Channel NewsAsia - Sunday, December 30
More motorists caught beating the red light this year: Traffic Police
SINGAPORE : In the first nine months of this year, 62 people were issued with summons each day for beating the red light — that’s an 80 percent jump compared to the same period last year.
And of late, the internet is also hawking a special sprays which claim to make license plate "invisible" to traffic cameras.
The websites say spray it on the license plate and the special spray will cause it to be too reflective to be photographed by traffic cameras.
Our news team understands that there has been enquiries about such products here recently.
Winson Ng, Owner, MRS Sign, said: "One or two customers asked if we sell it. I said no. IÂ’ve been making car plates for over 20 years. I heard about the product, but it canÂ’t beat the technology used by the police."
But if the special spray is available in Singapore would motorists buy it?
Ben Tan, Driver, said: ""I will not buy the spray because in the event thereÂ’s an accident or if something happens, probably the camera is able to help us to witness what actually happened. (It may also) help us to put some of the people, especially those hit and run people, to justice."
When asked, the Traffic Police would not comment on whether the sprays are effective in hoodwinking its cameras.
But it warns that those caught beating the red light will be dealt with severely.
Offenders will be punished with 12 demerit points and fined up to S$230.
Between January and September this year, the Traffic Police issued 16,000 summons to red light beaters.
This is over 7,600 summons or 82 percent more than the same period in 2006.
The Traffic Police say failing to adhere to traffic signals is one of the major causes of accidents at intersections in Singapore.
And "red—running" accounted for about 19 percent of total fatal or injury accidents between 2003 and 2006. — CNA/ch