A 39-year-old man has landed himself in serious trouble after crashing his Mercedes into a stationary police vehicle while driving drunk along Somerset Road. The incident, which took place in the early hours of the morning, followed a heavy drinking session that spanned across two locations — Jurong and Geylang.
Meng Xianglei, the driver behind the wheel, pleaded guilty to two charges: driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without due care and attention. For his actions, he was sentenced to three weeks in jail, fined S$7,000, and disqualified from holding any class of driving licence for three years.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers and legal consequences of drink driving, especially in Singapore’s densely monitored and zero-tolerance traffic environment.
Night of Heavy Drinking Ended in Disaster
On the evening of April 5, 2024, Meng met up with his friends at Jurong Trade Hub around 10pm. At the restaurant, he reportedly consumed about five glasses of beer. Not content with calling it a night, the group decided to continue drinking at another bar in Geylang — a 20km drive away.
At the second location, Meng consumed another five glasses of beer. Despite the clear signs of intoxication, he chose to drive himself home to Ang Mo Kio at approximately 2:30am.
His journey took a turn for the worse when he reached Somerset Road, heading towards Grange Road. There, he failed to notice a police vehicle that had its hazard lights on. Meng lost control and smashed into the left rear side of the stationary car.
Alcohol Level More Than Double the Legal Limit
Following the crash, Meng was arrested and administered a breathalyser test. He was found to have 86 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath — more than twice the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the police car sustained significant damage amounting to over S$2,300. Meng has since paid full restitution for the repairs.
Under Singapore law, first-time offenders caught driving under the influence can be fined between S$2,000 and S$10,000, imprisoned for up to 12 months, or both. Repeat offenders face even harsher penalties, including fines of up to S$20,000 and jail terms of up to two years.
Driving without due care is another serious offence that could lead to a fine of up to S$1,500, a jail term of up to six months, or both.
Police & Road Safety Experts Urge Responsibility
Incidents like Meng’s not only put his own life at risk but endanger the lives of others — including frontline officers and fellow road users. The fact that a police vehicle was the target in this crash highlights the sheer recklessness of drunk driving.
Traffic safety authorities have reiterated the importance of using alternative transport after drinking, such as taxis, ride-hailing apps, or designating a sober driver.
Drink driving remains one of the highest-risk behaviours on the road, and with high-traffic zones like Orchard and Somerset under constant CCTV surveillance, offenders are unlikely to go unnoticed.
As public concern over road safety grows, this case serves as another warning to motorists that Singapore’s legal system will not tolerate irresponsible behaviour behind the wheel.
Image Sourced: Digitally Enhanced By Ze Kai