SINGAPORE, July 8 -- Motorists may soon be penalised simply for holding their mobile phones while driving, under legislative changes tabled in Singapore's Parliament yesterday.

According to The Straits Times, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the current law requires proof that a driver was using a device - such as texting, calling or operating apps - while holding it. This makes enforcement difficult, as officers must manually verify that the driver was actively operating the phone.

The proposed Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill removes that requirement. If passed, it will be an offence for a driver to hold any mobile communication device while the vehicle is moving, regardless of whether the device is being used. The defi...