Transport

He Ting Ru questioned the Acting Minister for Transport about the criteria for the timeline of implementing distance-based charging under ERP 2.0 and whether the public would receive updates on these parameters. Jeffrey Siow stated that the Ministry does not plan to implement distance-based charging in the near future, prioritizing motorists' adaptation to the new ERP 2.0 system. He acknowledged the fairness of usage-based charging but indicated the need to assess its impact on groups, such as professional drivers, before any future decisions are made.

He Ting Ru questioned the Acting Minister for Transport about risk assessments related to inaccuracies in bus arrival timings detected in January 2026, seeking details on assessments, vulnerabilities, and the frequency of audits. Jeffrey Siow responded that the Expected Time of Arrival (ETA) system undergoes risk assessments every two years, with the last one in July 2024 identifying minor issues that were resolved before the disruption. However, the assessment failed to detect the issues that caused the disruption, prompting a review of the risk assessment process for improvement.

Charlene Chen questioned the Acting Minister for Transport about Singapore's strategies to reduce road fatalities by incorporating urban design measures similar to those in cities like Helsinki. Jeffrey Siow responded that the Land Transport Authority is continuously reviewing and enhancing road design and infrastructure for better safety. He highlighted the 2023 Friendly Streets initiative aimed at improving walking and cycling safety through reduced speed limits and traffic-calming measures.

Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked about government spending from consolidated revenue on safer transport for migrant workers traveling to work sites over the past three years. Jeffrey Siow responded that tax revenues, including foreign worker levies, are not earmarked for specific purposes. He emphasized that the Government will continue to collaborate with industry and NGOs to enhance the safety of transport for workers.

Poh Li San questioned the Acting Minister for Transport about the Rail Reliability Taskforce's recommendation to advance the North-East Line power supply system renewal to 2026. Jeffrey Siow responded that the renewal is planned to be brought forward by about three years, with work starting in 2026. He noted that it is currently too early to assess the impact on service availability, but efforts will be made to minimize disruption and communicate any necessary service adjustments to commuters in advance.

Valerie Lee asked about measures to alleviate peak hour traffic congestion on Loyang Avenue and the possibility of increasing bus services during the ongoing construction of the Loyang Viaduct. Jeffrey Siow acknowledged the disruptions caused by necessary road closures for the construction, which is aimed at improving travel times upon completion in 2030. To address traffic impact, the Land Transport Authority has enhanced surrounding roads and improved bus service frequency, including two new shuttle services. Additional road or lane closures will proceed carefully, often during off-peak times, and traffic management measures will be utilized to mitigate congestion. LTA will continuously monitor and adjust strategies as needed during the construction period.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked if the Land Transport Authority (LTA) could mandate contractors to provide early warning notices at least 200 meters ahead of road work sites to enhance traffic efficiency and safety. Jeffrey Siow responded that the LTA's Code of Practice already requires advance warning signs at specified distances depending on road speed limits, with 280 meters being the minimum for roads with a 50 km/h limit. Contractors face consequences for not adhering to these requirements.

Charlene Chen raised questions about the assessment of accident risks for taxi, private hire car drivers, and delivery riders, specifically regarding exposure metrics like distance traveled. Jeffrey Siow clarified that accident risks are not assessed solely on distance but rather through a holistic approach, collaborating with platform providers to enhance safety. Training for taxi and private hire car drivers includes components on occupational health hazards, such as fatigue awareness and management, as part of their licensing. Additionally, platform companies are required to ensure adequate third-party liability insurance for drivers and riders using active mobility devices while working.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong raised concerns about cyclist and e-bike user safety practices, asking if the Ministry of Home Affairs will enhance enforcement against violations like riding without helmets or lights. Sim Ann acknowledged the issue and stated that the Traffic Police and Land Transport Authority already enforce regulations at accident hotspots, ensuring that all road users abide by traffic rules. Tan expressed the need for fair legal accountability for motorists in accidents involving non-compliant cyclists and suggested using CCTVs to identify repeat offenders. Sim Ann assured that culpability in accidents is assessed holistically, considering all circumstances involved.

David Hoe raised concerns about the response time of the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to feedback submitted via their online contact form, questioning whether the 14 to 20 days for complex cases aligns with public service standards. Jeffrey Siow responded that government agencies aim to reply within 15 working days and highlighted that over 60% of LTA feedback is resolved within five working days, with 93% addressed within 14 days. For more complex cases, LTA acknowledges feedback within 15 days and provides updates on progress.

