Singapore – A 34-year-old man was arrested early Sunday (Aug 23) for allegedly drink driving and driving without a valid licence, following a crash at the junction of Guillemard Road and Geylang Road in Singapore at around 3.30am. His 31-year-old male passenger was also arrested for permitting a person without a valid licence to drive. A 54-year-old van driver caught up in the collision was taken conscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
According to a news report, the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they were alerted to an accident involving a car and a van at the busy junction in the predawn hours. Investigations are still ongoing.
What Happened at the Scene
Photos of the aftermath, shared on the Facebook group Professional PHV Drivers Singapore: Grab, Gojek, Tada n Ryde, showed a grey van flipped on its side at the junction as traffic moved past. Several bystanders were seen trying to push the van back onto its wheels, but they couldn’t manage it. The user who posted the images noted that “many strong men (tried) to push the van back but to no avail,” and that officers were directing traffic at the scene.
The Penalties Involved
For our kababayan working or planning to drive in Singapore, the penalties here are steep. Based on the report:
- Driving without a valid licence: A fine of up to $10,000, jail of up to three years, or both. The vehicle may also be forfeited.
- Permitting an unlicensed person to drive: The same penalties apply — up to $10,000 fine, up to three years’ jail, or both.
- Drink driving: A fine of between $2,000 and $10,000, jail of up to 12 months, or both.
Singapore’s Tougher Drink Driving Rules
The arrest comes just weeks after Parliament passed stricter traffic laws on Aug 4. The new rules cut the breath alcohol limit by more than half — from 35mcg to 15mcg per 100ml of breath. The blood alcohol limit also dropped from 80mg to 30mg per 100ml.
These changes make it easier to convict drink drivers and bring Singapore’s limits, in place since 1985, in line with countries like Japan and South Korea.
For Filipinos living in Singapore, the message is simple: never drink and drive, and always carry a valid licence. The cost of ignoring these rules is far too high.