All phones down: Singapore stiffens rules on phone usage while driving

Either you pull over first, or risk getting caught.

Mobile phone usage is one of the biggest culprits behind car accidents, and the Singapore parliament has made a bold move in trying to push people to drive responsibly and attentively.

In a speech by by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs, it was revealed that a new bill was passed, tightening the use of mobile devices while motorists are on the road. The rule's scope has been broadedned to include all mobile communication devices, including tablets.

Here's an excerpt from Mr Masagos Zulkifli's speech:

Madam, I will now move on to address specific questions and comments from Members on enforcement. In particular, many Members have spoken on the expansion of the handphone driving offence and I would like to thank Members for their support. Indeed many Members have said that we have not gone far enough. Let me first clarify that the expanded offence will cover the use of any function of a mobile communicative device. The examples raised by Mr Lim and Mr Gerald Giam – of playing games, reading e-books on a mobile communication device, or reading downloaded emails and documents – will indeed be captured under the new offence, if the driver holds the device in one hand while the vehicle is in motion.

As a principle, drivers should be focused on driving and not be distracted at any time. Like Mr Gan, we are just as concerned about distracted driving. Madam, the proliferation in the use of mobile devices such as handphones and their expanded range of functions – trends which Ms Tin Pei Ling had also highlighted – explain why we proposed broadening the scope of the handphone driving offence.

However, we also recognise that it is neither possible nor practical for the law to specify all the actions, and even devices, that could potentially distract the driver. Our proposed approach for the handphone driving offence is consistent with that taken in other jurisdictions such as Hong Kong which do not permit the use of mobile communication devices while the vehicle is in motion but generally allow the use of hands-free sets and operation of mounted or in-built devices. As Mr Zainal and Mr Kumar have pointed out, other jurisdictions such as the UK and some Australian states go a step further to prohibit the use of handphones in stationary vehicles. Mr Zainal had also asked whether we should prohibit driving instructors from using their mobile devices while conducting classes for learner drivers. The driving schools have been advised by TP that their instructors should refrain from doing so when conducting driving classes. This has been a long-standing practice.

To sum up our approach with respect to defining the scope of the handphone driving offence, we have deliberately decided to take a measured approach in tightening the rules on handphone driving. But we will continue to monitor the situation after the new changes come into effect and study the practices of other jurisdictions as they evolve to deal with other types of smart devices that are being developed.