Road Traffic (Driver Improvement Points System) Rules

Road Traffic Act

(Chapter 276, Section 45(2))

R 25

G.N. No. S 45/1983

REVISED EDITION 1993

(1st April 1993)

[1st March 1983]

Citation

1. These Rules may be cited as the Road Traffic (Driver Improvement Points System) Rules.

Definitions

2. In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires —

“Course” means a course on safe driving that is conducted for the purposes of rule 3A;

[S 616/2015 wef 01/11/2015]

“Demerit Points No Parking Zone” means any part of a road that is marked with a single yellow zig‑zag line, and includes the public footpath adjacent to the road;

[S 837/2013 wef 01/01/2014]

“driving licence” means a licence to drive a vehicle granted under Part II of the Act;

“holder of a foreign driving licence” has the same meaning as in section 47F(4) of the Act;

[S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

“licence holder” means a holder of a driving licence or a holder of a foreign driving licence;

[S 616/2015 wef 01/11/2015]

“new driver” has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Rules (R 32);

[S 616/2015 wef 01/11/2015]

“notice of eligibility” means a notice in writing, issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Police to a licence holder, informing the licence holder of that licence holder’s eligibility to attend a Course;

[S 616/2015 wef 01/11/2015]

“scheduled offence” means an offence listed in the Schedule;

“school” has the same meaning as in the Education Act (Cap. 87);

[S 837/2013 wef 01/01/2014]

“school zone” means any part of a road that is —

(a)	adjacent to or in the immediate vicinity of a school; and
(b)	between a traffic sign indicating the beginning of a school zone and a traffic sign indicating the end of a school zone; [S 837/2013 wef 01/01/2014] [S 443/2021 wef 01/07/2021]

“silver zone” means any part of a road that is between a traffic sign indicating the beginning of a silver zone and a traffic sign indicating the end of a silver zone.

[S 443/2021 wef 01/07/2021]

Award of demerit points

3.—(1) Where a licence holder —

(a)	is convicted of a scheduled offence; or
(b)	pays a sum of money to compound a scheduled offence he is reasonably suspected to have committed,

the Deputy Commissioner of Police shall award against that holder the demerit points specified in the Schedule for that scheduled offence.

[S 837/2013 wef 01/01/2014]

[S 616/2015 wef 01/11/2015]

(1A) Where the scheduled offence mentioned in paragraph (1) —

(a)	is an offence listed in item (1)(a) to (e), (2)(a) to (e), (5), (7), (8), (9), (10), (12), (13), (18), (23), (24), (25), (26), (27) or (42) of the Schedule; and
(b)	is committed, or is reasonably suspected to have been committed, in a school zone or a silver zone by a licence holder,

the Deputy Commissioner of Police may award against the holder concerned 2 demerit points in addition to the demerit points awarded under paragraph (1).

[S 443/2021 wef 01/07/2021]

(2) Any demerit points awarded under paragraph (1) or (1A) shall take effect from the date on which the scheduled offence is committed or, in the case where the offence is compounded, on which the scheduled offence is reasonably suspected to have been committed.

[S 837/2013 wef 01/01/2014]

(3) The Deputy Commissioner of Police shall keep a register setting out the names and other particulars of all licence holders who have been awarded demerit points.

[S 459/99 wef 01/11/1999]

[S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

[S 616/2015 wef 01/11/2015]

Eligibility of licence holder to attend Course, etc.

3A.—(1) The Deputy Commissioner of Police must issue a notice of eligibility to a licence holder if —

(a)

all of the following criteria are satisfied:

(i)

the licence holder is not either of the following:

(A)	a new driver in relation to any class of driving licence;
(B)	a holder of a foreign driving licence whose foreign driving licence has been held for less than one year after the date of the grant of that licence;

[S 627/2017 wef 01/11/2017]

(ii)

no driving licence of the licence holder was revoked under section 35A(1)(a) of the Act in the immediately preceding 12 months;

(iii)

the driving licence of the licence holder is not suspended under the Act (including under rule 4);

(iv)

the licence holder is not prohibited, by a prohibition order under section 47F of the Act or rule 7, from driving a motor vehicle in Singapore;

(v)

the driving licence of the licence holder is not liable to suspension under rule 4;

(vi)

the licence holder is not liable to have a prohibition order under rule 7 made against the licence holder;

(vii)

the licence holder is not disqualified under the Act from holding a driving licence;

(viii)

the driving licence of the licence holder does not cease to be in force under section 35(10A) of the Act;

(ix)

demerit points awarded against the licence holder —

(A)	have been disregarded under paragraph (3), or have been cancelled under paragraph (3) as in force immediately before 1 November 2017, on not more than one previous occasion in the immediately preceding 10 years; and
(B)	have not been disregarded under paragraph (3), and have not been cancelled under paragraph (3) as in force immediately before 1 November 2017, in the immediately preceding 12 months; and

