Come 1 January 2026, there’s going to be a harsher penalty for speeding, and it’s going to sting more both in terms of money and points.
In an effort to clamp down on dangerous driving, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is rolling out harsher penalties for speeding offences.
What’s Changing?
From the start of 2026, anyone caught exceeding the speed limit by up to 20km/h will now receive six demerit points, up from the current four.
The fines have gone up too: S$200 or S$250, depending on your vehicle type.
And if you’re one of those daredevils who exceed the limit by 50km/h or more, you’ll be staring down the barrel of 24 demerit points (immediate suspension) and a court date.
According to MHA, the number of fatal and injury-related accidents has risen every single year for the past five years. In 2024 alone, Singapore clocked 7,188 accidents and 142 road deaths. That’s more than two deaths a week.
Speeding was a major culprit. Not only did we hit a 10-year high for speeding violations in 2024 (192,000 cases), thbut ere was also a 43.8% increase in speeding-related fatalities, from 32 in 2023 to 46 last year.
MHA isn’t mincing words either. These enhanced penalties are meant to “better reflect” the severity of such offences and serve as a powerful deterrent.
Revised Speeding Penalties
It’s worth noting that this isn’t some arbitrary policy tweak. The groundwork was laid back in February during the Traffic Police’s Road Safety Day, when Minister K Shanmugam hinted at a tougher stance, though details were kept under wraps. Now, with the fine print revealed, it’s clear this is part of a broader push to instil a deeper culture of road safety.
“The enhanced penalties underscore MHA’s commitment to maintaining road safety. Road safety is ultimately a shared responsibility,” the ministry said in a statement. It’s a reminder that behind every statistic is a human story, a family member not coming home, a life irrevocably changed.
So, What Now?
Well, the simple answer is not to speed. The next time you feel the urge to push your speedo past the limit, ask yourself: is it really worth it?
Because starting in 2026, the system will hit you hard; in the wallet, on your licence, and maybe even in court.
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