Transport — Topics

1 Aug 2017

Causes for Expressway Viaduct Collapse and Workplace Safety

The viaduct collapse near PIE-TPE was preliminarily attributed to the failure of corbels supporting the deck slab, with a full investigation by LTA, MOM, and BCA expected to conclude by October.
LTA’s procurement uses a price-quality method (e.g., 70:30 for this project), where safety records form at least 25% of the quality score; contractors with serious lapses can be disqualified, and 16 bids from 10 companies have been vetoed since 2015.
The main contractor OKP was awarded the project despite a prior fatality in 2015, as investigations were ongoing and it scored highest overall after factoring in its safety history, project track record, and bid price, though LTA acknowledged the need to weigh recent incidents more heavily in future evaluations.

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4 Jul 2017

Rental Bicycle Users Fined for Illegal Parking

Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Transport how many rental bicycle users have been fined for illegal parking and whether there are issues obtaining user details from companies.
The Minister stated that LTA requires bicycle-sharing companies to remove indiscriminately parked bicycles and fines companies if bicycles are not moved within half a day.
LTA has served about 1,000 notices for indiscriminately parked bicycles, with 200 bicycles impounded and fees levied on companies.

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4 Jul 2017

Child Booster Seats in Private Hire Cars

Miss Cheryl Chan asked about the adequacy of child booster seats for children under six in private hire cars and whether the rules differ between private and private hire vehicles.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that traffic police require any passenger under 1.35 meters to use a child restraint suitable for their height and weight, noting that booster seats may not be sufficient for very young children, who may need baby seats.
He clarified that the rule applies equally to both private cars and private hire cars.
The use of appropriate child restraints is emphasized to reduce serious or fatal injuries in accidents.

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4 Jul 2017

Protection of Consumers' Interests in Private Hire Car Market

Miss Cheryl Chan questioned how the new decal rule would protect consumers, whether PHC companies should provide driver and car details to LTA, and if there are other enforceable alternatives.
Minister Khaw Boon Wan explained that tamper-evident decals help commuters verify LTA-registered cars and aid enforcement against unregistered services and street-hail pickups.
He noted that decals were chosen over alternatives like special plates for flexibility and ease of implementation, though they must be re-affixed after removal for personal use.
The Minister stated that while owners must maintain driver registers for LTA requests, PHC booking operators like Uber and Grab will face similar requirements soon.

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4 Jul 2017

Applications and Assessment for Private Hire Car Driver's Vocational Licence

As of 28 June 2017, LTA received about 43,000 applications for the Private Hire Car Driver's Vocational Licence (PDVL), with 42,000 processed.
Out of the processed applications, 38,000 were approved, 450 were rejected due to failed background checks, and the rest were rejected for invalid reasons like insufficient driving experience.
The Ministry does not have data on whether current PDVL applicants were already providing private hire car services under previous regulations.

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4 Jul 2017

Measures to Ensure Stable Motorcycle COE Prices

The Senior Minister of State for Transport explained that recent motorcycle COE price spikes are due to market flux following ARF changes, with lower-end models unaffected and a larger supply of motorcycle COEs expected after stopping COEs from Category D contributing to the Open Category.
The Minister stated that the tiered ARF makes higher-end motorcycles more expensive but does not affect over 60% of the market, and declined to create a separate motorcycle category, arguing it would split the quota and increase price volatility.
The Minister reiterated that motorcycles are already in a separate COE category to avoid competition with car buyers, and further splitting it would reduce quota stability and affordability for lower-end models.

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4 Jul 2017

Traffic Signs Partly Covered by Trees and Shrubs

The Ministry of Transport has established no-planting zones to ensure traffic signs and pedestrian crossings remain visible, with distances varying by road type and site conditions.
NParks conducts monthly inspections to check that vegetation does not block the visibility of signs and crossings.
LTA inspects roads at regular intervals—weekly for expressways, biweekly for major roads, and every eight weeks for minor roads—and addresses defects like faded or obstructed signs, alerting NParks when trees need pruning.

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3 Jul 2017

Traffic Summonses Issued for Non-compliance of Yellow Box Rules in Past Three Years

Mr Yee Chia Hsing asked about the number of traffic summonses for yellow box non-compliance in the past three years and suggested using traffic cameras at busy junctions.
Between 2014 and 2016, the Traffic Police issued about 450 summonses each year for stopping in yellow boxes and causing obstruction.
The Traffic Police use cameras for serious offences like red-light running and speeding and may consider them for other offences if needed.

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3 Jul 2017

Extension of Bus Service 983 to Cover Keat Hong Close

Zaqy Mohamad inquired if LTA could extend Bus Service 983 to cover Keat Hong Close to better serve new residents, and what reasons might prevent it if not.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that new estates are monitored and bus services are provided within 400 metres if there is sufficient ridership, noting Service 983 already meets this distance requirement.
He suggested an alternative where residents can walk about 300 metres to Service 301 and transfer to Service 983 at Choa Chu Kang Avenue 6.

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3 Jul 2017

Update on National Electric Vehicle Car-sharing Scheme

Ang Hin Kee sought a progress update on the national EV car-sharing scheme scheduled for mid-2017 rollout, including take-up rates and construction status of stations and charging points in HDB towns.
Khaw Boon Wan confirmed the first phase of BlueSG’s EV car-sharing programme would begin in the next few months with 125 electric cars and 200 charging points across 50 car parks.
The Land Transport Authority and BlueSG are discussing with communities to finalize specific car park locations and complete legal documentation for the charging points.

