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S'pore lowers demerit points threshold from 24 to 18 for 1st suspension starting Jan. 1, 2027
The changes come as road fatalities reach 10-year high.
July 31, 2026, 02:01 PM
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From Jan. 1, 2027, the traffic police will tighten the demerit points regime, also known as the Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS) for Singapore Driving Licence holders.
These changes come after road safety was observed to have deteriorated.
According to a police news release from Jul. 31, road fatalities in Singapore have increased by five per cent between 2024 and 2025, reaching a 10-year high.
Injured persons caused by road accidents also increased by 6.6 per cent in this period.
Lower suspension threshold
Under the new regime, the threshold for the first suspension of non-probationary motorists will be lowered from 24 demerit points to 18 points.
This means a motorist will be allowed to accumulate only 18 demerit points before being suspended for the first time.
Road offences that currently carry 24 demerit points will be revised to 18 demerit points. They include:
- Exceeding the vehicular speed limit by more than 50 km per hour;
- Exceeding the road speed limit by more than 50km per hour;
- Reckless or dangerous driving.
Longer suspension periods
Suspension periods across all tiers will also be increased.
A motorist's first suspension period will increase from 12 weeks to four months.
The second and third suspension durations will change from 24 weeks to six months and one to two years, respectively.
From the fourth suspension, the suspension period will be standardised at five years, instead of the current tiered system which become longer progressively.
One chance for reduction in suspension period
There will also be changes made to educational intervention programmes for errant motorists.
From Jan. 1, 2027, the DIPS Retraining Course, a 1.5-day rehabilitative programme where motorists can have their suspensions reduced, will be offered only to those suspended for the first time.
Such motorists can have their suspensions reduced from four months to six weeks upon successful completion of the course.
The DIPS Retraining Course and the accompanying reduction in suspension period will not be available for motorists' second and subsequent suspensions.
Discontinuation of Safe Driving Course
The Safe Driving Course (SDC), an early corrective course where motorists who have accumulated demerit points but not yet faced suspension can have four demerit points expunged, will be discontinued from Jan. 1, 2027.
The change comes as data showed that the course's take-up rate from 2023 to 2025 has been low at 15 per cent of those offered.
Its impact on improving driving behaviour was also found to be minimal, considering that the difference in re-offending rates between SDC and non-SDC takers is marginal.
The Traffic Police will cease offer letters for the course from Aug. 1, 2026.
Those who have received offer letters must complete the course by Dec. 31, 2026.
Lowered revocation threshold for motorists on probation
The new regime will also bring changes for motorists on probation or for new license holders who have not passed a year since receiving their driver's license.
From Jan. 1, 2027, such drivers will have their licence revoked if they accumulate 12 demerit points during probation, instead of the current 13.
The change will help shape responsible driving behaviour at an early stage for new motorists, said the police.
One-off adjustment of demerit points
In the transitionary period before Jan. 1, 2027, there will be a one-off adjustment to all motorists' demerit points.
Probationary motorists will get up to six demerit points deducted while non-probationary motorists will have one demerit point deducted from their total demerit points (if any) as of Dec. 31, 2026.
If the number of points to be deducted exceeds a motorist's existing demerit point balance, the balance will be reset to zero.
The remaining deduction in points will then carry over to any offences committed before Jan. 1, 2027.
The adjustments are to ensure no motorist is made at higher risk of suspension or revocation due to the changes in the regime, said the police.
Good driving incentives to remain
Meanwhile, the incentives offered for good driving and riding behaviours will remain unchanged.
Those who do not commit a traffic offence within a 12-month period from the date of their last offence will have their previous demerit points removed from record.
Motorists who do not commit traffic offences within 24 months from the end of their suspension, or from the start date of their new license, will have their previous driving suspensions removed from record.
Those who do not accumulate any demerit points for at least three years will also be eligible for a Certificate of Merit, which may qualify them for a motor insurance policy renewal discount.
Keeping errant motorists off the road
The changes to DIPS reflect an intent to deter traffic violations and keep errant motorists off the road for longer period, said the police.
It also follows concerns about road safety raised by Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Second Minister for Home Affairs Sim Ann in parliament earlier this year.
Following her remarks, new road safety measures and legislation were also introduced, including the lowering of the drink-driving limit and more jail time for dangerous and careless driving.
