Traffic Police's month-old 'stealth bike' team clamping down on reckless motorcyclists
By Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 22 Jul 2016
Dressed in black jackets and riding black motorcycles, these "bikers" give motorists a shock when they turn on their lights and sirens and reveal their true identities.
The covert officers have been on their bikes on Singapore's roads since last month in the latest attempt by the Traffic Police to clamp down on road offenders - particularly errant motorcyclists.
Explaining the initiative, TP commander Sam Tee said it was not easy for officers to go after motorcyclists in unmarked cars, as they can lose sight of them in heavy traffic.
The 900cc "stealth bikes", on the other hand, are much more manoeuvrable. "Our strategy has evolved. We are matching vehicle type for vehicle type," said Senior Assistant Commissioner Tee.
Bikers are an area of concern for the TP. They have held community events and media campaigns to warn them about the dangers of reckless riding in the past year.
TP statistics show that last year, 4,875 motorcyclists and pillion riders were injured, a 5 per cent rise from 2014. This group also accounted for almost half of all road deaths last year - 72 out of a total of 152.
To address the problem, the TP have increased enforcement to target what they call a "small minority" of motorists and motorcyclists who misbehave.
By Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 22 Jul 2016
The covert officers have been on their bikes on Singapore's roads since last month in the latest attempt by the Traffic Police to clamp down on road offenders - particularly errant motorcyclists.
Explaining the initiative, TP commander Sam Tee said it was not easy for officers to go after motorcyclists in unmarked cars, as they can lose sight of them in heavy traffic.
The 900cc "stealth bikes", on the other hand, are much more manoeuvrable. "Our strategy has evolved. We are matching vehicle type for vehicle type," said Senior Assistant Commissioner Tee.
Bikers are an area of concern for the TP. They have held community events and media campaigns to warn them about the dangers of reckless riding in the past year.
TP statistics show that last year, 4,875 motorcyclists and pillion riders were injured, a 5 per cent rise from 2014. This group also accounted for almost half of all road deaths last year - 72 out of a total of 152.
To address the problem, the TP have increased enforcement to target what they call a "small minority" of motorists and motorcyclists who misbehave.
In their first month of operations, TP's stealth motorcycle officers detected more than 700 violations - including offences such as using a mobile phone while riding and reckless riding. Covert operations - which also included officers in unmarked vehicles - detected 2,653 violations in the first six months of this year, up from 1,048 in the same period last year.
The Straits Times accompanied the TP's Special Operations Team (SOT) on their stealth bikes yesterday - during which three drivers and three motorcyclists were stopped in the course of an hour.
The Straits Times accompanied the TP's Special Operations Team (SOT) on their stealth bikes yesterday - during which three drivers and three motorcyclists were stopped in the course of an hour.
Starting from the TP's headquarters in Ubi, the two-man team took a route through the PIE, up the BKE to Woodlands, before turning back.
One van driver was spotted not wearing a seat belt; a car driver was using his phone. Motorcyclists were spotted speeding and weaving in and out of traffic recklessly.
Virtually all those caught seemed surprised when pulled over. Officers said that when the new bikes were launched, drivers sometimes initially refused to stop. Senior Staff Sgt Pardeep Dass, 31, said: "They always imagine TP officers to be in white uniforms, but once they see us in full gear they know we are police officers and comply."
Underneath their black jackets, the officers wear the white TP uniform and carry their warrant cards.
The SOT's officer commanding, Assistant Superintendent Firdous Haniff, 30, said the unmarked motorbikes have proven effective, adding that foreign police forces, such as those in Australia, employ similar tactics.
Motorcyclist and auditor Chris Yeo, 27, said: "It will make drivers more careful. It's like having plainclothes officers around us."
Mr Bernard Tay, chairman of the Singapore Road Safety Council, said motorists here have been conditioned to look out for TP officers dressed in white and on white motorbikes."If you behave yourself, you have nothing to be scared of," he said.
Mr Bernard Tay, chairman of the Singapore Road Safety Council, said motorists here have been conditioned to look out for TP officers dressed in white and on white motorbikes."If you behave yourself, you have nothing to be scared of," he said.
