Starting from Jan 1, 2027, Singapore will implement a revised demerit points system for motorists aimed at improving road safety. Under the new rules, the threshold for licence suspension will decrease from 24 points to 18 points for non-probationary drivers over a 24-month period. For probationary drivers, the threshold will drop from 13 points to 12 points within their initial 12-month probationary period. These changes are designed to enable the Traffic Police (TP) to suspend reckless drivers more swiftly and retain them off the roads for extended durations. The announcement comes amid rising concerns over road safety, with road fatalities reaching a ten-year peak of 149 in 2025, compared to 141 in 2016. Additionally, the number of injured individuals climbed from 9,342 in 2024 to 9,955 in 2025. In response, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) stated that these modifications to the Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS) are necessary to discourage traffic infractions and enhance overall road safety. The new system introduces extended suspension periods. First-time suspensions will last four months, up from the previous 12 weeks. Second-time suspensions will extend to six months, surpassing the existing 24-week duration. Third-time suspensions will result in a two-year ban, while subsequent suspensions will lead to five-year bans. The DIPS retraining course, which offers suspended drivers a chance to reduce their suspension periods through a voluntary 1½-day program, will be modified. Starting in 2027, this course will only be accessible to drivers facing their first suspension, reducing their suspension period from four months to six weeks upon completion. To facilitate the transition to the new demerit points system, a one-time deduction of demerit points will be implemented. Non-probationary drivers will receive up to six demerit points waived, whereas probationary drivers will get one point waived. However, this adjustment does not apply to violations occurring in 2027, and any unused deductions cannot be saved for future infractions. For instance, a non-probationary driver with four demerit points on December 31, 2026, would have all four points waived by January 1, 2027. If they commit a new violation in 2027, they would still be subject to the standard demerit points without benefit of the waiver. The Safe Driving Course, which previously allowed eligible drivers to remove four demerit points if they weren't suspended, will be discontinued from 2027. This decision follows reports indicating a low participation rate of only 15 percent as of 2025. Individuals who have already received invitations to participate in the course must complete it by December 31, 2025. In addition to the demerit points adjustments, the TP conducted a three-day enforcement operation from July 20 to 22, issuing over 150 summonses to commercial vehicle drivers for various violations, including speeding and failure to wear seatbelts. During this period, 276 commercial vehicles were inspected, resulting in multiple offenses identified, including driving without a valid license and operating vehicles without proper insurance. Some of these cases have been forwarded to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for further investigation and potential legal action. The TP reminded commercial vehicle operators that heavy vehicles must be equipped with speed limiters and display appropriate labels on windshields. Vehicles found exceeding speed limits are required to undergo inspection to confirm that their limiters are functioning correctly. Non-compliant lorries are prohibited from operating on public roads, and their road taxes cannot be renewed. Moreover, lorry owners whose vehicles were registered in or after January 2018 with a maximum laden weight between 5,001 kg and 12,000 kg must install speed limiters by January 1, 2027. A list of authorized service providers is available on the police force's official website. Older lorry models registered prior to 2018 should have already met these requirements by their respective deadlines in 2026.
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