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UN
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SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1979
UN INSURED DRIVERS RUN RISK OF SEVERE PENALTIES
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THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, MR. P. JACOBS, IN HIS CAPACITY AS INSURANCE AUTHORITY, TODAY (SATURDAY) REMINDED MOTORISTS OF THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE ADEQUATELY COVERED AGAINST THIRD PARTY BODILY INJURY RISKS AND PASSENGER LIABILITY.
MR. JACOBS WAS REFERRING IN PARTICULAR TO MOTOR POLICY HOLDERS WITH THE SINGAPORE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED WHICH RECENTLY ADVERTISED THAT ALL ITS MOTOR VEHICLE POLICIES WILL BE CANCELLED WITH EFFECT FROM JANUARY 10, 1979.
MR. JACOBS STRESSED THAT ALL MOTORISTS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE COVERED AGAINST THIRD PARTY BODILY INJURY RISKS AND PASSENGER LIABILITY.
+ IT IS THEREFORE ESSENTIAL FOR THOSE INSURED WITH THE SINGAPORE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED TO MAKE IMMEDIATE ARRANGEMENTS TO TAKE OUT NEW POLICIES WITH OTHER INSURANCE COMPANIES IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO, HE SAID.
POLICY HOLDERS OF THIS COMPANY WHO DO NOT TAKE OUT A NEW POLICY AND DRIVE A VEHICLE AFTER JANUARY 10 WITHOUT THE NECESSARY INSURANCE COVER WILL BE COMMITTING A CRIMINAL OFFENCE AND BE LIABLE TO SEVERE PENALTIES. UNDER EXISTING LEGISLATION A PERSON COULD BE LIABLE TO A FINE OF $10,000 AND TO IMPRISONMENT FOR 12 MONTHS.
FURTHERMORE, HE COULD BE DISQUALIFIED FROM HOLDING A DRIVING LICENCE FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO THREE YEARS.
IN THE EVENT OF SUCH A DRIVER OR VEHICLE OWNER BEING INVOLVED IN A ROAD ACCIDENT CAUSED BY HIS NEGLIGENCE HE COULD FIND HIMSELF PERSONALLY LIABLE FOR HEAVY DAMAGES.
IN SOME CASES, DEPENDING UPON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE INJURIES SUSTAINED, DAMAGES COULD BE SO SEVERE AS TO RESULT IN THE DRIVER'S OR OWNER'S BANKRUPTCY.
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