Transport — Topics

21 Oct 2013

Unauthorised Installation of High Intensity Discharge (HID) Headlamps by Vehicle Owners

Since 2010, an average of 28 vehicles per month have been fined for headlamp non-compliance, including unauthorised HID installations, with no recorded accidents from headlamp glare since 2005.
The Land Transport Authority requires new vehicles with HID headlamps to have an auto-levelling feature or meet specific aim requirements, verified through its vehicle type approval process.
Enforcement officers penalise non-compliant vehicles with fines up to $1,000 or jail up to three months, increasing to $2,000 or six months for repeat offences.

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21 Oct 2013

Speed Limiters for Heavy Vehicles

The government confirmed that heavy vehicles over 12 tonnes for goods and 10 tonnes for public service are already legally required to have speed limiters set to 60 km/h.
Despite existing rules, speeding violations by heavy vehicles have increased, suggesting limiters may be malfunctioning or tampered with.
From November 2013, vehicles found speeding will face mandatory additional inspections to ensure speed limiters are functioning properly, with increased frequency for repeat offenders.

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21 Oct 2013

New Public Transport Services for Rivervale Crescent

Member of Parliament Lee Li Lian queried the Ministry for Transport about plans for new public transport routes at Rivervale Crescent, citing new BTO developments and asking for data on ridership patterns and progress of requests to the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew confirmed that LTA is reviewing public transport options for Rivervale Crescent, considering both amendments to existing bus services and the introduction of new services to meet increased travel demand from new developments like Rivervale Arc.
The Minister assured that LTA continuously monitors commuter needs and will engage the community at the appropriate time to discuss potential transport options.

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21 Oct 2013

Off-peak Hours Cycling on Expressways

Foo Mee Har asked the Ministry of Transport to consider allowing cyclists to use selected expressways during off-peak hours like 5 am to 9 am on Sundays.
Lui Tuck Yew emphasized that safety is a key concern, noting the large speed difference between cyclists and motorists on expressways.
He explained that cyclists are especially vulnerable at slip-road entrances and exits where vehicles join or leave at high speed.
Lui stated that allowing cyclists on expressways could lead to severe injuries or fatalities for cyclists and collisions for motorists.
The Ministry is not in favour of allowing cyclists on expressways due to these safety risks.

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21 Oct 2013

Feeder Bus Services in Nee Soon East

Patrick Tay asked whether the Ministry will introduce additional feeder services and buses to address overcrowding on routes 804, 806, and 811 in Nee Soon East due to upcoming housing developments.
Lui Tuck Yew assured that LTA has plans to cope with increased demand, citing the recent introduction of services 860 and 850E under the BSEP, with added bus trips based on ridership.
Lui noted that feeder services 804, 806, and 811 have already received or will receive additional buses during peak hours to ease crowding, with further transport improvements planned over the next one to two years.

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21 Oct 2013

Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill

The Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill was introduced to amend the Road Traffic Act, presented by Minister for Transport Mr Lui Tuck Yew.
The bill underwent its First Reading and was scheduled for a Second Reading in the next available parliamentary sitting.
The parliamentary process included the printing of the bill as part of standard legislative procedures.

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21 Oct 2013

Motor Vehicles (Third-party Risks and Compensation) (Amendment) Bill

The Senior Minister of State for Law, Ms Indranee Rajah, presented the Motor Vehicles (Third-party Risks and Compensation) (Amendment) Bill to amend the existing Act.
The Bill was read for the first time and scheduled for a second reading in the next available parliamentary sitting.
The debate focused on legislative updates to enhance third-party risk management and compensation frameworks for motor vehicles in Singapore.

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21 Oct 2013

Barrier-free Access Measures in Land Transport Master Plan 2013

The Ministry emphasized that the Land Transport Master Plan 2013 prioritizes accessibility, with all train stations and bus interchanges barrier-free, more wheelchair-accessible taxis, and all buses to be accessible by 2020, alongside extensions to pedestrian crossing aids and sheltered walkways.
The Parliamentary Secretary assured that holistic, door-to-door accessibility is considered, citing user-focused projects like the City for All Ages and collaboration with voluntary welfare organizations to gather feedback and pilot initiatives.
Plans include extending the Walk2Ride programme to cover commercial and industrial buildings linking to MRT stations, with consideration for such facilities if they are part of the journey.
The Ministry is reviewing pedestrian infrastructure, such as accelerating pedestrian crossings in estates with high elderly populations and installing lifts at overhead bridges, while addressing localized needs through community engagement.

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21 Oct 2013

Impact of Measures to Cool Prices in Vehicle Industry

R Dhinakaran questioned the impact of cooling measures on vehicle ownership and potential future government actions.
The Transport Minister stated that vehicle loan restrictions introduced in February 2013 led to lower COE prices, which have since fluctuated but remain below pre-restriction peaks.
The Government confirmed it has no plans to introduce additional cooling measures in the foreseeable future.

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16 Sep 2013

Plans to Enhance Public Bus Services in Bedok North Street 3

Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap inquired about plans to improve bus services in Bedok North Street 3 due to new HDB rental blocks scheduled for completion in 2016.
Lui Tuck Yew outlined existing services, including feeder service 225 and trunk services 45, 60, and 87, which were recently enhanced with more buses under the BSEP.
A new City Direct service for Bedok North Street 3 is planned for next year, with a tender currently under evaluation by LTA.

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16 Sep 2013

Grace Period for Payment of ERP Gantry Fee Before Imposition of Composition Fines

Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked if a three-day grace period could be given for motorists to pay the ERP fee before a composition fine is imposed for violations such as passing through a gantry without a cash card or with insufficient value.
Lui Tuck Yew explained that currently, vehicle owners can pay the ERP charge within 14 days with an administrative fee before receiving a Notice of Traffic Offence with a $70 composition offer.

