Singapore Moves to Close Loophole on Phone Use While Driving
Singapore's proposed Road Traffic Act amendments would penalise drivers for merely holding a phone or device, lowering the bar for enforcement.
Singapore is proposing changes to its road traffic law that would allow authorities to penalise drivers who hold a mobile phone or similar device while behind the wheel, according to Channel NewsAsia reporting on the amendments before Parliament.
The shift is significant because it targets the act of holding a device, not just active use. Under existing rules, enforcement has generally required evidence that a driver was operating a phone, texting, or otherwise engaging with it. The proposed language would broaden the scope to cover a driver simply holding a device, and the reporting indicates the changes are intended to extend beyond phones to other devices such as smartwatches.
That distinction matters for enforcement. Prosecuting active use often depends on demonstrating what a driver was doing with the device, a higher evidentiary bar. A rule keyed to physical possession while driving lowers that threshold, making cases easier to bring and, in practice, widening the range of behaviour that falls under the offence.
The details being debated in Parliament will determine how far the rule reaches, including how devices are defined and what exemptions, if any, apply. CNA reported the proposal as part of amendments to the Road Traffic Act.
For the broader regulatory picture in Singapore, the move fits a pattern of tightening road safety enforcement as connected devices proliferate. The specific penalties, effective dates, and definitional boundaries were not detailed in the available reporting and will hinge on the final form of the legislation.
