Private-bus driver pleads guilty to not keeping a proper lookout and colliding into speeding car, injuring 3 people
A view of the junction of Paya Lebar Road and Geylang East Central.
SINGAPORE — Failing to keep a proper lookout while driving, a private-bus driver collided with an oncoming car that had the right of way but was travelling at more than twice the speed limit. The car driver and his two passengers ended up sustaining multiple fractures, abrasions and internal injuries.
On Wednesday (Jan 3), Arumugom Subramaniam, the bus driver, pleaded guilty to driving without reasonable consideration under the Road Traffic Act.
The 60-year-old Singaporean will return to court on Jan 25 for sentencing.
The court heard that in the early morning of Feb 2 in 2021, Arumugom was driving the bus to 168 Kallang Way to pick up some workers.
He was travelling along Paya Lebar Road when he approached the signalised cross-junction of Paya Lebar Road and Geylang East Central, with the traffic light signalling green in his favour.
As Arumugom turned into Geylang East Central, Mr Byran Phua was driving his car along Paya Lebar Road from the opposite direction.
Arumugom failed to keep a proper lookout and did not notice the oncoming car, which had the right of way.
This resulted in a collision between the two vehicles. Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Timothy Lee said that the impact caused the front portion of Mr Phua's car to catch fire.
Mr Phua, along with his two passengers Nan Sien Nyunt and Joshua Choo Yong Kin, were taken conscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Mr Phua sustained multiple injuries, which included fractures on his lower limb and right rib, as well as a mild, blunt cardiac injury.
Mr Choo had skull fractures.
Ms Nan sustained injuries to her small and large bowels, tears on her stomach tissues, and fractures in her chest and spine area.
She also had to undergo surgeries to stabilise her spine and remove a damaged section of her small intestine as well as for her colon injuries.
BUS DRIVER'S CULPABILITY WAS 'LOW'
DPP Lee said that even though there was a moderate level of harm caused by Arumugom since all three victims sustained grievous hurt, the prosecution will be seeking a fine of between S$3,000 and S$5,000 instead of a jail term of about two weeks.
This was because Mr Phua was speeding right before the collision and this would have made it harder for Arumugom to react in time, since he would have had less time to stop the bus, DPP Lee added.
A report prepared by the Health Sciences Authority stated that Mr Phua had been driving at an average speed of 123km/h to 146km/h before the collision, well above the prescribed speed limit of 50km/h along Paya Lebar Road.
It was not stated in court if any action will be taken against Mr Phua.
DPP Lee argued that although Arumugom's culpability was low, he should also be disqualified from driving for 24 months because he was a repeat traffic offender and was driving a heavy vehicle.
"The accused was driving a bus, which is a heavy vehicle that is more difficult to control and would have been harder to manoeuvre in response to developments on the road. So it was especially important that he kept a proper lookout and gave way to Mr Phua's car," he added.
Anyone guilty of being a repeat traffic offender could be jailed for up to two years and fined up to S$5,000, or both.
If the offence is in connection with driving a vehicle, the offender could be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for life or within a period that the court deems suitable.
