Investigation into Feedback Received on Speeding Vehicles with Modified Engines

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Transport (a) how much feedback has LTA received from residents in the past year from speeding vehicles with modified engines; (b) what is the estimated time frame for LTA to conduct an investigation and to implement measures to address the issue; and (c) whether the Traffic Police cameras that are located in the area will be equipped to capture the footage related to this problem.

Enforcement against speeding and the illegal modification of engines is done by the Traffic Police (TP) and Land Transport Authority (LTA) respectively. In 2022, TP received about 420 complaints about speeding; LTA received about 3,600 reports on illegal modifications.

LTA conducts onsite checks on the reported vehicles, either at the reported location or at the registered address. Vehicles assessed to be illegally modified will have to be inspected at authorised inspection centres. The registered owner of an illegally modified vehicle will be charged under section 5 of the Road Traffic Act and liable for a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment of up to three months, or both.

Investigations typically take approximately eight weeks and can be longer for more complex cases.

TP uses cameras for enforcement against speeding. When TP officers on patrol detect a speeding vehicle with suspected illegal modifications, the case will be referred to LTA for further investigation.

Sir, I would like to thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. My residents complain a lot about vehicle noise, especially along Woodlands Ave 10. At night, it is usually very quiet and there will be occasional vehicles that are very, very loud.

My question to the Senior Minister of State is whether we can use technology such as noise-detection cameras like those deployed in the UK and New York last year as stated in reports, to detect such vehicles. It is very hard – by the time they report, the vehicles are gone; unless the Police can be there all the time, and especially in the middle of the night.

As the Member has rightly pointed out, vehicle noise, particularly in the middle of the night, may even seem louder than what it would be, because of the low ambient surrounding noise. Vehicle noise may not just be because of illegal modifications or speeding. It could be the vehicle design, the way the driver drives a car and maintenance and so on.

Having said that, we note the concerns of residents and we do work with TP as well as the National Environment Agency (NEA) to carry out enforcement operations when there is a need.

With regard to that use of technology, acoustic cameras, currently we have no plans. This is actually under NEA. So, currently, my understanding is that we have no plans to install such noise measuring instruments to detect violations, simply because it is actually quite challenging.

Unlike a speeding offence, you can capture it with a speed camera visually. It is challenging to attribute the source of noise to a specific vehicle due to interference from surrounding traffic as well as other sources. The acoustic cameras, as they are called, I think, still have limited ability in detecting noise violations from individual vehicles accurately and reliably.

So, we are monitoring developments in technology in this area and if possible, if useful, we will utilise it, with a view to strengthen enforcement. But at the moment, there are currently no plans. We are monitoring the technology.