Transport — Topics

6 Nov 2017

Sensor Systems to Monitor Vehicle Emissions and Industrial Odours

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh questioned the rationale behind NEA’s calls for proposals to monitor diesel vehicle emissions and industrial odours, and whether the sensors would support action against polluters.
Masagos Zulkifli explained that vehicular and industrial emissions are major air pollution sources, and real-time monitoring will help NEA assess emissions more efficiently and effectively.
For diesel vehicles, the system will address the gap between laboratory tests and actual road emissions, supporting better pollution control measures.
For industrial emissions, the sensors will detect and characterise odours, identify sources, and enhance NEA’s current monitoring capabilities.

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6 Nov 2017

Tax Regimes Governing Drivers of Taxis and Private Hire Cars

Sitoh Yih Pin inquired about tax disparities between taxi and private hire car drivers and whether the regimes could be aligned, given their similar services.
Heng Swee Keat explained that taxi drivers can claim deductions for vehicle-related expenses like rental and fuel, while private hire drivers cannot, as their cars are not predominantly used for business.
Private hire drivers can still deduct non-car expenses such as commissions and phone usage costs, in line with broader policies to manage car population.
The government stated no plans to harmonize the tax regimes due to differing regulatory and business models between taxis and ride-hailing services.

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6 Nov 2017

Ensuring Pedestrian Safety at Pedestrian Crossings

Mr Ong Teng Koon asked about inter-agency collaboration using surveillance technology to enhance pedestrian safety at crossings and requested data on accidents and Traffic Police enforcement methods over the past three years.
Minister K Shanmugam reported an average of 220 accidents annually at signalized and zebra crossings from 2014 to 2016, primarily due to motorists failing to drive safely, and outlined Traffic Police use of cameras, enforcement operations, and collaboration with other agencies.
The Minister highlighted heavy penalties for irresponsible driving, with ongoing reviews to ensure deterrent effectiveness, and emphasized that pedestrians and other road users must also exercise due care when crossing.

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6 Nov 2017

Reasons for Pedestrian Deaths Caused by Jaywalking from 2011 to 2016

Between 2012 and 2016, an average of 20 pedestrians were killed each year due to jaywalking, with elderly individuals accounting for about 60% of the fatalities.
A 2015 study by the Traffic Police identified a key reason for jaywalking as pedestrians not perceiving it as unsafe for themselves or other road users.
The Traffic Police has increased engagement efforts, including distributing the Road Master Test Kit to elderly pedestrians to assess their physical readiness and educate them on jaywalking risks.
Various public campaigns such as Singapore Road Safety Month and the Shell Traffic Games are conducted to raise awareness about pedestrian safety and discourage jaywalking.
The Singapore Road Safety Council has also launched online videos to remind pedestrians to use designated crossings, underpasses, and overhead bridges.

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6 Nov 2017

Review of MOT and LTA Senior Staff Remuneration and Bonuses

Leon Perera questioned whether the MRT tunnel flooding incident would affect the compensation of senior staff at the Ministry of Transport and LTA, given the impact on operator maintenance team bonuses.
Khaw Boon Wan clarified that rail maintenance responsibility lies with operators, while LTA sets standards and conducts audits, prioritizing high-risk areas.
LTA highlighted the importance of pump maintenance to SMRT in September 2017, but the flooding occurred before replacement actions were completed.
Khaw affirmed there was no evidence of regulatory oversight shortcomings by LTA or Ministry staff.
The debate focused on accountability in senior staff remuneration linked to operational incidents versus regulatory roles.

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6 Nov 2017

Effectiveness of Silver Zones Implementation

Silver Zones have significantly reduced accidents involving seniors, with only three incidents reported since implementation compared to over 50 in the five years prior, due to measures like 40 km/h speed limits, speed bumps, and enhanced street lighting.
The implementation includes features to balance pedestrian, vehicle, and emergency needs, such as mountable centre dividers for emergency vehicles, longer green-man timing, and widened footpaths in several locations.
To address increased use of personal mobility devices and bicycles, the Land Transport Authority plans to widen footpaths, add dedicated cycling paths, and install speed regulating strips and signs to remind users to slow down near crowded areas.