Elysa Chen questioned the Acting Minister for Transport about the number of vehicles in Singapore with defective Takata airbags that remain unrectified. Jeffrey Siow responded that as of February 2026, approximately 215,000 vehicles are affected by the Takata airbag recall. Over 90% of these affected vehicles have been fixed, while around 16,000 are still in the process of rectification.

Charlene Chen questioned the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment about the emissions self-testing facility for motorcycles at Woodlands Checkpoint concerning usage measures, pass and fail rates, and rider selection incentives. Grace Fu Hai Yien confirmed that a three-month trial was conducted from November 2023 to February 2024, where riders were randomly selected to use the kiosk with monitored instructions by NEA officers. Approximately 700 motorcycles were tested, and about 230 of them failed to meet emissions limits, prompting enforcement action. NEA is considering improvements to enhance the self-testing facility's usability and scalability.

Charlene Chen inquired about the breakdown of vehicular fines issued to foreign-registered vehicles in 2025, specifically the number for noise emission violations and the year-on-year percentage changes in noise-related summonses at land checkpoints over the past three years. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that this question has already been addressed in previous parliamentary discussions, specifically in the reply to earlier parliamentary questions on March 2, 2026.

Joan Pereira inquired about the number of motor vehicles affected by safety recalls over the last decade, the possibility of suspending unrectified vehicles from road use, and measures to improve cooperation with importers and dealers regarding faulty vehicles. Jeffrey Siow revealed that approximately 500,000 vehicles registered in Singapore were impacted by safety-related recalls from 2016 to 2025. Vehicle manufacturers and dealers are required to notify owners of affected vehicles, with enforcement actions for non-compliance. Most defects do not pose immediate danger, but serious safety risks warrant advisories against driving unrectified vehicles.

Charlene Chen asked about outreach efforts to inform foreign drivers about Singapore's vehicle noise emission standards and if noise compliance reminders could be added to Vehicle Entry Permit processes. Grace Fu Hai Yien confirmed that all motorists must comply with these standards and that the National Environment Agency (NEA) uses media and posters at checkpoints to communicate regulations. The number of fines issued to foreign-registered vehicles for noise violations increased significantly in 2025, indicating enhanced enforcement. NEA conducts on-site testing for suspected noisy vehicles and is exploring technologies like acoustic cameras for better enforcement, despite some limitations.

Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked if the Government has assessed the adequacy of existing laws to penalize serious road behavior resulting in death and if a specific vehicular homicide offense would be considered. K Shanmugam responded that current laws allow for murder and culpable homicide charges in traffic-related deaths, dependent on the offender's intent and state of mind. He noted that most cases are prosecuted under the Road Traffic Act due to a lack of intent to kill. The Ministry of Home Affairs is reviewing the possibility of new offenses related to dangerous driving, but offenders would not face the death penalty.

Fadli Fawzi asked about the suspension of driving licenses for motorists due to 1,523 speeding tickets that were wrongly issued between October and December 2025. K Shanmugam pointed to a previous written reply concerning this issue, stating that details on license suspensions and restitution for affected drivers could be found in the Official Report from February 2026.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong raised concerns about ensuring barrier-free access on public footpaths for mobility scooters and motorized wheelchairs to prevent users from being forced onto roads. Baey Yam Keng, the Minister of State for Transport, explained that new footpaths must meet specific width requirements and that existing ones are being widened unless site constraints exist. The Land Transport Authority considers resident feedback when planning upgrades in private estates, often in conjunction with other improvements. Tan also inquired about timelines for upgrades in private estates, to which Baey noted that the process is complex and must consider various practical constraints.

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked if the LTA is considering daily or monthly fare caps for adult commuters. Jeffrey Siow clarified that fare regulation falls under the Public Transport Council (PTC). He noted that any new fare products, like fare caps, would need careful evaluation by the PTC to balance discounts for some commuters against potential additional costs for others.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik inquired about the proportion of Singapore citizens applying for bus captain positions since the launch of the Public Bus Industry Manpower Plan (PBIMP) in 2016. Jeffrey Siow explained that the PBIMP was aimed at strengthening the local workforce in the public transport sector, with initiatives like better pay and improved working conditions introduced by bus operators. From 2021 to 2025, the proportion of applications from Singapore citizens ranged from 25% to 50%, but it's not meaningful to compare this directly to previous years since data on prior applications was not tracked and foreign applications depend on local recruitment and quotas.