Yip Hon Weng on Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill

The Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill addresses the critical aspects of road safety - deterrence, enforcement and modernisation which are essential to creating a safer and fairer road traffic system for all, said MP Yip Hon Weng. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday (Jan 7), he stressed the need to ensure that penalties against dangerous driving serve as real deterrence while giving Courts the discretion to impose sentences that match the severity of the harm caused. He said this flexibility recognises that driving is a complex skill and that mistakes can happen. By striking this balance, Singapore strengthens the rule of law while upholding fairness, he said. Turning to enforcement, Mr Yip stressed the need to empower officers at the checkpoints to combat drink driving while ensuring fairness, impartiality and efficiency. Clear guidelines and robust training are non-negotiable to maintain public trust and leveraging technology can help to minimise inconvenience for commuters, he added. Mr Yip described the Bill as “more than a collection of amendments”, calling it a “commitment to protecting lives and livelihoods”.