Transport

• The Minister for Transport confirmed there are currently no plans to mandate in-vehicle monitoring systems for senior drivers.
• In-vehicle monitoring systems are primarily used by companies for fleet management and tracking driving patterns.
• Senior drivers can voluntarily install such systems if they find them beneficial for their safety.

• The government has introduced financial incentives like the Electric Vehicle Early Adoption Incentive and Enhanced Vehicular Emissions Scheme, reducing upfront EV costs by up to $40,000 in 2024, and enacted the Electric Vehicles Charging Act to ensure a safe and reliable charging network.
• Progress on EV charging infrastructure includes over 7,100 charging points installed across Singapore, with more than a third of HDB carparks equipped with chargers and over 1,100 chargers supported in non-landed private residences.
• The EV Common Charger Grant co-funds installations at non-landed private residences, and the government encourages more such properties to utilize remaining grant support for around 900 additional chargers.
• As a result of these measures, EV adoption has significantly increased, with about one out of three new cars sold in Singapore in 2024 being an EV, compared to 18% in 2023.

• Ms See Jinli Jean proposed installing enforcement cameras at zebra crossings to improve pedestrian safety.
• She asked the Minister for Home Affairs to consider this where terrain and traffic constraints permit.
• Minister K Shanmugam stated that the Traffic Police already installs cameras at speeding- and accident-prone locations.
• The Minister clarified that this is done regardless of whether a zebra crossing is present.
• The installation is subject to the assessment of terrain suitability.

• The Minister for Home Affairs stated that Traffic Police and LTA enforcement officers undergo rigorous, customised training including defensive riding/driving and safe engagement techniques, with TP officers also required to attend annual riding refresher courses.
• New TP and LTA officers are paired with experienced officers for up to six months and only deployed alone after being assessed as competent, alongside wearing protective gear and using motorcycles with enhanced safety features.
• Low-risk enforcement tasks, such as illegal parking, are outsourced to companies that provide appropriate training to their officers before deployment.

• The Ministry outlined existing regulations requiring all loads on vehicles to be properly secured and, for cargo protruding more than 300mm, the use of a red flag, with enforcement action taken against violations.
• Oversized vehicles exceeding set dimensions must obtain an LTA permit with conditions such as non-peak travel, warning signs, and auxiliary police escort, and excluded vehicles like low trailers need permits for expressways.
• Between 2021 and 2023, LTA issued fines for related offences, including 80 motorists for unsecured loads and about 3,300 vehicles for permit or flag violations.
• The Ministry did not impose a ban on such vehicles on heavy-traffic roads but noted existing rules and enforcement suffice to manage safety.

• Carrie Tan asked the Ministry for National Development to allocate dedicated season parking lots in housing estates for sole proprietors who rely on lorries, tow trucks, or goods delivery vans for their livelihood.
• Desmond Lee explained that HDB season parking prioritizes residents, including those using company-registered vehicles for sole proprietorship purposes.
• He stated that large commercial vehicles over 2,000 kg unladen weight are generally not allowed in HDB car parks due to safety and design constraints.
• HDB may consider surface car park season parking on a case-by-case basis if the vehicle fits safely and does not cause obstructions or disamenities.

• Keith Chua requested a timeline from the Ministry of Transport for restoring direct flights from Singapore to Timor Leste via Singapore Airlines or Scoot.
• Chee Hong Tat responded that airlines like Singapore Airlines and Scoot decide on flight routes based on commercial considerations.
• The answer implies no specific government timeline exists as decisions rest with the airlines.

• The Ministry for Home Affairs currently requires motorists aged 65 and above to undergo a medical examination for driving licence revalidation but does not permit medical practitioners to access the National Electronic Health Records for this purpose, as such access is reserved for direct patient care.
• The frequency of medical examinations is under review, with heavy vehicle drivers aged 65–75 requiring annual checks and those above 75 prohibited from driving heavy vehicles, while other licence classes require examinations every three years.
• The Ministry does not plan to limit examinations to specialty clinics, as the assessment does not require special medical expertise.

