Understand the Singapore’s Driver Improvement Points System (DIPS)

What is DIPS?

The purpose of DIPS is to identify and rehabilitate errant drivers through a system of rewards and punishments. Errant motorists are encouraged to improve their driving behaviours on the roads with incentives to erase their demerit points and previous suspension record as well as remission of suspension period.

Suspension Of Driving Licence

The driving licence will be suspended when the following situation occurred:

  1. For new motorist: Licence will be revoked for new licence holder who has accumulates 13 or more demerit points during the probation period. The licence holder will have to retake the theory and practical tests one year after the revocation is effected in order to obtain for the driving licence again.
  2. For existing motorist who has no previous suspension record with Traffic Police: Licence will be suspended for a period of 12 weeks if the licence holder has accumulated 24 or more demerit points within 24 consecutive months.
  3. For existing motorist who has previous suspension records: Licence will become liable for subsequent suspension if the licence holder has accumulated 12 or more demerit points within 12consecutive months.

Retraining Course:
A retraining course will be offered to all motorists who are liable for 1st and 2nd suspensions. The purpose of the retraining course is to correct the driving behaviour. If the motorists pass the retraining course, they will be given a remission on their suspension period as follows:
For 1st suspension, reduction of suspension period from 12 weeks to 4 weeks. If none of their traffic offences leading to their 1st suspension was involved in a traffic accident, their suspension period will be further reduced to 1 week; and
For 2nd suspension, it will be reduced from 24 weeks to 12 weeks.There is no offer of retraining course and remission for 3rd and subsequent suspensions.

During the suspension period
All motorists are to surrender their driving licence to Traffic Police. For 1st and 2nd suspensions, the licence holder’s photocard driving licence will be returned to him/her upon the expiry of the suspension period.

The public can check on a driver’s driving licence status and demerit points accumulated via Singapore Police Force e-Services at www.police.gov.sg/e-services.