A Strategic Shift in Road Safety Policy
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has announced a significant tightening of the Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS), marking a departure from current leniency to address a deteriorating road safety situation. Starting January 1, 2027, the threshold for the first license suspension will be lowered from 24 demerit points to 18 points within a two-year period. This regulatory overhaul follows a concerning rise in road fatalities, which reached a 10-year high of 149 in 2025, up from 142 in 2024. Additionally, the number of injured persons rose by 6.6 percent to 9,955 in the same period.
Increasing Suspension Durations
Under the revised framework, the consequences for repeat offenders will become substantially more severe. The first suspension period will increase from 12 weeks to four months. Opportunities for leniency are also being curtailed; the current ability to reduce suspension periods through a DIPS retraining course will be restricted. For a first suspension, the period can only be reduced to six weeks, while the option to use the retraining course for second and subsequent suspensions will be entirely removed.
Furthermore, third-time offenders will face a two-year suspension, double the current one-year duration. Subsequent suspensions will carry a five-year penalty. The government is also discontinuing the ‘safe driving course,’ citing low participation and marginal impact on driving behavior. SPF data indicates that only 15 percent of eligible motorists utilized the course in 2025.
Vocational Drivers and Transition Measures
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has acknowledged the potential impact on vocational drivers, whose livelihoods depend on their ability to operate vehicles. Second Minister for Home Affairs Sim Ann emphasized that the government consulted with transport union leaders to balance safety goals with the need to prevent unfair economic disadvantage. To facilitate the transition, a one-time demerit point deduction will be applied on January 1, 2027. Motorists will receive a deduction of up to six points, while probationary drivers will receive a one-point deduction. This ensures that existing records do not trigger immediate suspensions due to the new, lower thresholds.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and affiliated associations, including the National Taxi Association and National Private Hire Vehicles Association, have expressed support for the measures, noting that while safety is the priority, the transitionary deduction is a necessary safeguard for the workforce.