S'pore woman, 85, makes illegal right turn & injures 6, gets fined S$4,000 & disqualified from driving for 5 years

An 85-year-old woman in Singapore was fined S$4,000 and disqualified from holding all classes of driving licences for five years on Feb. 27, 2026 after she made an illegal right turn against the flow of traffic and injured six people in 2024.

She pleaded guilty to one charge of driving without due care and attention causing grievous hurt.

Another charge for causing hurt by driving without due care and attention was taken into consideration for sentencing.

According to charge sheets seen by Mothership, the incident occurred at about 9:21pm on Mar. 3, 2024 at the junction of Nicoll Highway and Bras Basah Road.

The accused, Ruth Chia Soh Kim, made an illegal right turn from Nicoll Highway towards Bras Basah Road, a one-way street, against the flow of traffic.

Illegal right turn

Chia had left the Singapore Swimming Club in Tanjong Rhu at about 9pm that night.

Her friend, Lim Loo Leong, 90, was in the passenger seat, court documents stated.

At about 9:20pm, Chia stopped her car after approaching the junction of Nicoll Highway and Bras Basah as the traffic light turned red.

She then proceeded to turn right towards Bras Basah Road, a one-way street, when the traffic light turned green.

Chia caused a collision when her car encroached into the path of another car driving straight along Nicoll Highway towards Guillemard Road.

The driver of the other car had applied the brakes, but was unable to stop in time.

Chia’s car spun around and went into the island at the zebra crossing at the junction, hitting several pedestrians.

Injured people

As a result, six people were injured.

They include:

• The 90-year-old man, who was Chia's front seat passenger.
• A 38-year-old male driver and his 41-year-old female front seat passenger, as well as his eight-year-old female rear seat passenger of the car that Chia collided with.
• A 32-year-old pedestrian standing at the island of a zebra crossing at the junction of Bras Basah Road and Nicoll Highway.
• A 29-year-old female pedestrian standing at the island of a zebra crossing at the junction of Bras Basah Road and Nicoll Highway.

The 41-year-old female passenger fractured her ribs in the accident and was given 33 days of hospital sick leave.

The other victims suffered minor injuries, according to Shin Min.

Depended on instructions

The accused was driving on the first lane of a five-lane road at the time of the accident, Shin Min reported, adding that she was sending the 90-year-old male passenger home in Tiong Bahru.

The accused, who was 83 then, depended on the male passenger's directions as she was unfamiliar with the route to his house.

The prosecution noted that the accused should have been focused on driving instead of depending on her passenger for directions.

Parkinson's disease

The accused appeared in court on the morning of Feb. 27, 2026, Shin Min reported, adding that she has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and has reduced mobility.

Her lawyer noted that at the time of the incident in 2024, she checked with her passenger if she was supposed to make a right turn before doing so.

The lawyer added that Chia no longer drives and she has sold her car.

Class 2 or Class 3 licence holders above the age of 65 have to be certified fit to drive in Singapore by undergoing a medical exam every three years.

Penalties

Any person who drives a motor vehicle on a road without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road shall be guilty of an offence.

Those convicted of causing grievous hurt to another person while driving are liable to a fine not exceeding S$5,000 or to jail for a term not exceeding two years, or to both.

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