Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs tabled the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill on July 7, 2026, proposing penalties for drivers holding mobile phones while driving, even if not using them, making it an offence simply to hold the phone while the vehicle is moving [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. The Bill removes the current requirement to prove phone use. Holding the phone alone is sufficient to incur penalties [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8].

Existing laws punish phone use while driving with fines between $400 and $500 and 12 demerit points for first-time offenders. Serious cases allow jail up to six months and fines up to $1,000 [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. Repeat offenders face jail up to one year and fines up to $2,000 [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. Under the new Bill, the Traffic Police may detect offences using cameras or photos and videos submitted by the public [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The Ministry of Home Affairs said, "Holding a phone while the vehicle is moving will be an offence, as it is dangerous and less likely that the driver would be focused on the road" [1].

Between 2021 and 2025, traffic fatalities in Singapore rose about 24%, reaching a 10-year high of 149 deaths in 2025, compared to 142 deaths in 2024 [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. Road injuries also increased from 9,342 in 2024 to 9,955 in 2025 [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. Traffic violations rose around 38% during this period [1, 2, 4, 5]. Cellphone-related driving violations totaled 4,193 in 2025, up from 3,014 in 2024 [6, 7, 8].

The Bill introduces a new offence for purposeful endangerment causing death or grievous hurt, punishable by up to 15 years in jail, caning, and lifetime driving bans [1, 2, 4, 5]. Penalties for dangerous and careless driving causing grievous hurt will also increase, with repeat offenders facing up to 13 years and 4 years imprisonment respectively [3].

The legal alcohol limits for drink-driving will be lowered from 35 to 15 micrograms per 100ml breath and 80 to 30 mg per 100ml blood under the Bill [3]. Mounted devices and wearables like smart watches will still be allowed if used properly, but careless or dangerous driving while using any device carries severe penalties [6, 7, 8].

The Ministry of Home Affairs said, "To arrest this trend, we will be tightening enforcement and penalties for traffic offences" [1].