FAQ: Hit an animal while driving on Singapore roads? Here's what you should do
SINGAPORE: A recent spate of community cat deaths sparked public outcry, but the National Parks Board (NParks) said in early June that there is no evidence to suggest these cases involved deliberate acts of animal cruelty.
The two community cat deaths in Yishun and Punggol were instead likely caused by vehicle accidents, NParks concluded, while another cat found dead at a void deck in Tampines was the result of a traffic incident.
CNA gives the lowdown on what you should do if you happen to hit an animal while driving and your obligations.
Can you continue driving?
According to the Road Traffic Act, motorists must stop if their vehicles caused injury or death to any animal as long as they can "reasonably tell" that the animal has an owner or that the animal's presence on the road is "likely to pose any safety hazard" to other road users. All animal species are covered under the Act.
In response to CNA's queries, NParks advised motorists to drive with caution in residential and forested areas, and to drive within speed limits or reduce their speed.
They should also be alert to the crossing of animals when driving in such areas and along roads flanked by forested areas, especially where there are signs to indicate animal crossings, it added.
What should you do upon colliding with an animal?
Traffic police (TP) told CNA that motorists who have hit an animal while driving should stop their vehicle in a safe location and turn on the hazard lights to alert other drivers.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said that the relevant authorities should be contacted, depending on the animal's well-being.
They are:
Motorists who are unsure if the animal is dead or alive can take a video and forward it to ACRES, said a spokesperson, adding that they should avoid touching or handling the animal, and to wait for ACRES' advice.
If the animal is dead, the National Environment Agency (NEA) should be contacted at 1800 2255 632 for removal of the carcass.
An NEA spokesperson said that the agency is responsible for clearing animal carcasses in public areas, excluding estates maintained by town councils, in the interest of public health.
If the accident has caused obstruction to traffic or if the presence of the animal on the road is likely to endanger road users, the police must be immediately informed and reasonable steps have to be taken to alert others of the obstruction.
What if the accident is serious?
According to SPCA, if the accident has led to death or serious injury to a human, or resulted in serious damage to a vehicle or structure, the vehicles involved and any evidence must not be moved unless directed by the police.
The only exceptions are if it is needed to rescue the people or animals involved, or to prevent further hazards. In such cases, the vehicle or its parts may be moved only as far as it is needed.
"The motorist should capture potential evidence by taking clear photos and videos with timestamps, and by documenting the exact address of the location," said Ms Aarthi Sankar, executive director of the SPCA.
How common are road accidents involving animals?
Ms Sankar said that in 2024, SPCA investigated 15 hit-and-run cases involving animals. However, she noted that that figure is "only a subset" of the cases, as some are reported to other animal welfare organisations, while others go unreported or unnoticed. SPCA added it could not provide data on other years.
In 2024, at least two sambar deer died on the roads, while wildlife groups have also noticed an 'exponential increase' in reported roadkill of the critically endangered Sunda pangolins in recent years.
Mandai Wildlife Group's animal hospital, for instance, saw more than 40 pangolins killed or injured on average in a year between 2021 and 2023, up from around 20 annually between 2015 and 2020.
A spokesperson for NEA said that over the past three years, it has received an average of 1,700 public feedback annually on dead animals and birds sighted. Members of the public are advised to report any sightings of animal carcasses via the myENV or OneService app.
How can you tell if the animal is a road hazard?
There is no specific size criterion to determine if an animal constitutes a road hazard, said TP.
"Motorists should consider factors, such as traffic volume, the position of the animal on the road, and the road speed limit. If the animal obstructs any part of the road or may force other road users to make evasive manoeuvres or sudden braking, the animal should be moved but only if it is safe to do so."
Should you move the animal if it is obstructing traffic?
If the injured animal or carcass is in a position where it poses a safety hazard to other road users, motorists may move it to a safe location if it is safe to do so, said TP. Otherwise, motorists may call the police for assistance.
However, you should not try to touch or handle certain animals, according to ACRES.
"Animals like wild pigs, otters and sambar deers who are injured can be defensive and scared and we suggest for (the) public not to handle them," it said, adding that motorists can contact the society or NParks for assistance and advice.
What if the animal appears to be a pet?
In cases where the animal is likely to be a pet, motorists must take reasonable steps to inform its owner of the accident, said NParks.
The agency added that drivers should take note of whether the animal has any collars, tags or other identifying features, and if possible, capture clear photographs. The information should then be sent to NParks, so that the agency can help reunite the animal with its owner or caregiver.
