By Lester Kok

THE police crackdown on speeding has paid off: For the first time in six years, fewer people died on the roads because of speeding drivers.

In the first nine months of this year, 42 people died in speeding-related accidents, 34 per cent fewer than the 64 who died in the same period last year.

The improvement appears to be a direct result of increased police enforcement on the roads.

They handed out 147,000 speeding summonses in that time, compared with 124,000 in the same period last year.

Most offenders are caught by speed-detection cameras placed at expressways and major roads. The Traffic Police also deployed 24-hour patrols with portable laser cameras, which can capture two cars per second, with licence plate numbers and the faces of the drivers.

The laser cameras can be used anywhere, and are commonly used at overhead bridges and road shoulders.

The police crackdown came as the number of people dying in speeding-related accidents gradually rose over the last five years, despite campaigns to educate the public on the dangers of speeding.

The Automobile Association of Singapore said the numbers might go up again if the police relaxed enforcement.

"Studies have shown that law enforcement is one of the main factors for minimising road accidents due to speeding, besides technological advances, road designs and public education," its spokesman said.

Speedsters who bust the limit by less than 40kmh will get demerit points and a fine of up to $200, depending on the type of vehicle and how much they went over the speed limit.

Those who exceed the speed limit by more than 40kmh will be charged in court and given up to 24 demerit points, which would mean that their licences are suspended. Those charged with reckless driving can be fined up to $2,000 and jailed for up to 12 months.

Singapore National Safety Council president Tan Jin Thong welcomed the stepped-up enforcement, although he said more demerit points should be given to speedsters.

"When you drive in the city, sometimes drivers will harass you at 100kmh, even if you are travelling at 90kmh, which is already over the speed limit," he said. "Repeat offenders should be handed more demerit points so they take speeding more seriously. It is also effective in that if offenders don't learn, the only way is to take them off the road."

Management consultant Carene Wong, 25, who was caught for speeding on the expressway by a camera in August, said people will still speed despite the risk of getting a summons.

"Fines and demerit points will stop only the people who care about these. It doesn't make a difference to the rest who don't care, because points can be renewed and the fines paid," she said.

lesterk@sph.com.sg

For more The Straits Times stories, click here.