SINGAPORE - Those who hold their mobile phones while driving may soon find themselves in trouble with the law.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) tabled the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill on July 7, introducing new traffic laws and tightening existing ones.

This is in response to Singapore’s roads becoming more dangerous, with traffic deaths hitting a 10-year high of 149 in 2025, compared with 141 in 2016. There were 142 deaths in 2024.

The number of people injured on the roads also rose, from 9,342 in 2024 to 9,955 in 2025.

The ministry is looking to tackle this by clamping down on errant motorists, including those who engage in risky behaviour such as using their phones while driving.

Q: Isn’t this already an offence?

Currently, it is an offence to use a mobile communication device while driving.

This includes texting or calling while holding the device and driving, with offenders handed 12 demerit points and a $400 to $500 fine.

Serious cases are prosecuted in court, with first-time offenders facing up to six months’ jail and a $1,000 fine. Repeat offenders can be jailed for up to a year and fined $2,000.

According to the Traffic Police (TP), there were