An islandwide anti-drink driving enforcement operation was conducted by the Traffic Police on Friday, 4 January 2019.
30 drivers were stopped and tested for alcohol consumption during the operations. Four men and a woman aged between 21 and 49, failed the test and were arrested for drink-driving. The highest Breath Evidential Analyser (BEA) test result was 55 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, which is more than the prescribed legal limit of 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
On conviction for drink-driving, first-time offenders can be fined between $1,000 and $5,000, and can have their driving licences disqualified for a period of not less than 12 months, depending on their BEA test results. The period of driving disqualification will render their driving licences invalid, and they will have to retake and pass the theory and practical driving tests in order to obtain their driving licences again. Repeat offenders may be punished with a maximum fine of $30,000 and a mandatory jail term of up to three years. They may also receive up to 6 strokes of the cane should death or serious injury be caused.
In the first nine months of 2018, there were 126 drink-driving accidents, a 22.3% increase as compared to the same period in 2017, while the number of casualties involved in such accidents have also increased to 160 in the first nine months of 2018 from 126 in the same period in 2017.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Anthony Yap, Deputy Commander Traffic Police said, “Traffic Police conducts regular enforcement operations against irresponsible motorists who choose to put themselves and other road users in danger by drink-driving. Drink-driving is a serious offence and Traffic Police will not hesitate to take tough enforcement action against motorists who choose to drink and drive.”
Drink and Drive is a deadly mix. Traffic Police would like to urge all motorists to play their part by adopting good RoadSense and keep our roads safe for all road users.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
05 January 2019 @ 10:00 AM