'Stealth bikers' clamping down on traffic offenders
Online video shows new Traffic Police team going after errant drivers and motorcyclists
By Lee Min Kok, The Straits Times, 11 Aug 2016
Motorists using mobile phones while driving, lorry drivers breaking speed limits and failing to keep left, and motorcyclists weaving across lanes recklessly - the Traffic Police's (TP) latest enforcers have been catching them all.
A video posted on the Use Your RoadSense Facebook page on Monday shows the TP's Special Operations Team (SOT) on black "stealth bikes" as they clamped down on errant drivers, like a speeding motorcyclist going against the traffic flow.
The two-minute clip has drawn over 300,000 views and more than 7,200 shares.
"These 'men in black' look out for common traffic offences, such as driving while using the mobile phone, and ensure that motorists are ever-alert on the roads - a timely reminder not to #PokemonGo and drive," the post said, referring to the popular Pokemon Go mobile game in which players catch virtual creatures using mobile devices.
The Singapore Police Force, which shared the video on its Facebook page, said the traffic situation continues to show improvements in various areas, but a minority of road users endanger the lives of others.
It added: "The TP will continue to take strict enforcement against such errant motorists even as we focus on education and enforcement efforts, reminding them that all road users have a role to play in keeping our roads safe."
Also called covert officers, the TP's stealth bikers have been on the roads since June. Clad in black jackets, the officers ride black 900cc motorcycles that are more manoeuvrable and have proven effective in curbing errant motorcyclists.
TP commander Sam Tee told The Straits Times that it was not easy for officers to go after motorcyclists in unmarked cars as they can lose sight of them in heavy traffic. In contrast, the "stealth bikes" are much more manoeuvrable.
TP statistics show that last year, 4,875 motorcyclists and pillion riders were injured, a 5 per cent rise from 2014. This group also accounted for almost half of all road deaths last year - 72 out of a total of 152.
Online video shows new Traffic Police team going after errant drivers and motorcyclists
By Lee Min Kok, The Straits Times, 11 Aug 2016
Motorists using mobile phones while driving, lorry drivers breaking speed limits and failing to keep left, and motorcyclists weaving across lanes recklessly - the Traffic Police's (TP) latest enforcers have been catching them all.
A video posted on the Use Your RoadSense Facebook page on Monday shows the TP's Special Operations Team (SOT) on black "stealth bikes" as they clamped down on errant drivers, like a speeding motorcyclist going against the traffic flow.
The two-minute clip has drawn over 300,000 views and more than 7,200 shares.
"These 'men in black' look out for common traffic offences, such as driving while using the mobile phone, and ensure that motorists are ever-alert on the roads - a timely reminder not to #PokemonGo and drive," the post said, referring to the popular Pokemon Go mobile game in which players catch virtual creatures using mobile devices.
The Singapore Police Force, which shared the video on its Facebook page, said the traffic situation continues to show improvements in various areas, but a minority of road users endanger the lives of others.
It added: "The TP will continue to take strict enforcement against such errant motorists even as we focus on education and enforcement efforts, reminding them that all road users have a role to play in keeping our roads safe."
Also called covert officers, the TP's stealth bikers have been on the roads since June. Clad in black jackets, the officers ride black 900cc motorcycles that are more manoeuvrable and have proven effective in curbing errant motorcyclists.
TP commander Sam Tee told The Straits Times that it was not easy for officers to go after motorcyclists in unmarked cars as they can lose sight of them in heavy traffic. In contrast, the "stealth bikes" are much more manoeuvrable.
TP statistics show that last year, 4,875 motorcyclists and pillion riders were injured, a 5 per cent rise from 2014. This group also accounted for almost half of all road deaths last year - 72 out of a total of 152.
In their first month of operations, TP's stealth officers detected more than 700 violations.
The SOT's officer commanding, Assistant Superintendent Firdous Haniff, 30, said the unmarked motorbikes have proven effective and that foreign police forces, such as those in Australia, employ similar tactics.
Additional reporting by Danson Cheong
Additional reporting by Danson Cheong
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