Those driving should also take note of the location of the accident, said ACRES, adding that they can also post on Facebook pages which are focused on lost and found pets.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
11 hours ago
- CNA
Dog breeder at Sungei Tengah fined S$4,000 for various lapses
SINGAPORE: A dog breeder in Sungei Tengah was fined S$4,000 (US$3,100) on Friday (Jun 20) for regulatory breaches of terms and conditions for breeding dogs. Among these lapses, Lismore Pet Enterprise was convicted of failing to sterilise breeding dogs within six months of their retirement from breeding. Lismore Pet Enterprise is located at The Animal Lodge and was bound by regulations relating to breeding dogs as a licensed pet farm, the National Parks Board (NParks) said in court. Officers from the Animal and Veterinary Services (AVS) found the contraventions when they inspected the company's premises at several units in two blocks on Nov 1, 2023. During the inspection, AVS officers found kennels with multiple gaps and holes in the flooring that could trap feet or paws. Two kennels where three and five dogs were housed had multiple such gaps. This breached a condition that required flooring for dogs to be firm and safe. In relation to the sterilisation of retired breeding dogs, in one instance, officers found a female Japanese spitz that was not sterilised despite being eight years and 11 months old. Lismore failed to sterilise the dog within six months after its retirement at the age of six. Apart from these lapses, the company failed to keep a register for the movement of dogs in its care. It did not have such a system, NParks said. Regulations require a licensee to maintain a register to record the movement of dogs to other premises such as homes, farms, pet shops and salons. In total, Lismore pleaded guilty to four charges, while another 22 charges of a similar nature were considered for sentencing. NParks sought a fine of S$6,000. Lismore's lawyer Victor David Lau said that his client's business had been one of the largest pet farms in Singapore for decades, having been in business for a long time. He added that Lismore has a clean record with no instances of animal cruelty. Since then, Lismore has taken steps to rectify its lapses, said Mr Lau. The company has had genuine reasons for failing to comply with some regulations, said Mr Lau, adding that Lismore's usual supplier of flooring was no longer in business, resulting in a delay in procuring replacements.
CNA
12 hours ago
- CNA
FAQ: Hit an animal while driving on Singapore roads? Here's what you should do
SINGAPORE: A recent spate of community cat deaths sparked public outcry, but the National Parks Board (NParks) said in early June that there is no evidence to suggest these cases involved deliberate acts of animal cruelty. The two community cat deaths in Yishun and Punggol were instead likely caused by vehicle accidents, NParks concluded, while another cat found dead at a void deck in Tampines was the result of a traffic incident. CNA gives the lowdown on what you should do if you happen to hit an animal while driving and your obligations. Can you continue driving? According to the Road Traffic Act, motorists must stop if their vehicles caused injury or death to any animal as long as they can "reasonably tell" that the animal has an owner or that the animal's presence on the road is "likely to pose any safety hazard" to other road users. All animal species are covered under the Act. In response to CNA's queries, NParks advised motorists to drive with caution in residential and forested areas, and to drive within speed limits or reduce their speed. They should also be alert to the crossing of animals when driving in such areas and along roads flanked by forested areas, especially where there are signs to indicate animal crossings, it added. What should you do upon colliding with an animal? Traffic police (TP) told CNA that motorists who have hit an animal while driving should stop their vehicle in a safe location and turn on the hazard lights to alert other drivers. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said that the relevant authorities should be contacted, depending on the animal's well-being. They are: Motorists who are unsure if the animal is dead or alive can take a video and forward it to ACRES, said a spokesperson, adding that they should avoid touching or handling the animal, and to wait for ACRES' advice. If the animal is dead, the National Environment Agency (NEA) should be contacted at 1800 2255 632 for removal of the carcass. An NEA spokesperson said that the agency is responsible for clearing animal carcasses in public areas, excluding estates maintained by town councils, in the interest of public health. If the accident has caused obstruction to traffic or if the presence of the animal on the road is likely to endanger road users, the police must be immediately informed and reasonable steps have to be taken to alert others of the obstruction. What if the accident is serious? According to SPCA, if the accident has led to death or serious injury to a human, or resulted in serious damage to a vehicle or structure, the vehicles involved and any evidence must not be moved unless directed by the police. The only exceptions are if it is needed to rescue the people or animals involved, or to prevent further hazards. In such cases, the vehicle or its parts may be moved only as far as it is needed. "The motorist should capture potential evidence by taking clear photos and videos with timestamps, and by documenting the exact address of the