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More nabbed for using cellphones while driving
Published on Jan 2, 2012
The number of summonses handed out to motorists for using cellphones while driving and for not belting up is on the rise. -- ST PHOTO: ALI YUSOFF
By Jalelah Abu Baker
The number of summonses handed out to motorists for using cellphones while driving and for not belting up is on the rise.
Motorists have such faith in their ability to multi-task that they have been caught making phone calls, sending text messages and even playing games while at the wheel.
The number nabbed between January and September last year was 2,447 - up from 1,811 in the same period in 2010.
The police released these figures to reporters at a briefing, and in response to queries from The Straits Times recently.
BACKGROUND STORY
ATTENTION SPLIT
'If he uses the phone while driving, he is handling two tasks - and constantly switching attention between them.'
Mr Bernard Tay, who chairs the Singapore Road Safety Council
They had not stepped up enforcement specifically against those who use their cellphones while driving, but the number rose nevertheless. Motorists guilty of the other transgression, that of failing to put on their seat belts and failing to secure their children through a child seat or restraint, were caught at road blocks or when chanced upon by Traffic Police officers.
The number of summonses handed out to motorists for using cellphones while driving and for not belting up is on the rise. -- ST PHOTO: ALI YUSOFF
By Jalelah Abu Baker
The number of summonses handed out to motorists for using cellphones while driving and for not belting up is on the rise.
Motorists have such faith in their ability to multi-task that they have been caught making phone calls, sending text messages and even playing games while at the wheel.
The number nabbed between January and September last year was 2,447 - up from 1,811 in the same period in 2010.
The police released these figures to reporters at a briefing, and in response to queries from The Straits Times recently.
BACKGROUND STORY
ATTENTION SPLIT
'If he uses the phone while driving, he is handling two tasks - and constantly switching attention between them.'
Mr Bernard Tay, who chairs the Singapore Road Safety Council
They had not stepped up enforcement specifically against those who use their cellphones while driving, but the number rose nevertheless. Motorists guilty of the other transgression, that of failing to put on their seat belts and failing to secure their children through a child seat or restraint, were caught at road blocks or when chanced upon by Traffic Police officers.