The short answer
Under section 67 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, a first conviction for driving while under the influence of drink carries a fine of between S$2,000 and S$10,000 or imprisonment of up to 12 months or both, together with disqualification from driving for at least 2 years unless the court finds special reasons. A repeat offender faces a fine of between S$5,000 and S$20,000 and disqualification for at least 5 years, and imprisonment is mandatory, up to a maximum of 2 years. Alongside drink driving, the Act’s most commonly prosecuted offences are careless driving and dangerous driving, whose penalties are tiered according to the harm caused.
Drink driving: what the prosecution must show
The offence is committed if a person drives, or attempts to drive, while unfit to do so through drink or drugs. It is also committed if the person is over the prescribed limit. That limit is currently 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, or 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The breath and blood procedures are technical. Failing to provide a specimen without reasonable excuse is itself an offence, and it carries comparable penalties. On a conviction for drink driving, disqualification is mandatory unless the court finds special reasons, which are rare and narrowly construed. That disqualification applies across all licence classes. Driving while disqualified is a serious offence in its own right, and it commonly attracts imprisonment.
| Drink driving (s 67) | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Fine (first offence) | S$2,000 to S$10,000 |
| Imprisonment (first offence) | Up to 12 months |
| Disqualification (first offence) | At least 2 years, unless special reasons |
| Repeat offenders | Fine of S$5,000 to S$20,000; imprisonment is mandatory, up to a maximum of 2 years; disqualification of at least 5 years |
Careless driving and dangerous driving: what is the difference?
Careless driving, under section 65 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, means driving without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other road users. Reckless or dangerous driving, under section 64, is the graver offence. It means driving in a manner dangerous to the public, judged objectively against all the circumstances.
Both offences sit within the tiered framework introduced by the 2019 amendments to the Road Traffic Act and recalibrated by the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2025. The maximum penalty for each offence rises with the harm caused, whether the driving caused no injury, hurt, grievous hurt or death. Hurt and grievous hurt are terms of art. Grievous hurt is the defined category covering the more serious injuries, such as the loss of sight or a fractured bone. The maxima below are those for an offender with no relevant previous convictions. Higher maxima apply to repeat offenders and to the aggravated cases the Act defines, and disqualification from driving may be ordered in addition. Which tier applies turns on the charge that is brought, so the maximum you face should be checked against the charge sheet.
| Harm caused | Careless driving (s 65) | Reckless or dangerous driving (s 64) |
|---|---|---|
| No injury | Fine up to S$1,500 or imprisonment up to 6 months, or both | Fine up to S$5,000 or imprisonment up to 12 months, or both |
| Hurt | Fine up to S$2,500 or imprisonment up to 12 months, or both | Fine up to S$10,000 or imprisonment up to 2 years, or both |
| Grievous hurt | Fine up to S$5,000 or imprisonment up to 2 years, or both | Imprisonment up to 5 years |
| Death | Fine up to S$10,000 or imprisonment up to 3 years, or both | Imprisonment up to 8 years |
What changed in 2025
The position changed on 12 June 2025, when the relevant provisions of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2025 came into force. For a first-time offender convicted of dangerous or careless driving causing death or grievous hurt, the court is no longer obliged to impose a minimum term of imprisonment or a minimum period of disqualification. The minimum terms for repeat offenders were also reduced. This does not mean that such cases now escape custody. Where death is caused, custodial sentences remain the norm rather than the exception. What has changed is that the court now has a discretion it did not have before, so what is said in mitigation carries more weight than it once did. These changes do not affect the penalties for driving under the influence of drink or drugs.
What about demerit points and composition?
Many minor traffic offences are dealt with by composition, which means paying a fixed sum, and by demerit points under the Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS). No court appearance is involved. Accumulating too many points within the relevant period leads to suspension or revocation of your licence. Probationary drivers, and drivers who have been suspended before, face more serious consequences. Paying composition may feel administrative, but the points and the record follow you. Where an offence cannot be compounded, or where you dispute the facts, the matter goes to court, and representation matters there.
How a lawyer can help in a traffic case
- Testing the evidence: identification of the driver, the reliability of the breath and blood procedures, camera and telematics evidence, and the causal chain in accident cases.
- Representations to the prosecution seeking a reduced charge, for instance from dangerous driving to careless driving, which can materially change the sentencing range and the exposure to disqualification.
- Special reasons arguments, in the narrow situations where the law permits disqualification to be avoided or shortened.
- Mitigation directed at the matters the court weighs: culpability, harm, driving record and rehabilitation. The need to drive for a living can also be raised, although on its own it rarely avoids disqualification.
Frequently asked questions
Will I definitely lose my licence for drink driving?
Disqualification of at least 2 years is mandatory on a first conviction unless the court finds special reasons. The threshold is a high one and few cases meet it. Sentencing within the range depends heavily on the alcohol level and the circumstances.
I was involved in an accident. Should I speak to the other party’s insurer?
Take care. Statements made after an accident can surface in both criminal and civil proceedings. Report the accident accurately, as you are required to do, and take advice before giving any detailed account.
Can a traffic conviction affect my employment pass or job?
It can, particularly for professional drivers and roles requiring declarations of convictions. This is a factor in deciding how to conduct the case.
About the author
Johnathan Lee is an Advocate and Solicitor practising at Fong & Fong LLC, advising on family, civil, criminal and employment matters alongside his wills, probate and estate practice. He served as a prosecutor at the Ministry of Manpower before entering private practice.
He holds a Juris Doctor, awarded cum laude, from Singapore Management University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a second major in Communication Studies, awarded Second Class Upper Honours, from Nanyang Technological University. He teaches business negotiations at James Cook University, Singapore Campus, as a sessional associate educator.
Charged with a traffic offence?
Johnathan Lee defends drink driving, careless and dangerous driving and other Road Traffic Act charges, and advises on disqualification and DIPS consequences.
Johnathan Lee, Advocate & Solicitor · 21 Merchant Road #04-00 Unit 502 Singapore 058267
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Penalties stated reflect the Road Traffic Act 1961 as amended by the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2025, as at August 2026. A further amendment Bill was introduced in Parliament on 7 July 2026 and had not been passed as at the date of this article. The applicable range depends on the specific charge and your antecedents.