In the wake of recent high-profile fatal drink driving accidents, CNA takes a look at how Singapore's laws tackle drink driving and whether they are enough.
Last month, a drunk Mini Cooper driver who rammed into back of a stationary food delivery rider wasStatistics provided to CNA by the traffic police last week showed that the number of drink-driving accidents that caused fatalities or injuries went up in the last three years.
In particular, she pointed to the 2019 amendments to the Road Traffic Act, which increased the maximum fine and imprisonment term for drink driving. "It is clear that the enhanced sentencing regime post-2019 was intended to create a strong deterrence to would-be drink drivers, as well as irresponsible or reckless drivers," said Mr Leon.The long-ranging potential consequences of drink driving may not appear immediately after having a tipple.
Managing director of Characterist LLC, Mr Daniel Goh Choon Wah, whose firm does"a considerable amount" of motor vehicle insurance work, said that in most cases, the insurance contract stipulates that drink driving constitutes grounds for the repudiation of insurance liability."In particular, some insurance policies might provide that any amount of alcohol consumed is grounds for repudiation.
She said the punishment for dangerous driving while under the influence, resulting in death, can be harsher than causing death by a rash act. The maximum jail term for causing death by a rash act is five years, whereas a drink driver who causes death can be jailed for up to 10 years in certain situations.
"Therefore, the authorities take a calibrated and graduated approach. The penalties are adjusted by looking at the statistics of such offences and if they are on the rise despite the enhanced penalties, then the penalties are made a little higher," he said.
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