Singapore — The Automobile Association of Singapore (AA) yesterday announced it was planning to introduce a new advanced defensive driving course, as part of its continued efforts to promote safe driving and safer roads.

Speaking at the AA’s 105th charity gala dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore, AA President Bernard Tay said that the association will be working with the authorities on the curriculum.

No timeline has been announced for the course. AA holds defensive driving courses for the public once a year with the next one expected to be in June or July next year.

Some driving schools in Singapore such as the Bukit Batok Driving Centre currently conduct a day course on defensive driving, which includes skid planning and emergency planning. At Woodlands Driving School, defensive driving is included in its basic driving courses.

Mr Tay also announced that S$700,000 had been collected for three beneficiaries — the Singapore Road Safety Council, the Teck Ghee Citizens’ Consultative Committee Community Development & Welfare Fund and the National Arthritis Foundation.

The event was graced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Members of Parliament Cedric Foo (Pioneer), Hri Kumar Nair (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) and Lam Pin Min (Sengkang West). Mr Lee noted the growth of the AA from 56 members in 1907 to more than 83,000 members today.

“We are a completely different world but it’s a world where there’s still a role for AA to serve their members, to educate them on road safety, provide them with services,” said Mr Lee. Sumita Sreedharan