A traffic police officer has been jailed for seven months for causing the death of a 58-year-old pedestrian while riding his motorcycle at a speed of 108km/h. Muhammad Firdaus Yusoff, 32, pleaded guilty to one charge of riding without reasonable consideration for other road users. The incident occurred on June 21, 2023, when Firdaus exceeded the speed limit by more than 50km/h while responding to an accident. In addition to his prison sentence, Firdaus has been banned from obtaining any driving licence for eight years and has been suspended from frontline duties by the Singapore Police Force (SPF), which has initiated further investigations against him.
Background
On the day of the incident, Firdaus was on his way back to the Traffic Police Headquarters at 5:29 pm when he was dispatched to attend to an accident involving a self-skidded motorcycle. Although the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) had already been activated, the incident was not classified as an emergency. Firdaus’s role was to assess the situation, control traffic, and render first aid if necessary. Despite knowing he was not supposed to exceed the speed limit, Firdaus rode at 108km/h on Hougang Avenue 3, where the speed limit is 50km/h.
What happened on the day of the incident?
While riding on the first lane of a three-lane road towards Hougang Avenue 2, near the intersection of Kim Chuan Road, Firdaus encountered the pedestrian crossing the road. The pedestrian, who was walking normally, did not notice the blinker lights and siren from Firdaus’s motorcycle. Firdaus applied hard braking, sounded his horn, and attempted to swerve to avoid the pedestrian but was unsuccessful. The collision flung the pedestrian onto the grass verge of the centre divider. The pedestrian was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital in an unconscious state and was later pronounced dead from multiple injuries sustained in the collision.
Pedestrian had not been jaywalking
Investigations revealed that Firdaus was aware of the 50km/h speed limit along Hougang Avenue 3. The accident reconstruction report indicated that had Firdaus been riding at the speed limit, he would have been able to avoid the collision. Court documents also noted that the pedestrian was not jaywalking, as the location where he crossed was not within 50m of an overhead bridge. However, pedestrians not crossing at a designated crossing are still required to yield the right of way to oncoming vehicles.
Prosecution: Accused should have known better
In their sentencing submissions, the prosecution argued that Firdaus, as a police officer, should have known better than to exceed the speed limit by more than 50km/h, labelling his actions as “dangerous riding.” They acknowledged some mitigating factors, such as the urgency of the incident and Firdaus’s use of siren and blinkers to warn others of his presence. For causing death by riding without due consideration, Firdaus could have faced up to three years in jail, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both.
Future implications
The case has raised concerns about the conduct of traffic police officers and the protocols they follow when responding to incidents. The SPF has stated that it will review its procedures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. This incident also serves as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to speed limits, even in urgent situations, to ensure the safety of all road users.