[S 627/2017 wef 01/11/2017]

(b)

the Deputy Commissioner of Police awards against the licence holder for a scheduled offence (called in this rule the trigger offence) any demerit points which would result in the licence holder being awarded —

(i)	in any case where the licence holder is a person referred to in rule 4(2) or a holder of a foreign driving licence referred to in rule 7(2), a total of 4 or more demerit points within a period of 12 months; or [S 627/2017 wef 01/11/2017]
(ii)	[Deleted by S 627/2017 wef 01/11/2017]
(iii)	in any other case, a total of 8 or more demerit points within a period of 24 months. [S 627/2017 wef 01/11/2017]

(2) A notice of eligibility issued to a licence holder remains valid from the date the notice is issued until the earliest of the following dates:

(a)

the date specified in the notice to be its last day of validity;

(b)

the date immediately before any of the following occurs:

(i)	the licence holder becomes a new driver in relation to any class of driving licence;
(ii)	the driving licence of the licence holder is suspended under the Act (including under rule 4);
(iii)	the licence holder is prohibited, by a prohibition order under section 47F of the Act or rule 7, from driving a motor vehicle in Singapore;
(iv)	the driving licence of the licence holder becomes liable to suspension under rule 4;
(v)	the licence holder becomes liable to have a prohibition order under rule 7 made against the licence holder;
(vi)	the licence holder is disqualified under the Act from holding a driving licence;
(vii)	the driving licence of the licence holder ceases to be in force under section 35(10A) of the Act;
(viii)	the issue of a new notice of eligibility by the Deputy Commissioner of Police.

(3) With effect from the date a licence holder successfully completes a Course (including by passing any test conducted during the Course), when making a calculation mentioned in rule 4(4) or 7(4) in relation to the licence holder, the Deputy Commissioner of Police may disregard 4 of the demerit points that would otherwise be taken into account in that calculation, if —

(a)

the Course is completed —

(i)	while the notice of eligibility issued in relation to the trigger offence remains valid; and
(ii)	within the period of 24 consecutive months or 12 consecutive months (as the case may be) mentioned in rule 4(4) or 7(4) (as the case may be);

(b)

demerit points awarded against the licence holder have been disregarded under this paragraph, or have been cancelled under paragraph (3) as in force immediately before 1 November 2017, on not more than one previous occasion in the immediately preceding 10 years; and

(c)

demerit points awarded against the licence holder have not been disregarded under this paragraph, and have not been cancelled under paragraph (3) as in force immediately before 1 November 2017, in the immediately preceding 12 months.

[S 627/2017 wef 01/11/2017]

(4) [Deleted by S 627/2017 wef 01/11/2017]

[S 616/2015 wef 01/11/2015]

[S 627/2017 wef 01/11/2017]

Suspension of driving licence

4.—(1) The Deputy Commissioner of Police may suspend, for a period not exceeding 36 months, the driving licence of any person who has been awarded within a period of 24 months a total number of 24 or more demerit points.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where the driving licence of a person has been suspended or is liable to suspension under paragraph (1), then notwithstanding paragraph (1), whenever subsequently such person has been awarded within a period of 12 months a total number of 12 or more demerit points, the Deputy Commissioner of Police may suspend the driving licence of that person for a period not exceeding 36 months.

(3) Paragraph (2) shall not apply where the person referred to in that paragraph does not commit any scheduled offence for a period of 24 consecutive months subsequent to the date his licence is liable to suspension or the date of expiry of the suspension or the date of expiry of the period for which he is disqualified by an order of court made on or after 1st March 1983 from holding or obtaining a driving licence, as the case may be.

(4) In calculating the number of demerit points which will render such person’s driving licence liable to suspension under paragraph (1) or (2), only such demerit points shall be taken into account as have been awarded against that person within a total period of 24 consecutive months or 12 consecutive months, as the case may be, calculated from the date of the first award of demerit points within that period and all demerit points awarded before that period shall be disregarded.

(5) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), where the holder of a driving licence does not commit any scheduled offence for any period of 12 consecutive months, excluding any period for which his driving licence is suspended under these Rules or any period for which he is disqualified by an order of court made on or after 1st March 1983 from holding or obtaining a driving licence, every demerit point awarded against him before that period shall be disregarded in calculating the number of demerit points which will render his driving licence liable to suspension.

(6) Paragraph (5) shall not apply where the demerit points are awarded to the holder of a driving licence after the 12-month period mentioned in that paragraph for a scheduled offence committed before that period and such demerit points would, if taken into account with other demerit points awarded before that period, render the driving licence of that person liable to suspension under these Rules.

