders who travel on the road without taking a theory test, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced yesterday (June 29).

Harsher penalties for speed trials

"Illegal speed trials have become a concern," said Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim during the second reading of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill on May 11.

There has been an increase in the number of people who were convicted of the offence, from 10 between 2015 and 2017 to 31 people between 2018 and 2020.

To improve road safety, there will be an increase in penalties for illegal speed racing.

First-time offenders will be jailed for up to a year and fined up to S$5,000, increased from the previous penalty which was a maximum jail term of six months and a fine of S$2,000.

Repeat offenders will be jailed for up to two years and fined up to S$10,000. The previous penalty was a maximum jail term of one year and a fine of S$3,000.

Other changes to road traffic act from June 30

Harsher penalties will be enforced for motorcyclists who fail to ensure that their pillion rider wears an approved helmet when on the road.

There will also be increased penalties for people involved in importing or selling non-approved helmets.

The amendments also included the offence of riding an e-bike on the road without passing a theory test beginning next year.

To refrain from committing an offence, e-bike riders can register for their online theory test starting today (June 30).

From June 30, a penalty will be imposed to someone who mislead the Traffic Police by taking traffic penalties on another's behalf or asking someone else to take penalties on their behalf.

The amendments also allows the courts to disqualify a motorist from driving if they commit a road rage offence.

A new amendment will also require companies that own vehicles to keep records of their drivers for a year, instead of six months, in case they are involved in traffic offences while driving company vehicles.

The company will also need to designate a “responsible officer” who may be liable if the company cannot identify its driver to the Traffic Police.

RTA was amended to make roads safer

The Road Traffic Act was amended in 2019 and 2021 and is taking effect now to make Singapore's roads safer.

Besides increased penalties for traffic offences, the amendments also aim to improve the Traffic Police's operational efficiency.