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By Clement Yap
SINGAPORE - Did you know your mobile phone can be forfeited by the police if you are caught using it while driving?
Do you realise you can be fined and even jailed for abruptly changing lanes or tampering with fuel measuring equipment and parking coupons?
Here's a listing of traffic offences and possible sentences that drivers may not be too aware and could do well to take heed of:
Hit-and-run accidents
This is not a suprising offence but it is crucial to know that fleeing from the scene after knocking someone down could result in not just one but multiple charges against you as the intervention of the driver could mean the difference between life and death.
In fleeing the scene after severely injuring a victim, one could have already committed up to four distinct offences under section 84 of the Road Traffic Act (RTA).
(a) Failed to stop after the accident contrary to section 84(1) of the RTA.
(b) Failed to report the accident to the police within 24 hours of the accident contrary to section 84 & (2) of the RTA.
(c) Failed to render assistance to the victim contrary to section 84
(3) of the RTA.
(d) Moving the car without authority from the Police contrary to section 84(4) of the RTA.
Example: In 2006, Lee Cheow Leong Charles failed to slow down when approaching a junction and hit an elderly pedestrian. The victim was flung 27m forward. After the collision, Lee stopped the car some distance from the scene. Seeing that the victim was motionless, drove off without rendering any assistance. The victim died shortly after.
Without factoring in the other charges of driving whilst under disqualification and causing death by rash driving. Lee was sentenced to nine month's imprisonment for failing to render assistance after the accident.
Including the other charges, Lee was sentenced to a total of 48 months imprisonment, with a ten year ban on driving upon his release from prison.
 
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