All red light cameras to be digital by June 2015

More red-light violators caught with new cameras
25,833 tickets issued from March to Sept a 37% increase over entire 2013
By Aw Cheng Wei, The Straits Times, 11 Nov 2014

DRIVERS be warned. New digital cameras - which do not run out of film like older cameras - are catching many more red-light violators in the act.

The Traffic Police have already issued 25,833 summonses to drivers caught running red lights between March and September this year, a jump of 37.4 per cent from the 18,796 issued for the whole of last year.

From 2011 to last year, the rise in such violations was minimal, or at most 7 per cent.



The substantial increase this year comes after digital cameras replaced old film cameras at 120 locations from March. The remaining 120 film cameras will be replaced by June next year.

The tickets issued this year include those for offenders caught on digital cameras, on top of those for offenders caught by film cameras and during operations.

Traffic Police chief Sam Tee said the digital cameras should send a strong signal to motorists to deter them from running red lights and spur them to stop when lights are red.

"Over time, we hope to shape their behaviour of following this simple rule which saves lives," said the Assistant Commissioner of Police.

In the past four years, drivers who ignored red lights killed 39 people. Some of these drivers also died in the process.

Despite the falling rate of fatalities in accidents where drivers ran red lights, that is a number too high because the accidents could have been prevented, said AC Tee.

The new cameras, fixed on 3.5m-tall poles by the roadside, snap twice - when vehicles hit the stop line and when they pass it. But they do not run out of film and can work all day, every day.

The 11-megapixel cameras shoot in colour, unlike the film cameras, which take black-and- white images.

Officers also do not have to collect the film manually. Images are sent automatically to the Traffic Police headquarters to be checked to ensure the summonses are sent to the right people.

The new cameras can also identify licence plate numbers.

AC Tee said: "It is not just a camera, but a whole-system design."

The new system must also hold up to court scrutiny when photographs are needed to prove the running of red lights occurred, he said.

Digital cameras also shorten the time taken for errant drivers to receive their summonses. It now takes about 10 working days, down from 18 before.

The process might become even faster when more digital cameras are installed next year.

But the flashes of the old film cameras are not taken down, in case they are needed as backup for the digital cameras, which come with their own flashes.

About 5 per cent of the 150 fatal accidents last year involved vehicles running red lights, which is more likely to happen from 8pm to the wee hours of the morning, when traffic tends to be lighter.

To encourage motorists to obey traffic lights, signs are put up to warn them of cameras ahead.

Motorists who run red lights are liable to 12 demerit points and a fine of $200 for light vehicles, and $230 for heavy vehicles.

Motorists who repeat their offences within 24 months will have their licences suspended.

Malaysia working on blacklist of Singapore drivers
Repeat traffic offenders could be blocked from entering the country
By Shannon Teoh Malaysia Correspondent In Kuala Lumpur, The Straits Times, 13 Nov 2014

THE Malaysian authorities have been working on a system to blacklist repeat traffic offenders from Singapore and block them from driving into Malaysia, an official here said, following a car crash that killed Hong Leong scion Kwek Kon Chun on Sunday.

While the cause of the crash is still unknown, it has sparked an outcry against Singaporean drivers, who are accused of speeding recklessly on Malaysian roads.

The new electronic system aims to rein in drivers from the Republic who flout rules with no fear of punishment, Road Safety Department (RSD) chief Tam Weng Wah told The Straits Times on Tuesday.

According to the Auditor-General's Report 2013, Singapore-registered vehicles topped the list of foreign vehicles that were issued summonses between 2011 and last year, with about 84,000 of the 120,000 summonses issued going to Singapore vehicles.

Out of the 84,000 summonses issued, however, Singaporeans paid just 12,000 - or less than 15 per cent - leaving RM7.63 million (S$3 million) still due.

Malaysians, on the other hand, face graver consequences of not paying fines, such as having their licences revoked. They have settled 6.7 million out of 16.2 million fines - about 40 per cent - during the same period.