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16 Sep 2013

Measures to Alleviate Overcrowding at Yishun and Khatib MRT Stations

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah raised concerns about overcrowding at Yishun and Khatib MRT stations during peak hours and asked about deploying bendy buses and other alleviation measures.
Lui Tuck Yew outlined recent bus enhancements, including additional services and the potential use of high-capacity buses like bendy or double-decker buses, while noting that SMRT has been turning trains to increase south-bound trips.
Future rail improvements were announced, such as adding more trains by 2014, upgrading the signalling system by 2016 to reduce waiting times, and completing the Thomson Line from 2019 to boost overall capacity.

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16 Sep 2013

Taxi Queue Management System at Changi Airport

Ang Hin Kee asked the Ministry for Transport to consider reviewing and redesigning the existing taxi queue management system at Changi Airport for the new "Project Jewel" and to better leverage technology for faster taxi access.
Lui Tuck Yew stated that CAAS requires the airport operator to maintain high standards, with 90% of passengers clearing queues within 10 minutes, and that CAG is reviewing the system to handle increased traffic from the Terminal 1 expansion and Project Jewel.
CAG is planning to increase taxi holding area capacity, enhance safety, and add more taxi pick-up bays at Terminal 1 and Project Jewel to serve commuters adequately.
To improve taxi access, CAG has launched the "Cabs@Changi" mobile app to provide real-time information to drivers, with over 10,000 downloads, and is partnering with taxi associations and companies to offer incentives like free coffee and lucky draws to attract more taxis to the airport.

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16 Sep 2013

Non-renewal of Taxi Operator Licence

LTA did not renew Smart’s taxi operator licence due to multiple failures to meet Quality of Service standards and licence renewal conditions, despite extensive support efforts.
To minimize the impact of Smart’s exit, LTA worked with the National Taxi Association to assist affected drivers and facilitated the transfer of taxi licences to Trans-Cab to maintain the overall fleet.
Future similar cases will be handled with a focus on orderly exits that minimize impact on drivers and commuters, with specific measures tailored to the size and circumstances of the operator.

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16 Sep 2013

Transport Vouchers for Low-income Families

Ms Lee Li Lian queried the number of families that applied for and received transport vouchers, whether any were denied due to insufficient supply, and suggested a longer-term subsidy like automatic EZ-Link top-ups for low-income households.
Minister Lui Tuck Yew stated that transport vouchers are one-off measures to offset fare increases, with no shortages reported since 2007, and noted that no vouchers were issued in years without fare hikes.
The Fare Review Mechanism Committee is currently examining the public transport concessions framework to maintain affordability for low-income earners.

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16 Sep 2013

Taxi Booking Fees

Mrs Lina Chiam questioned the necessity of taxi booking fees, suggesting their removal could discourage drivers from gaming the system and encourage more road plying.
The Minister defended the booking fee as necessary to cover the opportunity cost for drivers who commit to a booking and cannot accept other jobs during that time.
The Ministry highlighted existing regulations to prevent system manipulation, including centrally controlled "On Call" signs and penalties for drivers who refuse passengers.
To ensure taxi availability, LTA has introduced standards requiring a high percentage of taxis on the road during peak periods and minimum daily mileage.
The Ministry assured it will continue working with taxi companies to maintain high service standards for commuters.

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16 Sep 2013

Two-Car System for Sengkang Punggol LRT Network

Ms Lee Li Lian inquired whether the two-car system for the Sengkang Punggol LRT network could be commissioned before 2016.
The Minister for Transport, Lui Tuck Yew, confirmed the project is estimated for completion by 2016, involving major modifications to train cars, systems, and infrastructure.
The Minister stated that the government is proceeding with the project as fast as possible to enhance the capacity of the SPLRT system.

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16 Sep 2013

Public Transport Services to Cope with Increasing Ridership Volume

Patrick Tay raised concerns about potential overcrowding on public transport services serving housing estates due to foreign workers using them if their dormitories are nearby.
Lui Tuck Yew explained that most foreign workers in dormitories use dedicated transport provided by employers, with only a small percentage using public transport.
The Land Transport Authority monitors transport near dormitories and works with operators to add bus trips or increase capacity if overcrowding occurs during peak hours.
Efforts are made to add bus trips downstream of dormitories so residents can board buses more easily, and LTA encourages dormitory operators and employers to provide dedicated transport.

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16 Sep 2013

Road Closure for Singapore Night Festival

Janice Koh inquired why only Armenian Street was closed for the Singapore Night Festival and asked if future events could feature more road closures and extended public transport hours to enhance public enjoyment.
Lui Tuck Yew explained that road closures are carefully balanced against traffic congestion, bus service disruptions, and safety concerns, citing the Downtown Line construction as a key factor preventing the closure of Stamford Road.
LTA has previously extended public transport operating hours for events like Christmas and New Year's Eve but keeps these extensions minimal to preserve time for essential night maintenance works.

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16 Sep 2013

Exempting Taxis from ERP Charges for Admission into Central Business District

Mrs Lina Chiam asked if empty taxis could be exempted from ERP charges to encourage them to enter the Central Business District (CBD) to pick up passengers.
Minister Lui Tuck Yew stated that taxis are subject to ERP charges as they contribute to congestion, and existing measures like the City Area Surcharge and reimbursements for empty taxis during peak periods aim to incentivize CBD entry.
The government will monitor taxi supply and demand in the CBD and refine policies as needed to ensure a good match.

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