Amidst the simultaneous uproar and celebration in the face of the recent Personal Mobility Device (PMD) Ban, we cannot afford to forget the heart of the issue: Safety.
If you’re still unsure what the ban is all about, you can watch this video:
And this case brings the issue of safety to light.
PMD Rider Charged With Causing Death Of Woman In Fatal Collision At Bedok
20-year-old Hung Kee Boon, a PMD rider involved in a fatal crash with a 65-year-old cyclist in Bedok, has been charged today (11 November) for causing a death by committing a rash act not amounting to culpable homicide.
Besides this, he was also slapped with two other charges under the Active Mobility Act for riding an unregistered and non-compliant device.
His PMD weighed 44.2kg and had a 725mm-long handlebar, which do not comply with the Active Mobility Act.
Here’s a quick recap of the fatal collision:
He was riding on the cycling path near Block 539 Bedok North Street 3 at a speed of at least 26km/h and 28km/h while approaching the intersection, before colliding with Mdm Ong.
The incident happened at around 10.25pm on 11 September.
Mdm Ong was brought unconscious to Changi General Hospital after the accident and died in the hospital four days later.
She had suffered a brain injury and was placed on life support.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that the PMD was non-compliant and should not have been used on public paths as it exceeded the weight and width limit.
He was released on bail of $15,000 and the judge has adjourned the case to 25 November.
According to CNA, if found guilty of causing a person’s death by a rash act not amounting to culpable homicide, the 20-year-old may be jailed for up to five years, fined or both.
For riding a non-compliant PMD, he may be jailed for up to three months, fined a maximum $5,000 or both.
On the other hand, the punishment for riding an unregistered PMD is a jail term of up to three months, a maximum fine of $2,000 or both.
We hope that Mdm Ong’s family will be able to move on from this incident and find peace.
PMD Banned On Footpaths
Following the spate of accidents and fatal injuries, PMDs have been banned from footpaths starting from Tuesday, 5 November 2019.
Offenders will be issued warnings until 31 December 2019, after which they will be slapped with a fine of up to $2,000 if they do not comply with the rules.
Needless to say, PMDs are also not allowed on grass patches and drain covers.