Sunday's crash was the latest high-profile incident involving Singaporean sports cars on Malaysian roads, following a December 2013 accident which resulted in three flaming Lamborghinis.

These have sparked allegations among Malaysians that visitors from the Republic regard roads here as "race tracks" to drive on. Some even said the two who died "asked for it".

Mr Kwek - who is the nephew of Hong Leong chairman Kwek Leng Beng - reportedly lost control of his Porsche 911 Turbo and crashed while on the way to Kuala Lumpur from a Sepang drag racing event.

The accident killed the 35-year-old nightclub owner, and passenger Franco Toh, 43.

Malaysian police said the car may have been travelling at a high speed.

RSD's Mr Tam said that road transport authorities have been working on an electronic mechanism to blacklist and suspend foreign drivers if they fail to pay their fines - which cost between RM150 and RM300 for speeding and parking offences.

He said this would work in tandem with the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) system that Malaysia wants to introduce on Singapore-registered vehicles entering Malaysia via Johor Baru by the end of the year.

The VEP fee is reportedly RM50, but implementation details are still unconfirmed.

Malaysian traffic summonses can be paid online or at post offices and police stations, but many Singaporeans ignore them, as there is little repercussion.

Malaysian police have in the past tried to reclaim summonses issued to Singaporeans, by setting up roadblocks to check Singaporean cars.

"Regardless of whether you are Malaysian or not, you should pay the penalty. But for some who own expensive cars, the fine is nothing, so we may suspend repeat offenders," said Mr Tam.

He added that the law already allows for jail sentences should a court judge deem an offence as dangerous driving that caused or could cause fatalities.

Police are also looking to install Automated Number Plate Recognition equipment that will help track foreign vehicles.

NUMBER OF OFFENCES

84,000 Number of Singapore-registered vehicles issued summonses between 2011 and 2013

12,000 Number of those who paid the fines

Speeding motorists, beware: Digital cameras in operation
By Christopher Tan, Senior Transport Correspondent, The Straits Times, 18 Nov 2014

THE Traffic Police are installing new digital cameras to nab motorists who break speed limits.

The cameras - similar to the ones deployed at junctions to catch red-light runners - will be put up at 20 locations for a start.

The Straits Times understands most of the spots are on expressways and main arterial roads.

Like the 240 digital cameras installed or to be installed at major traffic junctions to crack down on those who run red lights, these cameras are sharper and more accurate than the film cameras.

They also allow police to download images at a central location and send out summonses in a far shorter time than the analog system did.

Police said the installation started last month and will be completed by the middle of next year.

"These new digital cameras have enhanced vehicle detection abilities and coloured images to better identify vehicles that speed," said a spokesman.

"There will be no need to reload and retrieve wet-film negatives, allowing these cameras to remain 'live' 24/7."

In addition, he said, the ability to download images remotely allowed "faster processing time to give timely punishment" to those who break the speed limit.

Speeding remains the top offence on Singapore roads, with more than 200,000 summonses issued each year.

That number could rise sharply, going by the increase in red-light summonses issued since digital cameras were installed from March. Between March and September, 25,833 tickets were issued - 37.4 per cent more than the 18,796 issued for the whole of last year.

Retiree and motoring enthusiast Lee Chiu San, 67, said he is all for speed cameras but not speed traps. "If it's an absolutely open road with a long down slope, and there's a policeman hiding at the bus stop or on the overhead bridge, then I think it's not right."

Sales manager Brian Ho, 53, said: "Enforcement is fine, but we should also (work on) education. When I drive in Australia, I see billboards by the road telling people of the dangers of speeding."

Critics question the effectiveness of speed cameras, in the light of the high number of summonses issued yearly.

But a recent University of Melbourne study showed that there is evidence that cameras do work in improving road safety.

Using data from the city of Edmonton in Canada, the study found that "catching offenders had a significant effect in reducing injury crashes" - more so than police presence on the road.

"The apprehension of offenders is therefore a key component to maximise the effectiveness of the speed camera programme and not solely a means to raise revenue," wrote Associate Professor Richard Tay of the university.