Transport

He Ting Ru questioned the Minister for Home Affairs about tools used by the Traffic Police to check foreign-registered vehicles for unpaid fines and court summons compliance, beyond joint operations. K Shanmugam responded that foreign vehicles with outstanding fines above a certain threshold can be denied entry at land checkpoints, and the specific threshold is not disclosed for operational reasons. The Police also issue a Police Gazette against individuals failing to comply with court summonses, allowing for stops at checkpoints or during checks.

He Ting Ru asked about the challenges the Traffic Police face in identifying vehicles with non-standard number plates, such as reflective or small plates, and if data on occurrences over the last three years is available. K Shanmugam confirmed that the Traffic Police has encountered difficulties due to non-standard plates and refers such cases to the Land Transport Authority for enforcement. He also noted that it is an offense to use non-conforming license plates, but the number of instances is not tracked.

David Hoe asked if the Government would consider commuting support measures to promote marriage and parenthood, such as transport rebates for families with young children, particularly those with lower and middle incomes. Indranee Rajah responded that the Government already provides various financial support measures for families, including cash payouts that can help offset transport costs. Families are receiving Child LifeSG Credits and additional benefits under the Large Families Scheme, which supports families with three or more children. The Government is committed to reviewing and enhancing its policies to further assist families.

Yeo Wan Ling asked about the number of cases filed under the Protection from Harassment Act against commuters for abusing public transport workers in the past five years, specifically regarding online harassment incidents. Jeffrey Siow reported an average of around 60 cases annually from 2021 to 2025 involving harassment of transport workers, but specific data on online harassment allegations was not tracked. The act criminalizes indecent, threatening, or abusive behavior towards transport workers, with offenders facing fines or imprisonment. The government maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment of public transport workers and emphasizes public education on respectful treatment.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked about new measures the Ministry of Transport would implement to promote safer transportation alternatives for workers and equipment on lorry decks, particularly for SMEs reliant on point-to-point travel. Jeffrey Siow responded that the ministry regularly reviews safety measures for workers transported on lorries in consultation with the industry and NGOs. He mentioned that specialist trades often use smaller vehicles for safer transportation of workers and equipment, and efforts are ongoing to enhance safety while minimizing operational disruption.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked about the Ministry of Transport's plans to professionalize bus captain roles and attract young Singaporeans to these positions. Jeffrey Siow explained that bus captains undergo structured training to ensure they possess essential skills. The Land Transport Authority collaborates with bus operators to create career progression pathways for bus captains. To attract more locals, public transport operators have introduced sign-on bonuses, enhanced working conditions, and flexible work arrangements. Additionally, the Government is reviewing starting salaries to improve recruitment efforts for new drivers.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik questioned the enforcement measures for bike sharing operators regarding improper bicycle parking outside designated zones. Jeffrey Siow responded that operators are required to ensure bicycles are parked correctly and that in 2025, 95% of trips ended in designated areas. Measures include a QR code parking system, a $5 fee for improper parking, and penalties for repeated offenses. Operators face potential fleet size reductions, license suspensions or revocations, and financial penalties up to $100,000 or 10% of annual turnover for non-compliance. License renewal and expansion requests are evaluated based on their parking management record.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong questioned the Acting Minister for Transport about compatibility issues between ERP 2.0 on-board units and carpark gantry systems, including the number of incidents reported since its rollout and measures for interoperability. Jeffrey Siow responded that all ERP 2.0 on-board units are generally compatible with existing parking systems but may face access issues if the OBU antenna is out of range. He mentioned that such issues can often be resolved by repositioning the vehicle or recalibrating the antenna, and that similar problems occurred with ERP 1 as well.

Valerie Lee asked about the number of noise-related complaints logged from construction at Loyang Viaduct and Cross Island Line stations from 2023 to 2025, as well as their resolution status. Jeffrey Siow reported approximately 90 cases in 2023 and around 230 cases each in 2024 and 2025. The Land Transport Authority's contractors have engaged with residents to address concerns, implemented mitigation measures when noise exceeded acceptable levels, and held contractors accountable in severe cases.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked if the Ministry of Transport has conducted feasibility studies for Transit Priority Corridors (TPCs) connecting the Central Area to towns along the North East Line, including Punggol, Sengkang, Hougang, and Serangoon. Jeffrey Siow responded that there are currently no plans for a continuous TPC in the north-east region due to insufficient road space. The Land Transport Authority is implementing features such as continuous bus lanes and wider footpaths where possible.

