E-scooter accident: Housewife who knocked into older woman fined S$2,200
Even though there was a blind spot at the accident site, the judge said that the rider should have slowed down.
SINGAPORE — A 49-year-old housewife who hit an older pedestrian was fined S$2,200 on Wednesday (Dec 19).
Rapiah Sari admitted to one count of causing hurt through a negligent act, after the accident left housewife Chia Gek Sim hospitalised for nine days.
In sentencing Rapiah, District Judge Kenneth Yap said that while it was obvious she did not mean to cause the 55-year-old pedestrian her injuries, it was “incumbent” on personal mobility device (PMD) users such as herself to “exercise greater care… and slow down, when there is a blind spot”.
The judge also said that the S$2,200 fine would send “a deterrent message to other PMD users”.
Rapiah could have been jailed up to six months and/or fined up to S$2,500.
On the morning of Nov 3 last year, the housewife was riding her e-scooter along a footpath on Jurong West Avenue 5. Court documents did not state how fast she was riding.
At the same time, Ms Chia was walking down a flight of stairs that led to the footpath.
Rapiah’s view of the stairs was obstructed and she did not slow down her e-scooter near the junction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Jason Chua said that Rapiah was unable to stop in time when she saw Ms Chia at the junction, thus colliding into her.
The impact threw Rapiah off her e-scooter and Ms Chia fell onto the grass patch beside the footpath.
Ms Chia was later taken to the hospital, with injuries that included a 4cm-long laceration at the back of her head. She was warded for nine days.
DPP Chua urged a fine of more than S$2,000, stating that the injuries sustained were not minor. “She (Rapiah) ought to have taken greater care,” he told the court.
Defence lawyer Imran Rahim called for a lower fine, pointing out Rapiah’s family’s financial situation. Her husband, who was with her in court, works on a contractual basis, and “the family earns only about S$800 a month”.
Mr Imran also said that the layout of the accident site was “unique”, such that it might not be possible for his client to see Ms Chia coming down the flight of stairs.
Still, District Judge Yap pointed out, PMD riders have to slow down when encountering a blind spot.