Deputy Commissioner of Police to send notice

5.—(1) The Deputy Commissioner of Police shall notify the holder of the driving licence by notice in writing of the date on which he intends to suspend his driving licence and shall require him to show cause within 14 days from the date of the notice as to why his licence should not be suspended.

(2) On the date specified in the notice, the Deputy Commissioner of Police shall, after taking into consideration the facts in mitigation, if any, which may be submitted by the holder of the driving licence concerned, make an order as the Deputy Commissioner of Police thinks fit.

(3) [Deleted by S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

Notice of suspension of driving licence

6.—(1) The Deputy Commissioner of Police shall, upon making an order to suspend the driving licence of a person, notify him in writing of the suspension of his driving licence and shall require him to surrender the driving licence forthwith to him.

(2) Such a person shall not drive or obtain a provisional licence to drive a vehicle of any class as long as the order of suspension is in force.

Prohibition order against holder of foreign driving licence

7.—(1) The Deputy Commissioner of Police may by order (referred to in these Rules as a prohibition order) —

(a)	prohibit the holder of a foreign driving licence who has been awarded a total of 13 or more demerit points within a period of 12 months from the date of the grant of that licence from driving all classes of vehicles in Singapore for a period of 12 months; or
(b)	prohibit the holder of a foreign driving licence who has been awarded a total of 24 or more demerit points within a period of 24 consecutive months from driving all classes of vehicles in Singapore for a period not exceeding 36 months. [S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where —

(a)	a prohibition order has been made against the holder of a foreign driving licence; or [S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]
(b)	an order has been made by a court on or after 1st November 1999 prohibiting the holder of a foreign driving licence from driving any motor vehicle in Singapore, [S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

then, whenever subsequently the holder of a foreign driving licence has been awarded a total of 12 or more demerit points within a period of 12 consecutive months, the Deputy Commissioner of Police may make a prohibition order against him for a period not exceeding 36 months.

[S 459/1999 wef 01/11/1999]

[S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply to the holder of a foreign driving licence who has not committed any scheduled offence for a period of 24 consecutive months from —

(a)	the date of expiry of the prohibition order; or
(b)	the date of expiry of an order made by a court on or after 1st November 1999 prohibiting him from driving any motor vehicle in Singapore,

as the case may be.

[S 459/1999 wef 01/11/1999]

[S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

(4) In calculating the number of demerit points for the purposes of paragraph (1) or (2), only such demerit points shall be taken into account as have been awarded against the holder of a foreign driving licence within the period of 24 consecutive months or 12 consecutive months, as the case may be, calculated from the date of the first award of demerit points within that period; and all demerit points awarded before that period shall be disregarded.

[S 459/1999 wef 01/11/1999]

[S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

(5) Where the holder of a foreign driving licence has not committed any scheduled offence for any period of 12 consecutive months (referred to in this rule as the relevant period), every demerit point awarded against him before the relevant period shall be disregarded for the purposes of calculating the total number of demerit points under paragraph (1) or (2).

[S 459/1999 wef 01/11/1999]

[S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

(6) The relevant period excludes the period any prohibition order against the holder of a foreign driving licence, or any court order made on or after 1st November 1999 prohibiting him from driving any motor vehicle in Singapore, is in force.

[S 459/1999 wef 01/11/1999]

[S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

(7) Paragraph (5) does not apply if —

(a)	the holder of a foreign driving licence has committed a scheduled offence before the relevant period for which he has been awarded demerit points during or after the relevant period; and [S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]
(b)	such demerit points, if added to the total number of demerit points awarded against him before the relevant period, would render him liable to have a prohibition order made against him. [S 459/1999 wef 01/11/1999]

Appeal by holder of foreign driving licence

8.—(1) The holder of a foreign driving licence may, if aggrieved by the prohibition order made against him under rule 7, within 14 days of the receipt of the prohibition order, appeal to the Commissioner of Police whose decision shall be final.

[S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

[S 616/2015 wef 01/11/2015]

(2) The Commissioner of Police may, after taking into consideration such facts in mitigation as may be submitted by the holder of a foreign driving licence, rescind the prohibition order or shorten the effective period of that prohibition order.

[S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

[S 616/2015 wef 01/11/2015]

(3) [Deleted by S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

Notice of prohibition order

9.—(1) The Deputy Commissioner of Police shall, upon making a prohibition order against the holder of a foreign driving licence, serve on him a notice of the order.

[S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

(2) A notice of the order shall be deemed to have been duly served if it is addressed to the holder of a foreign driving licence and sent by registered post to his last known address in Singapore, if available, or to his last known address in another country.

[S 459/1999 wef 01/11/1999]

[S 645/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

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