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TP Rules on Handphone Driving


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Background

Handphone driving is an inconsiderate and dangerous act that poses a threat to other road-users. It distracts the drivers and reduces their ability to control their vehicles and react to changes in road situations.

 

In the late 1990s, with the proliferation of handphones in Singapore , a corresponding increase in the number of drivers using their handphones while driving was observed. This raised concerns among other road users. The legislation prohibiting handphone driving (Section 65B of RTA) was then introduced in 1999.

 

To ensure that the legislation only applies to drivers who blatantly disregard the safety of other road users by using their handphones while driving, 3 conditions were stipulated. For the offence of handphone driving to stand, ALL the following 3 conditions must be fulfilled:

 

(a) the vehicle is in motion; and

 

(b) the driver is holding on to the handphone with one hand; and

 

© the driver is communicating with any person with that handphone.

 

[Para 2© includes making phone calls, paging for someone, receiving a call by pressing the keypad, and reading, writing or sending SMS.]

 

The purpose of setting the three conditions is to ensure that drivers who have no intention to commit handphone driving will not be caught by ambiguous rules. For example, a driver who simply holds a mobile phone but is not using it to communicate while driving will not have committed an offence of handphone driving . However , if by doing so, the driver loses attention on the roads and fails to maintain proper control of his vehicle, he will still have committed an offence of driving without due care or reasonable consideration.

 

Similarly, the spirit of the law is such that the driver who uses his handphone is only a menace to other road users if his vehicle is moving. Hence, drivers who use their handphones while their vehicles are stationary will not be caught by this rule.

 

In short, Traffic Police do not take action against motorists for handphone driving simply because there is a handphone on the passenger seat or beside the driver. Traffic Police will only take action when our observations show that all the three conditions for the offence of handphone driving are concurrently present.

 

Below is a list of most commonly asked questions, along with the answers to each of them, to facilitate public's understanding on this matter. If you require clarification, you may email us at [email protected]

 

 

 

1. Why did Traffic Police enforce against handphone driving?

 

Handphone driving is an inconsiderate and dangerous act that poses a threat to other road-users. The act of using one hand to hold the handphone to communicate while driving distracts the drivers and reduces their ability to control their vehicles and react to changes in road situations

 

* But it is perfectly legal to put one hand on your passenger's lap and communicate with him/her while driving

 

 

In the late 90s, when the use of handphones became popular in Singapore , we noted a corresponding increase in the number of drivers using their handphones while driving. This raised concerns among other road users. The specific provision against handphone driving (Section 65B of RTA) was then introduced in 1999.

 

 

2. What constitute handphone driving?

 

To ensure that only drivers who blatantly disregard the safety of other road users by using their mobile phone while driving, 3 clear conditions were stipulated. For the offence of handphone driving to stand, ALL the following 3 conditions must be fulfilled:

 

(a) the vehicle is in motion; and

 

(b) the driver is holding on to the handphone with one hand; and

 

© the driver is communicating with any person with that handphone.

 

[Para 2© includes making phone calls, paging for someone, receiving a call by pressing the keypad, reading, writing or sending of SMS.]

 

The purpose of setting the 3 conditions is to ensure that drivers who have no intention to commit handphone driving will not be caught by ambiguous rules. For example, a driver who simply holds a mobile phone but is not using it to communicate while driving will not have committed an offence of handphone driving. However if by doing so, the driver loses attention on the roads and fails to maintain proper control of his vehicle, he will still have committed an offence of driving without due care or reasonable consideration.

 

Similarly, the spirit of the law is such that the driver who uses his handphone is only a menace to other road users if his vehicle is moving. As such, drivers who use their handphone while the vehicle is stationary should not be caught by this rule.

 

In short, Traffic Police do not take action against motorists for handphone driving simply because there is a handphone on the passenger seat or beside the driver. Traffic Police will only take actions when our observations show that all the three conditions for the offence of handphone driving are concurrently present.

 

 

3. What is Traffic Police's advice to motorists with handphones in their cars?

 

Because of the seriousness of the offence, Traffic Police urges all handphone users to make use of handsfree sets to answer their calls while driving. [Note: The use of handsfree is permitted provided the driver does not hold on to the handphone or the handsfree kit itself.] Alternatively, motorists who wish to use their handphones could also ask their passenger to make or receive a call on their behalf. If travelling alone, motorists should drive to a carpark before making the call.

 

 

4. What are the penalties for handphone driving?

 

With effect from 1 July 2000 , all handphone driving offenders will be prosecuted in court, regardless of whether the motorist is a first-timer or repeat offender. A first-timer convicted of phone and drive offence shall be liable to 12 demerit points and a maximum fine of up to $1000/- or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both. He/She may also be disqualified from driving. The offender's handphone and SIM card will be seized to facilitate investigation. These may be forfeited by the court upon conviction.

 

 

5. Examples of Handphone Driving:

 

Scenario A (Paging for someone) Page for someone, with or without earpiece, using one hand to hold on to the mobile phone while driving.

 

Scenario B (SMS/MMS message) Writing, Sending, and Reading SMS/MMS messages from someone, with or without earpiece, using one hand to hold on to the mobile phone while driving.

 

Scenario C (Making a Call) Making a call, with or without earpiece, by pressing the keypads and was holding handphone in one hand while driving.

 

Scenario D (Receiving a Call) Receiving a call, with or without earpiece, by pressing the keypads and was holding handphone in one hand while driving

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I don't use my mobile even if there was a handsfree plugged in. Why??? Because it is still distracting.

 

In tests done, even though the distraction is lowered quite a bit from not using a handsfree, the distraction amount is still significant enough that the chances of getting involved in an accident are very high.

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Stricter law coming up for those using handphone while driving. Don't mess up your life just for that moment of convenience. Take note all.

 

 

 

 

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/clampdown-on-phone-usage-while-driving-020819218.html

 

 

 

 

 

If you so much as hold your phone while driving, you could soon be breaking the law.

Proposed changes to the Road Traffic Act tabled on Monday during Parliament would make holding a mobile device while driving or using any of its functions — including not just talking and texting but also surfing, downloading content or checking social media sites — an offence punishable by law.

 

These new rules would apply to all mobile devices, including tablets. However, drivers will be permitted to use their mobile devices if they are mounted on a holder or cradle.

Offenders can be slapped with a fine of up to $1,000 and/or a jail term of up to six months. These new amendments to the Act were proposed in light of an increase in phone-and-drive offenses.

Last year, phone-and-drive offenses were up 21.6 per cent from 2,938 to 3,572, said the Traffic Police.

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Supercharged

before this news, I always thought holding on to mobile phone while driving will get caught and even touching your phone to sms/call with it mounted also..

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