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SINGAPORE : There were 12 drink-driving related deaths in the first nine months of this year - a 25 per cent decrease compared to the same period last year, which saw 16 deaths.
The number of people arrested for drink-driving has also dropped. But the authorities want to drive down this figure even further.
For the first nine months of this year, there were 2,278 arrests - down 17.9 per cent from the 2,775 arrests for the same period last year.
First-time offenders can be fined up to S$5,000, or jailed for up to six months. Second-time offenders can be fined up to S$10,000 and jailed up to 12 months.
Third and subsequent offenders can be fined up to S$30,000 and jailed up to three years. And should they cause death or injuries, they may also face up to six strokes of the cane.
And with the festive season just round the corner, the authorities have come up with a new tag-line - "Don't Drive to Drink" - to drive down the numbers even further.
DSP Soh Wan Khuan, commanding officer, Road Safety, Traffic Police, said: "We have obtained feedback that most of the people who drive to drink will not like to leave their car at the pub, or ... those drinking places they patronise.
"They would rather take the risk, and drive their car home - even after drinking. So I think that is why we came up with this tagline - you don't 'Drive to Drink'. And you would never drink and drive."
The three-month campaign will also offer discounted valet services.
The market price for a valet trip is S$60. But from 11 December 2009 to 28 February 2010, valet services from five providers - Elite Valet, Front Valet, Speed Valet, GN Valet at St James Power House and Zouk Management - will be offered at S$40. Discount vouchers valued at S$5 will be offered to drinkers.
The authorities have also roped in the telcos to send out anti drink-driving SMS or MMS to those around popular night spots between 9.30pm and 11:30pm during weekends.
For a period of six months, all three telcos, through selected locations, will send out SMS or MMS with anti-drink driving messages to subscribers at a time when the Traffic Police say they are still sober and are able to read the messages. - CNA/ms
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