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3 Jul 2017

Minimum Safety Standards for Motor Vehicle Repairs and Modification Works

Joan Pereira raised concerns about vehicle fires and questioned how the Ministry ensures safety standards for local car repairs and the roadworthiness of foreign and overseas-repaired vehicles.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that vehicle owners are responsible for roadworthiness, and the Land Transport Authority conducts spot checks, impounding vehicles that fail standards and penalising owners.
The Ministry requires regular inspections for Singapore-registered vehicles, and vehicles that fail cannot be used, with owners advised to use reputable workshops for safety.

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3 Jul 2017

Inclusion of Sennett Estate in Walk2Ride Programme

Sitoh Yih Pin requested the Ministry of Transport to include Sennett Estate in the Walk2Ride programme and construct sheltered linkways to nearby MRT stations and bus stops.
Khaw Boon Wan confirmed that covered linkways will be built to connect Potong Pasir MRT station with the nearest part of Sennett Estate.
The debate centered on improving pedestrian accessibility and connectivity for residents of Sennett Estate to public transport nodes.

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3 Jul 2017

Noise Mitigation Measures along Stretches of Central Expressway Near Residential Areas

Sitoh Yih Pin asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to add noise mitigation measures like sound barriers on residential stretches of the Central Expressway.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that the Ministry is exploring measures such as noise barriers and low-noise road surfaces.
Trials to test the effectiveness of these noise reduction methods are currently underway.

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3 Jul 2017

Reduction of Breakdown of MRT Train Services

The Minister outlined a multi-year strategy to improve rail reliability through four key elements: timely replacement of ageing assets, building rail expertise, reforming maintenance regimes, and increased investment in maintenance and engineering.
Specific actions include completing the upgrade of aging infrastructure such as sleepers, third rails, and signalling systems, while acknowledging that re-signalling projects can be complex and may cause temporary disruptions.
The government has set ambitious reliability targets measured by Mean Kilometre Between Failure (MKBF), and recent performance from January to May 2017 has already exceeded the 2018 and 2020 targets, showing significant progress.
The Minister emphasized that these efforts take time to yield results and called for continued public encouragement and support as the agencies work towards world-class rail reliability.

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3 Jul 2017

Measurement of Speed of Vehicles in Assessing ERP Charges for Expressway

Lim Biow Chuan questioned how the Land Transport Authority measures vehicle speeds to determine ERP charges on expressways.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that speeds are measured using data from GPS-enabled taxis and traffic monitoring cameras.
ERP rates are adjusted quarterly based on speed thresholds: reduced if speeds exceed 65 km/h and increased if they fall below 45 km/h.

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3 Jul 2017

Qualifying Criteria to Build Covered Linkway from Private Housing to Nearest Bus Stop

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked about the criteria for building covered linkways from private condominiums to bus stops and the number funded in the last three years.
Khaw Boon Wan clarified that the government does not fund linkways directly to bus stops but instead builds them from condominiums to MRT, LRT, or bus interchanges under the Walk2Ride Programme, with possible connections to bus stops along the route.
The key condition for funding is that the condominium must provide a sheltered internal route from residential blocks to its gate to ensure a seamless, weather-protected connection.

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3 Jul 2017

Additional Tests for Drivers Aged over 75

Dr Chia Shi-Lu proposed that the Traffic Police consider introducing cognitive or additional tests for drivers over 75 years old when renewing their licences.
Minister K Shanmugam explained that all drivers must pass a medical exam at age 65 and every three years thereafter, which assesses physical and mental fitness, and that this remains suitable for drivers over 75.
Heavy vehicle licence holders face a stricter regime with annual medical exams from age 65, and their licences expire at 75, with more comprehensive tests for those aged 70 and above.
The minister emphasized that individuals bear the responsibility for their own safety and that of others, and that the Traffic Police will monitor and adjust the licence regime for elderly drivers if needed.

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3 Jul 2017

Assessment of Visibility of Pedestrians at Partially-blocked Pedestrian Crossings

Joan Pereira inquired about the Ministry of Transport's methods for assessing motorists' visibility at pedestrian crossings partially obstructed by vegetation and whether a standardized framework exists for assessment and pruning schedules.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that the Land Transport Authority establishes no-planting zones around crossings, with their size determined by road geometry and speed limits.
The National Parks Board conducts monthly inspections to ensure greenery does not block crossing visibility.

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3 Jul 2017

Measures to Increase Security at MRT Stations near Large-scale Event Venues

The Public Transport Security Committee, led by the Land Transport Authority, uses a risk-based approach to balance security with commuter flow, employing multi-layered measures like security guards, CCTV, and police patrols.
Security is enhanced during major events near MRT stations through coordination between police, public transport operators, and the LTA, with additional measures deployed during heightened threats.
The committee is considering the use of baggage scanners at MRT stations as a potential security measure, while also emphasizing the role of commuters in reporting suspicious activity and not leaving belongings unattended.

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3 Jul 2017

Potential for Rental Vehicles to be Used in Terrorist Attacks

Melvin Yong highlighted that rental vehicles have been used in recent terrorist attacks and asked the government to consider tightening identity checks, establishing information-sharing with rental companies, and educating employees to identify suspicious renters.
Minister K Shanmugam confirmed that the Ministry of Home Affairs is enhancing information sharing between rental companies and the Police but noted that identity checks alone cannot prevent misuse, as vehicles could be stolen or rented by proxy.
The Police are engaging the Vehicle Rental Association of Singapore and other companies under SGSecure to share tips on securing premises, never leaving vehicles unattended with keys, and reporting suspicious activities.

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