Should Malaysia Follow Singapore And Ban Holding Phones While Driving?

Using a mobile phone while driving is already prohibited in Malaysia, but should the law go one step further and make simply holding one behind the wheel enough for an offence?

That is the question being raised by Malaysian road-safety experts following Singapore's move to tighten its laws on handheld communication devices.

Under Singapore's proposed approach, authorities would no longer need to prove that a driver was texting, making a call or operating another function on the device. If the vehicle is moving and the device is being held in the driver's hand, that alone would be enough.

Some Malaysian road-safety advocates believe a similarly clear-cut rule could make enforcement easier here too.

What Are Malaysian Road-Safety Experts Suggesting?

Dr. Law Teik Hua, Head of UPM Road Safety Research Centre (Photo: NST)

Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua believes Malaysia should consider an approach similar to Singapore's, particularly because it could make enforcement more straightforward.

The proposed distinction is simple: instead of focusing on whether a motorist was actively using a phone or communication device, legislation could more explicitly prohibit holding one while the vehicle is being driven.

Law argued that such a rule could reduce ambiguity for both motorists and enforcement officers, while photographs or video footage could potentially provide clearer evidence of an offence.

Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Road Safety Council Member (Photo: NST)

Road Safety Council member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye similarly said allowing enforcement action based on a motorist simply holding a phone could strengthen enforcement, although he stressed that legislation alone would not solve distracted driving without a stronger road-safety culture.

But Doesn't Malaysia Already Ban Using A Phone While Driving?

Yes.

Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department director Comm Datuk Seri Muhammed Hasbullah Ali pointed out that non-hands-free mobile phone use while driving is already prohibited under Rule 17A(1) of the Road Traffic Rules 1959.

Importantly, he also clarified that officers do not necessarily have to prove that a driver was making a call or sending a message.

Under Malaysia's current enforcement interpretation, holding or operating a device by hand while driving can already fall under prohibited use. That makes the current debate slightly more nuanced than simply saying Malaysia allows motorists to hold phones while Singapore does not.

The issue raised by road-safety advocates is whether Malaysian legislation should spell out the prohibition more explicitly, making the act of holding a communication device while the vehicle is moving a clear offence in itself.

What Exactly Is Singapore Changing?

Singapore's Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2026 targets what its authorities see as a practical enforcement problem.

Under the existing Singapore framework, an offence involving a handheld communication device requires three elements: the driver must be holding the device, operating one of its functions and driving while the vehicle is in motion.

The proposed amendment removes the middle requirement.

That means Singapore's Traffic Police would no longer have to establish whether the motorist was actually texting, calling, scrolling or using another function.

Holding the device while the vehicle is moving would be sufficient.

Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs says the change would also make it possible to enforce the offence using cameras or photographic and video evidence submitted by members of the public.

What About Phones Mounted On The Dashboard?

Singapore's proposed amendment would not prohibit a properly mounted device simply because a driver touches it while the vehicle is moving. The country's Ministry of Home Affairs specifically says mounted devices are not covered by the new handheld offence.

However, drivers could still potentially fall foul of other laws if interacting with a mounted screen distracts them or compromises their control of the vehicle.

Singapore also says motorists may hold their devices while the vehicle is stationary. Once the vehicle is moving, however, the proposed rule is much stricter.

During parliamentary debate on the amendment, Singapore authorities even clarified that there would be no exception for briefly picking up a device that had fallen from its mount while the car was moving. Drivers would be expected to stop safely before retrieving it.

Would A Clearer Rule Work In Malaysia?

That is ultimately what Malaysian road-safety advocates want authorities to study.

Malaysia already has legislation covering non-hands-free phone use, and police maintain that motorists holding or operating their devices by hand can already be dealt with under the existing rule.

So the argument for change is less about creating a completely new offence and more about whether the law should make the threshold even clearer.

A simple rule stating that a communication device cannot be held while a vehicle is moving could arguably leave less room for misunderstanding and make camera or video-based enforcement easier.

On the other hand, any such change would need to clearly define what devices are covered, when the rule applies and how legitimate situations such as mounted navigation systems are treated.

So, Should Malaysia Follow Singapore?

There is a strong enforcement argument behind the suggestion.

Singapore's proposed approach deliberately removes the question of what the driver was doing with the phone. Its authorities only need to establish that the device was being held while the vehicle was moving.

Whether Malaysia needs exactly the same wording is another matter, especially given the police position that existing Malaysian law already covers motorists who hold or operate their phones by hand while driving.

But the discussion does highlight one basic road-safety principle that is difficult to argue with: when you're driving, your attention should be on the road rather than the device in your hand.

Would you support a clearer rule in Malaysia where simply holding a phone while the vehicle is moving is enough for an offence?

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