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Last updated 16 Aug 2003

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Despite the changes in expressway speeds, please take care not to speed unnecessarily. Enough lives have been lost already.

The Straits Times Interactive

MAY 7 2000

Faster highways with new speed limits

EXPRESSWAY CHANGES: From June, the limits will go up by 10 kmh in some areas

MOTORISTS will be able to cruise down highways faster in the next few months, when speed limits go up by 10 kmh on some stretches. To keep traffic flowing smoothly, speed limits for commercial vehicles will also be raised later.

The move comes after a trial to raise the speed limits on the East Coast Parkway and Kranji Expressway showed no adverse impact on road safety.

In the coming months, motorists can look forward to:

• The speed limits on the Tampines and Seletar Expressways (TPE and SLE) going up from 80 kmh to 90 kmh in June.

• In September, the speed limits on certain stretches of the Bukit Timah, Central, Ayer Rajah and Pan-Island Expressways (BKE, CTE, AYE and PIE) will also be raised to 90 kmh.

• Speed limits in the tunnels and viaducts will be raised from 70 kmh to 80 kmh.

• Speed limits for commercial vehicles, including buses, will be raised by 10 kmh. The present limits are 40 kmh and 50 kmh, depending on the type of vehicle.

Minister of State (Law and Home Affairs) Ho Peng Kee announced these changes at the launch of Road Safety 2000 at Suntec City yesterday. Trials by the Traffic Police and Land Transport Authority to raise the speed limits to 90 kmh on the East Coast Parkway and Kranji Expressway, he said, had revealed "no untoward change in driver behaviour".

He also noted that there were fewer road accidents last year - 197 people were killed in 187 fatal accidents, the lowest in 25 years.

The authorities have also stepped up action against excessive speeding. Drivers who exceed the speed limit by over 40 kmh can be charged in court and have their licences revoked.

Heavy vehicles have also been fitted with speed limiters, and mobile laser cameras have been set up to deter motorists from speeding.