Transport

Cai Yinzhou questioned the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment regarding the long-term health impacts of repeated MRT noise exposure on commuters and its inclusion in national health strategies. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that the National Environment Agency sets noise limits to protect public health, referencing international standards. The Land Transport Authority monitors noise levels in MRT systems and takes measures to keep them below 85 decibels, including implementing noise reduction strategies on curved tracks. Both the National Environment Agency and LTA will continue to review and enhance their noise management policies to safeguard public health.

Liang Eng Hwa questioned the Coordinating Minister for National Security about the annual number of Notices of Traffic Offence issued to Malaysia-registered motorcycles in 2025. K Shanmugam responded that approximately 22,000 Malaysia-registered motorcycles received such notices in that year.

Valerie Lee asked about the number of accidents at the Loyang Avenue and Old Tampines Road junction, measures to improve road safety, and the possibility of installing traffic cameras for enforcement. K Shanmugam reported that there were 13 accidents at the junction between 2023 and 2025. The Traffic Police have implemented signs to manage speed, and the Land Transport Authority plans to enhance traffic light visibility and add more signs in the coming months. Due to space constraints from ongoing construction, traffic cameras will not be installed, but manned enforcement will increase as a temporary measure.

Valerie Lee asked about the Traffic Police's protocol for assessing motorists involved in accidents for vaping or drug use, the number of related accidents in the past three years, and the possibility of stricter penalties. K Shanmugam confirmed that the Traffic Police checks for impaired driving and conducts blood tests if drug use is suspected. Between 2023 and 2025, there were 77 accidents linked to drug or etomidate use, with 25 cases suspected of drug use. Enhanced penalties are already in place for accidents caused by impaired driving, and the Ministry of Home Affairs will continue to assess the adequacy of these penalties.

Lee Hong Chuang raised concerns about supporting vulnerable residents who may lack the technological resources to obtain the Certificate of Medical Need required for using mobility scooters on public paths starting mid-2026. Jeffrey Siow referenced the Second Reading of the Land Transport and Related Matters Bill for further information regarding the implementation and certification process for users.

Hazlina Abdul Halim proposed that the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment require developers to publish environmental factors disclosure reports regarding noise and proximity to infrastructure for housing and commercial projects, and suggested that buyers acknowledge these reports before purchase. She also requested that developers bear part of the costs related to addressing noise issues from existing public infrastructure for up to a year after new owners receive Temporary Occupation Permits. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that the National Environment Agency mandates a Noise Impact Assessment for new developments near traffic noise sources, requiring developers to implement mitigation measures to comply with noise limits. She noted that while developers work to keep noise within limits, some traffic noise will still exist, and encouraged buyers to assess noise levels independently before purchasing properties.

Saktiandi Supaat asked about Public Transport Voucher (PTV) take-up rates, evaluation of its effectiveness in alleviating commuting costs, and plans for further enhancements beyond the current $60 benefit. Jeffrey Siow reported that 360,000 PTVs were issued, representing a 72% take-up rate among eligible households, with improvements made to the application process to increase accessibility. PTVs are designed to offset half a year's worth of fare increases for a typical family, and additional support is available for households in need via Community Centres. The government allocates over $2 billion annually in subsidies for public transport, which has resulted in decreased public transport expenditure as a percentage of income for lower-income households.

Cassandra Lee inquired about the number of fines issued to foreign motorists in 2024 and 2025, as well as the breakdown by vehicle type and potential future enforcement efforts. K Shanmugam reported that foreign-registered vehicles received 86,492 fines in 2024 and 126,820 in 2025, covering offences related to traffic, parking, and emissions. In 2024, 26% of fines were for cars, 41% for motorcycles, and 33% for other vehicles; in 2025, this changed to 20% for cars, 38% for motorcycles, and 42% for other vehicles. Agencies conduct regular operations at checkpoints to enforce fines, with the possibility of denying entry to vehicles with outstanding fines.

Gerald Giam Yean Song asked about the number of summonses issued to cyclists for not displaying required lights at night over the last three years. Jeffrey Siow reported that 167 summonses were issued between 2023 and 2025, with the majority given to cyclists on roads. The summonses included 42 in 2023, 79 in 2024, and 46 in 2025. The Government engages stakeholders to conduct school talks aimed at raising awareness of safe cycling practices, including the proper use of bicycle lights.

Nadia Ahmad Samdin questioned the Minister for Education about the bidding process for school bus services at Special Education (SPED) schools, specifically the average number of participants and mechanisms to ensure unique bidders. Desmond Lee explained that Social Service Agencies (SSAs) running SPED schools manage their own bidding processes and choose operators based on fare competitiveness and service quality. The Ministry of Education does not oversee these tenders but has created a portal to connect SSAs with a wider range of bus operators since 2024, resulting in multiple bids for contracts. The Ministry aims to encourage more participation in this bidding process.

Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik asked if the vehicle-specific data collected by the Land Transport Authority for payment and enforcement would also be used for speeding and other traffic violations. Jeffrey Siow responded that the ERP 2.0 system is mainly designed for payment and charges but can be enhanced for use in enforcing traffic offences, including speeding. He added that the use of this data will be regulated by existing laws, referencing the Land Transport and Related Matters Bill for further information.

Hany Soh asked the Acting Minister for Transport about reviewing the LTA's role in vehicle recalls for safety reasons. Jeffrey Siow responded that vehicle manufacturers and dealers are legally responsible for identifying affected vehicles, notifying owners, and arranging for rectification of defects. Owners receiving recall notices should coordinate with their dealers for prompt action. The LTA facilitates the recall process by publishing updates on recent recalls on the OneMotoring website, as reported by manufacturers or dealers.

Cai Yinzhou questioned the Acting Minister for Transport about the proportion of Singapore's rail network built on marine clay, measures for managing tunnel squatting, planned maintenance for areas affected by ground settlement, and the integration of advanced geotechnical monitoring in rail maintenance. Jeffrey Siow responded that approximately 10% of underground rail tunnels are on marine clay, and inspections for defects like tunnel squatting are conducted regularly. Enhanced monitoring using advanced instruments is applied to more vulnerable tunnel segments, with current work focusing on the tunnels between Paya Lebar and Mountbatten stations, and the public will be informed of any further necessary works.

Patrick Tay Teck Guan questioned the Acting Minister for Transport about the number of complaints regarding inaccurate bus arrival information over the past five years, approaches considered for fixing the inaccuracies, and the likelihood of future system resets. Saktiandi Supaat inquired about the status of investigations into recent technical issues with the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) system, including root causes and measures for improvement. Jeffrey Siow reported that LTA received fewer than 100 complaints per month about bus arrival timings and identified that recent disruptions were due to a memory cache build-up in on-board equipment affecting communication. To resolve the issues, manual firmware updates were required on affected buses, and LTA plans to explore methods to enhance system reliability in the future.

Eileen Chong Pei Shan asked about the construction status and expected completion date of the Tampines North Integrated Transport Hub, as well as factors contributing to delays and lessons for future developments. Jeffrey Siow explained that Integrated Transport Hubs are complex and require more time to construct due to their integration with bus interchanges and MRT stations. The timeline for Tampines North ITH was extended to 2030 because its completion is linked to the delayed Tampines North Cross Island Line station, which was postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Construction began in 2024, while residents currently use the Tampines North Bus Interchange.

Dr. Choo Pei Ling asked about the criteria for the Free Parking Scheme (FPS) at HDB car parks, how Tengah compares to other new estates in its implementation, and the timeline for FPS in Tengah. Chee Hong Tat stated that the FPS aims to promote social interaction by offering free parking on Sundays and public holidays, but it will only be implemented once resident parking demand stabilizes and sufficient lots are available. The FPS will start to be offered progressively at suitable car parks in Tengah beginning February 1, 2026.

The debate on the Land Transport and Related Matters Bill covered various topics related to transport safety and regulation in Singapore. The key points from the discussion include:

• The Bill seeks to modernize transport laws, including the introduction of the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) 2.0 system, which aims to improve traffic management and reduce congestion by transitioning to a more data-driven road pricing model.
• Enhancements to regulations governing personal mobility aids (PMAs) were discussed, including the introduction of a Certificate of Medical Need for users, reduced speed limits of six kilometers per hour for PMAs, and stricter penalties for illegal modifications to vehicles.
• Concerns were raised about the impact of these regulations on delivery workers who rely on PMAs for their livelihood, with calls for transitional support and clarification on how enforcement of these rules will be carried out to prevent undue hardship.
• There were discussions on the importance of consistent and effective enforcement mechanisms, including the use of enforcement cameras and community involvement to curb misuse of mobility devices and ensure public safety.
• Several Members highlighted the need for public education on the new regulations to ensure that users, particularly vulnerable groups, are aware of the requirements and can comply without confusion or additional burdens.

The Leader of the House sought consent to exempt Senior Minister of State Sim Ann and Minister of State Baey Yam Keng from rules limiting their speaking time for the Second Reading of the Land Transport and Related Matters Bill. The Acting Minister Jeffrey Siow will discuss amendments related to the Electronic Road Pricing 2.0 system and serious vehicular offences. The exemptions were requested to allow them to adequately respond to member queries during the debate. Consent and general assent were given by the members present to remove the time limits for their speeches.

He Ting Ru questioned the Acting Minister for Transport about the criteria and processes for determining rail service delays included in the Mean Kilometres Between Failure (MKBF) metric. Jeffrey Siow responded that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is responsible for determining if an incident qualifies based on delays exceeding five minutes. He stated that LTA conducts independent reviews of all train movement data, which is logged automatically by the train control systems and shared with LTA.

He Ting Ru asked the Acting Minister for Transport for detailed statistics on new COE registrations awarded to existing holders in the first three quarters of 2025, specifically broken down by the remaining validity of their previous COE. Jeffrey Siow provided a breakdown of new COEs awarded to existing holders for Categories A and B, detailing the data according to the four specified validity periods.