Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Reports of Traffic Accidents Involving Foreign-Registered Vehicles and Assistance Rendered to Drivers Who Lodged Claims Against Foreign Motorists

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Transport 

a.     in the past five years, how many reports of traffic accidents involving foreign-registered vehicles in Singapore are filed; 

b.     whether the Ministry had rendered any assistance to drivers who have lodged claims against foreign motorists in those cases;

c.     whether the Ministry tracks the average duration taken for the settlement of such claims and, if so, what is it currently; and

d.     what recourse is available to claimants in such cases where there is inordinate delay.

Reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran:

1.     According to the Traffic Police, from 2017 to 2021, there were over 35,000 traffic accidents resulting in casualties or deaths, of which about 5,184 involved foreign-registered vehicles.

2.     According to the General Insurance Association of Singapore, Singaporean motorists should claim against their Singapore policies in instances of accidents with foreign motorists, if they have a comprehensive motor insurance policy. This will save them the inconvenience and longer process of making a claim against motorists from other countries. If the motorist is found not at fault in the accident, his or her No-Claim Discount may not be affected. If a Singaporean motorist wishes to make a third-party motor claim against an insurer in Malaysia instead, they are advised to approach the insurer in Malaysia with the relevant documents. Under a Special Agreement with the Motor Insurance Bureau of Singapore, Malaysian insurers are required to settle claims for their insured who get into accidents in Singapore, in accordance with Singapore legislation. As these are commercial claims, the Government does not track such claims.