Findings from Trial of Using Speed-tracking Devices for Heavy Vehicles

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what are the findings from the trial of using speed-tracking devices for heavy vehicles in 2018; and (b) whether there are plans to mandate speed-tracking devices for heavy vehicles to curb speeding.

Today, the Traffic Police (TP) already requires the use of speed limiters for heavy vehicles. One limitation, however, is that the speed limiters can be tampered with.

Between December 2017 and August 2018, Traffic Police conducted a trial on speed-tracking devices, to assess if they might be more effective than speed limiters in discouraging heavy vehicle drivers from speeding. TP concluded from the trial that even though the speed-tracking devices were accurate in measuring vehicle speed, they were also susceptible to being tampered. They do not therefore confer significant advantages over speed limiters.

In addition, the cost to install the speed tracking devices is not low. TP has decided not to make the speed tracking devices mandatory. TP will continue to require the use of speed limiters in heavy vehicles.

TP will continue to monitor the development of other technologies that can help to discourage speeding. TP will also continue to adopt a multi-pronged strategy to getting heavy vehicle drivers to drive safely, including strict enforcement, and sustained education and engagement.

I thank Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply. My main concern really is when there is accident involving a heavy vehicle, the chance of fatality is very high, especially for those who are carrying a lot of people in the back. And I think we still see them speeding and I think the problem then is how we are going to tackle the people who are tampering with the speed limiters. Whether Senior Parliamentary Secretary or MHA can consider increasing the penalties for those who tamper with the speed limiters.

My second question is whether MHA will consider installing the speed counters that we have in our military vehicles. We seldom see the military vehicles speeding and whether we can consider putting those counters in our heavy vehicles?

I thank the Member for the suggestion. We will study on whether we need to increase the penalties for tampering, but currently the penalties are quite significant. Just to share with the Member – it is an offence to tamper with a speed limiter installed on heavy vehicles. First-time offenders are liable for imprisonment term of up to three months, a fine of $1,000 or both – and this is for first-time offenders. More severe punishment is meted out to those who are repeat offenders. There are also laws that ensure heavy vehicle owners maintain the speed limiters in proper working condition. And again, there are penalties for failure to abide by this law.

That said, we are not just stopping there, we are also looking to enhance the punishment, in particular. MHA recently announced increases in composition sums for road traffic offences which will take effect on 1 April 2019. And with this change, the composition sum for heavy vehicle drivers who exceed the speed limits by over 31 km/h would be increased from $200 today to $400.

Also, TP engages heavy vehicle drivers regularly through education, safety dialogues and various other sessions. On the use of the speed tracking devices, that is part of the trial. In fact, what we have tested in the trial, was enhanced features where the business owners could actually track the speed of the vehicles when they are transmitted to the companies. So, the tracking device – as I have mentioned – they can be tampered with and tampering is something that is very difficult to detect. That is why we have quite serious punishment for it.

We will continue to study what we can do better and on a good note, the accidents involving heavy vehicles have, in fact, decreased. Let me share with the Member the figures that we have. Between 2014 and 2018, the number of speeding violations involving heavy vehicles with speed limiters actually decreased by about 37%, from 1,737 in 2014 to 1,087 in 2018. And the number of speeding related accidents involving heavy vehicles decreased too; by about 37% from 27 in 2014 to 17 in 2018. But nevertheless, we agree with the Member, one accident is still too many. We will see what we can do better in this area.