location," said Ms Aarthi Sankar, executive director of the SPCA. How common are road accidents involving animals? Ms Sankar said that in 2024, SPCA investigated 15 hit-and-run cases involving animals. However, she noted that that figure is "only a subset" of the cases, as some are reported to other animal welfare organisations, while others go unreported or unnoticed. SPCA added it could not provide data on other years. In 2024, at least two sambar deer died on the roads, while wildlife groups have also noticed an 'exponential increase' in reported roadkill of the critically endangered Sunda pangolins in recent years. Mandai Wildlife Group's animal hospital, for instance, saw more than 40 pangolins killed or injured on average in a year between 2021 and 2023, up from around 20 annually between 2015 and 2020. A spokesperson for NEA said that over the past three years, it has received an average of 1,700 public feedback annually on dead animals and birds sighted. Members of the public are advised to report any sightings of animal carcasses via the myENV or OneService app. How can you tell if the animal is a road hazard? There is no specific size criterion to determine if an animal constitutes a road hazard, said TP. "Motorists should consider factors, such as traffic volume, the position of the animal on the road, and the road speed limit. If the animal obstructs any part of the road or may force other road users to make evasive manoeuvres or sudden braking, the animal should be moved but only if it is safe to do so." Should you move the animal if it is obstructing traffic? If the injured animal or carcass is in a position where it poses a safety hazard to other road users, motorists may move it to a safe location if it is safe to do so, said TP. Otherwise, motorists may call the police for assistance. However, you should not try to touch or handle certain animals, according to ACRES. "Animals like wild pigs, otters and sambar deers who are injured can be defensive and scared and we suggest for (the) public not to handle them," it said, adding that motorists can contact the society or NParks for assistance and advice. What if the animal appears to be a pet? In cases where the animal is likely to be a pet, motorists must take reasonable steps to inform its owner of the accident, said NParks. The agency added that drivers should take note of whether the animal has any collars, tags or other identifying features, and if possible, capture clear photographs. The information should then be sent to NParks, so that the agency can help reunite the animal with its owner or caregiver. Those driving should also take note of the location of the accident, said ACRES, adding that they can also post on Facebook pages which are focused on lost and found pets.
CNA
15 hours ago
- CNA
Former teacher who molested 7-year-old student in classroom jailed for 9 months
SINGAPORE: A former Chinese language teacher who touched the inner thigh of his female student, then around seven years old, was given nine months' jail on Friday (Jun 20). The molestation was in 2019 but left a mark on the young girl's mind until she reported it three years later. The 38-year-old Malaysian national and Singapore permanent resident pleaded guilty to a count of aggravated molest of a victim under 14. Both the accused and victim, now 13, cannot be named to protect the latter's identity. According to a past media report, the accused is no longer a teacher. The victim was then a Primary 2 student between seven and eight years old, and the accused was her Chinese language and form teacher. The offence occurred in 2019 when the girl approached the teacher's table to find out the name of a song in the music video he was playing from a laptop. She was in her classroom. Nearing the end of class, the girl stood to the left of the accused to look at the screen while the man sat on the teacher's chair. The man then placed his hand under the girl's skirt and touched her inner thigh for a few seconds, causing the girl to feel uncomfortable. There were no other students at the teacher's table then. She told him that the touch felt "itchy" before joining her classmates for recess. When she was in primary 5, the girl informed her school's vice-principal about the molestation on Apr 28, 2022. Court documents did not describe what led to this moment. A psychiatrist who assessed the victim in April 2023 said that the girl felt "scared and angry" after the incident with suicidal thoughts. "She had recurrent thoughts and flashbacks about the offence. The victim also expressed a fear of males and reported difficulty trusting others, which (the psychiatrist) opined could lead to problems with interpersonal relationships later in life," the prosecution said. The prosecution argued for eight to 10 months' jail, noting how the accused had only pleaded guilty "on the doorstep of trial". The man's lawyer Anil Sandhu described his client as apologetic and informed the court that he is father of three young children. His wife was present for his hearing. District Judge Lim Tse Haw noted how teachers were held in high regard by society and trusted by parents to "impart knowledge and good moral values" in students. "Hence when our teachers breach that sacred trust and instead violate the modesty of our students, they must expect to receive a deterrent sentence, so that a clear message is sent out that society views such serious (offences) with opprobrium," Judge Lim said. He took into account the victim's young age but noted that the touch was fleeting and did not intrude on her private parts.
