Enforcement against Cyclists Not Wearing Helmets or Involved in Accidents on Expressways and in Tunnels

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Transport (a) in the past three years, how many cyclists have been caught, injured or were involved in an accident with another road user while riding in expressways and tunnels; (b) how many have been subsequently charged with an offence; and (c) what safety measures are in place to prevent such incidents.

Cyclists are expected to follow various regulations when cycling on roads. This includes wearing a helmet and riding as near as practicable to the far-left edge of the road except when overtaking. These rules apply for all roads, including bus lanes. Between January 2018 and September 2021, 545 helmet-related offences were detected. The number of violations detected by the Traffic Police (TP) of cyclists riding on the right side of a motor vehicle, whether in a bus lane or otherwise, when not overtaking or preparing to make a right turn and for not riding at the far-left edge of the road was eight, 12, three and two for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 respectively, and two for the first nine months of this year.

Cycling is prohibited on expressways and in tunnels for safety reasons. From January 2018 to September 2021, LTA detected more than 300 cyclists riding on expressways and in tunnels; all were issued with notices of traffic offence and composition fines.

The vast majority of on-road cyclists comply with traffic rules and the Government will partner stakeholders to raise public awareness of safe and gracious road use practices. For example, LTA is working with TP, Singapore Road Safety Council, Singapore Cycling Federation and the Safe Cycling Taskforce to develop a checklist of safe riding practices, including the benefits of third-party liability insurance, that bicycle retailers can use to educate their customers. There are also signages indicating no entry to bicycles installed at more than 50 expressway and tunnel entry points islandwide and LTA has recently placed more prominent signages at hotspot locations.

Public education goes hand in hand with enforcement. TP and LTA have stepped up enforcement against errant cyclists. With effect from 1 January 2022, the composition fines for egregious cycling offences, for example, failing to stop at red lights, riding on expressways and tunnels, not riding as near as practicable to the far-left edge of the road, will be increased to $150 to strengthen the deterrent effect. For serious cases where injury or harm is caused in an accident, the offending parties, whether cyclists or motorists, could be charged in Court and face higher fines and jail sentences if convicted.

Road safety is a collective responsibility and we urge all road users to play their part to drive or ride in a responsible manner.