Christopher de Souza raised concerns about road safety following a recent traffic tragedy in Chinatown, asking if the Ministry for Transport would implement additional safety measures in high pedestrian areas. Jeffrey Siow responded that the Land Transport Authority will assess the need for further road safety measures based on the findings of the Traffic Police's ongoing investigations.

Valerie Lee questioned the Acting Minister for Transport about the impact of a digital system glitch on the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) system in January 2026, specifically regarding data accuracy for average bus waiting times and occupancy rates. Jeffrey Siow responded that the data used for bus planning, including travel times and occupancy rates, comes from a different fleet management system that was not affected by the glitch.

Fadli Fawzi raised concerns regarding the disruption of the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) system and asked if lessons would be applied to prevent future system failures in public transport. Jeffrey Siow confirmed that the lessons learned will help enhance the availability and accuracy of the ETA system. He noted that the defective software has been repaired and the system is now stable. Critical systems affecting train and bus operations will receive higher reliability standards and more rigorous testing before implementation.

Fadli Fawzi asked the Acting Minister for Transport about the total amount collected from Vehicle Entry Permit and Goods Vehicle Permit fees in 2025 and the estimated annual collection after fee increases from January 2027. Jeffrey Siow responded that approximately $130 million was collected in 2025, noting that the amount varies each year based on the number of foreign-registered vehicles entering Singapore.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye raised concerns about the structural load capacity of existing HDB multi-storey car parks in light of the increasing adoption of heavier electric vehicles. He asked about the design live load standards for HDB car parks, their safety margins given current and projected vehicle weights, and differences in load capacity between older and newer car parks. Chee Hong Tat confirmed that HDB car parks adhere to building codes for vehicles weighing up to 2,000 kg and that current structures remain within safety margins. Agencies are reviewing potential enhancements for car parks to better accommodate heavier vehicles in the future.

Yeo Wan Ling raised a question about LTA's plans to regulate electric vehicle training for bus captains as part of the transition to an electric bus fleet. Jeffrey Siow responded that all bus captains will be required to complete a new training course focused on safely operating electric buses. This course is being developed in collaboration with the Singapore Bus Academy, NTUC LearningHub, the National Transport Workers' Union, and bus operators, and is set to launch later this year.

Fadli Fawzi raised concerns about the impact of increased Goods Vehicle Permit fees for foreign-registered vehicles starting 1 January 2027, questioning whether the costs would be borne by consumers or producers and if measures would be taken to prevent retailers from passing these costs onto consumers. Jeffrey Siow explained that the fee increase aims to reduce the cost gap between Singapore-registered and foreign-registered vehicles and that the decision on whether to absorb or transfer the costs is up to individual companies.

Cai Yinzhou raised questions about the accessibility features of public buses, specifically regarding the proportion without integrated next-stop displays and audio announcements. Jeffrey Siow reported that currently, about 20% of public buses have the Passenger Information Display System (PIDS), with plans for 70% of the fleet to be equipped by 2030. Retrofitting older buses with these systems is not practical due to design limitations, but bus captains are trained to assist visually impaired and deaf commuters. Commuters can also use a "Please alert me when I am approaching my stop" card to seek assistance.

He Ting Ru asked about the cost, funding source, utilization rate, and considerations from the Marine Parade shuttle service for the free daily Gek Poh shuttle bus service. Chee Hong Tat explained that the service was implemented during the Gek Poh Shopping Centre's upgrade until the third quarter of 2028, ensuring residents maintain access to amenities. The service costs approximately $14,000 per month and is included in the lump sum tender for the upgrade, with good utilization noted during weekday mornings and weekend noon times. The context for Gek Poh is different from that of the Marine Parade shuttle service.

Rachel Ong questioned the Minister for Home Affairs about the suspension of driver licenses due to 1,523 erroneously issued speeding tickets. She sought to know if any drivers, particularly taxi or private hire vehicle drivers, were affected and what recourse or financial restitution is available for their loss of livelihood during any suspensions. K Shanmugam responded that no drivers had their licenses suspended as a result of these erroneous tickets.