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6 Nov 2017

Manpower for Infrastructure Projects

The government is working with tripartite partners to ensure a strong pipeline of engineers and technicians for Singapore’s infrastructure projects, with demand expected to grow notably in sectors like railways and lift maintenance.
Measures include industry-wide branding and promotion to uplift the image of technical careers, supported by initiatives like the LTA’s $12.5 million Public Transport Manpower Development Fund.
Efforts are being made to build a dedicated talent pipeline through expanded training programmes at various education levels and structured on-the-job training.
Agencies are also attracting mid-career switchers via Professional Conversion Programmes to equip workers from other sectors with relevant skills for infrastructure careers.

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6 Nov 2017

Synchronisation of Warning Messages in KPE Tunnel

Ms Joan Pereira raised questions about inconsistent warning messages during the 2017 KPE tunnel fire, measures to synchronise them, and how firefighters can access tunnel fires amid traffic jams.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that while initial warning messages were intentionally different for motorists inside and outside the tunnel, a brief period of unsynchronised messages after the fire was extinguished caused confusion, which LTA has since reviewed and fixed.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that firefighters can respond from both directions, use cross-passage doors within the tunnel, and deploy fire bikes and vehicles on the road shoulder to reach fire sites amid congestion.

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6 Nov 2017

Rectification and Remediation against Supplier of Steel Products for MRT Trains

Sitoh Yih Pin asked if Kobe Steel's falsified steel products were used in Singapore's MRT trains and whether remedies would be sought.
Khaw Boon Wan confirmed that no non-conforming Kobe Steel products were used in any MRT or LRT trains, including those under construction or replacement.
The Land Transport Authority works closely with manufacturers to ensure specifications are met and will monitor ongoing investigations into Kobe Steel's product quality.

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6 Nov 2017

Enabling Cashcard Top-up on PayNow System

Ong Teng Koon asked whether the government could link CashCard top-ups to the PayNow system to allow mobile app top-ups instead of physical machines, as CashCard is the only card accepted across all motorist payment platforms.
Tharman clarified that the NETS CashCard is a physical stored-value card from 1995 that requires physical top-up points and cannot be topped up via mobile apps or PayNow due to its technology.
Alternative payment options like ez-link and NETS FlashPay cards are CEPAS-based and support convenient digital top-ups, while EZ-Pay and NETS CashCard allow direct ERP payment via credit/debit cards.
Most car parks accept both CashCard and CEPAS cards, though some older car parks still only take CashCard as they upgrade.
Future developments like ERP 2.0 will introduce newer technology, including cardless payments, to improve the motorist experience.

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6 Nov 2017

Accidents at Junctions where Pedestrians and Turning Vehicles Share Green Time

Mr Png Eng Huat asked for statistics on accidents at junctions with shared green time for pedestrians and vehicles versus those without, and for the number and percentage of such junctions in Singapore.
Minister Khaw Boon Wan stated there are about 1,500 signalised junctions with shared green time, representing roughly 90% of all signalised junctions, and explained their purpose in improving traffic flow.
Over the past decade, there have been an average of about three fatal and 40 injury accidents per year at signalised junctions involving pedestrians or cyclists and turning vehicles during the green-man phase, though data is not broken down by junction type.
To improve safety, the Land Transport Authority has adjusted traffic light timings to give pedestrians a headstart and added lighted road studs, road markings, and signs at higher-risk junctions.
The minister noted that the government does not have the specific accident breakdown requested by Mr Png Eng Huat but is taking measures to enhance pedestrian safety at shared green-time junctions.

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6 Nov 2017

Child Safety Seats Requirement for Private Hire Cars but Not for Taxis

The Traffic Police require passengers below 1.35 metres to be secured in an approved child restraint or booster seat, but taxis are exempt due to the impracticality of equipping them for all possible child passengers.
Private hire cars are pre-booked, allowing passengers to request child restraints in advance, which justifies the requirement for them to have such seats.
The policy distinction is based on operational differences between taxis and private hire cars, with the government aiming to balance safety and practicality.

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6 Nov 2017

Studies on Installation of Sound Barriers along Expressways

Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Transport about LTA’s studies on sound barriers along expressways near dense public housing and additional measures to reduce noise from heavy traffic on routes like KJE and BKE.
The Minister responded that LTA is conducting trials of noise barriers on West Coast Highway, certain Pan Island Expressway stretches, and a new Braddell Road flyover, with positive preliminary results.
The Minister also stated that LTA is studying a road surface material designed to dampen traffic noise as another potential solution.

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6 Nov 2017

Review of Code of Practice for Vehicle Parking Provision in Buildings

Ang Wei Neng asked the Ministry for Transport to review the Code of Practice for vehicle parking in buildings, especially in the Central Business District, following the removal of the growth rate component in the COE supply formula.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that developments in the city centre already have flexibility to provide up to 20% less than the prescribed parking standards.
He noted that improvements to public transport and first-last mile connectivity have led to a review of parking standards for developments well-connected to public transport, including the Central Business District.

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6 Nov 2017

Singapore's Review of Vehicle Entry Permit and Toll Charges for Foreign-registered Vehicles

Ang Wei Neng asked if the Ministry of Transport will review the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) and toll charges for foreign-registered vehicles entering Singapore, in response to Malaysia's announcement of a VEP fee on Singapore-registered vehicles.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that Singapore's VEP fee aims to equalize costs for Malaysian-registered vehicles in Singapore, while Malaysia's VEP fee is meant to recover RFID card costs for vehicles entering Malaysia.
Malaysia plans to implement its VEP fee at major borders by end-2017 and other borders in 2018, but Singapore has no plans to introduce a reciprocal charge and will monitor Malaysia's implementation.

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6 Nov 2017

Free Sunday Parking at New BTO Projects

Kwek Hian Chuan Henry asked if free Sunday parking could be extended to all new BTO projects across both mature and non-mature HDB estates.
Lawrence Wong explained that HDB car parks primarily serve resident needs and only considers extending free parking after parking demand stabilizes, typically six months after charges begin.
He noted this approach ensures sufficient parking spaces for residents while accommodating increased demand from free parking and avoids needing to withdraw the scheme later due to shortages.

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6 Nov 2017

Cause of Train Fault along Downtown Line between Bukit Panjang and Beauty World Stations

A train stalled on the Downtown Line between Cashew and Hillview stations on 15 October 2017 due to a broken track circuit cable lug, and was safely driven back with passengers detrained before services resumed.
The fault on DTL2 led to a temporary suspension of train injections into DTL3 to prevent congestion, which affected the DTL3 Open House on the same day.
Despite the disruption, the Open House was successful with 360,000 visitors, and DTL3 began official service on 21 October, now serving around 420,000 weekday trips.

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6 Nov 2017

Ensuring Lights used on Emergency Vehicles are Safe for Other Drivers

Joan Pereira asked if there are regulations to ensure emergency vehicle lights are safe for other drivers and if the brightness and number of lights can be adjusted based on weather conditions.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that under the Road Traffic Act, emergency vehicles may only use warning lights during emergencies to signal other vehicles to give way.
He noted that Singapore does not regulate the number and brightness of warning lights, aligning with international practices in countries like Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

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6 Nov 2017

Measures to Prevent Future Flooding in MRT Tunnel

Minister Khaw Boon Wan acknowledged the members' questions on the MRT tunnel flooding incident, including findings, SMRT's awareness, preventive measures, and the possible appointment of a Committee of Inquiry, and committed to responding fully via a Ministerial Statement on 7 November 2017.
Members raised concerns about the frequency and redundancy of water pump maintenance, the capacity of flood prevention systems, and additional measures for unforeseen weather conditions in MRT tunnels.
Questions were posed on flood-resistance specifications in infrastructure tenders, fail-safe redundancy criteria, and whether future climate change impacts on rainfall are being considered.
Pritam Singh inquired about "deep-seated cultural issues" at SMRT mentioned by the CEO after the incident, while Tan Wu Meng proposed establishing an FMECA team to assess infrastructure failure resistance and identify vulnerabilities.

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6 Nov 2017

Assessment of Uber's Security Measures

Dr Lim Wee Kiak inquired about LTA’s assessment of Uber’s security measures, their satisfaction level, accident and safety records over the past year, and further safety measures for private hire operators in Singapore.
The Minister emphasized reliance on the PDVL scheme for safety, involving background checks, training, and license revocation for serious offences, and requires operators to use only licensed drivers and vehicles.
Last year, private hire drivers were involved in about 700 road accidents and nine arrests for commuter-related crimes; policies are regularly reviewed to ensure commuter safety.

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