• Ang Wei Neng sought an update on the prospects of reviving the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur High-Speed Rail project, noting Malaysia's recent shortlisting of three consortia for construction.
• Chee Hong Tat responded that Singapore has not received any new proposal from Malaysia regarding the project.
• He reiterated that Singapore remains open to discussing new proposals with Malaysia in good faith, starting from a clean slate.

• The 3 June 2024 MRT disruption was caused by a lightning strike damaging a power control box near Kranji station, with a surge arrester failing to operate as intended.
• The current lightning protection systems comply with standards, but maintenance frequency for surge arresters is under review, especially in lightning-prone areas, with the faulty unit replaced and others checked.
• LTA and operators are strengthening incident response plans based on feedback, focusing on clearer public announcements and better crowd control during disruptions.
• Yew Tee and Limbang residents are currently served by the North-South Line and bus connections, with future Downtown Line extensions expected by the mid-2030s.

• Chee Hong Tat explained that commercial vehicles are categorised by maximum laden weight in many countries because overloaded vehicles have reduced ability to stop quickly or steer effectively in emergencies.
• He noted that allowable parking spaces for lorries are differentiated by weight, with heavy goods vehicles over 5,000 kg required to park at designated heavy vehicle parks overnight for safety reasons.
• The rationale for using weight instead of size is rooted in safety considerations, particularly to prevent parking of heavy vehicles in residential areas overnight.

• The LTA lacks data on the number of goods vehicles registered under sole proprietors as vehicle registrations are based on ACRA's classification which groups sole proprietorships with partnerships.
• During vehicle registration, only the business address from ACRA is collected, not the residential addresses of vehicle owners.
• The Ministry does not collect residential addresses but may consider adding this data field to aid in parking space planning.

• Between January and May 2024, authorities took action against 653 cycling offences, with less than 1% committed by repeat offenders in the past three years.
• First-time errant cyclists face fines up to $10,000 and/or up to six months' jail, while repeat offenders can receive higher penalties, and some may be required to attend safe riding courses.
• The Land Transport Authority and Traffic Police will continually review regulatory frameworks and penalties while enforcing actions to ensure road safety and promote gracious road usage.

He Ting Ru asked if the Ministry of Transport would consider splitting the new COE category for private-hire cars into electric and non-electric vehicles, with a higher allocation for EVs to promote electrification. Chee Hong Tat referenced a previous inquiry by Nadia Samdin in September 2022 regarding this topic and suggested referring to the Hansard for the official response given at that time.

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked about technical restrictions for zebra crossings in public housing estates, private residential areas, and commercial projects. Chee Hong Tat responded that safety is a key consideration for implementing zebra crossings, including visibility between pedestrians and motorists. The Housing and Development Board follows similar safety assessments as the Land Transport Authority for public housing estates. For commercial projects, the LTA collaborates with developers on these safety criteria.

Hazel Poa asked the Minister for Transport about the total number of roundabouts in Silver Zones and the accident statistics at these roundabouts over the last three years. Chee Hong Tat responded that there are 15 roundabouts in the 40 existing Silver Zones. He also stated that four accidents were recorded at these roundabouts from 2021 to 2023.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang requested an update on the investigations into the deaths of two construction workers at the LTA worksites for the Tengah integrated rail and bus depot and the North-South Corridor. Tan See Leng confirmed that investigations into the incidents at these worksites are ongoing, and the Ministry of Manpower cannot provide further details at the moment.

Hazel Poa questioned the Minister for National Development about heavy vehicle (HV) parking lot statistics and future plans in the west region. Desmond Lee responded that as of March 2024, there are about 40,500 HV lots available, which exceeds the 30,800 HVs registered, with 16,200 of those lots in the West region. There are approximately 700 applicants on the waiting list for public HV lots, which are primarily sought for better accessibility. Plans are being made to gradually reduce the number of public HV lots in residential areas to enhance safety and free up land for other developments, with new public lots being considered carefully. The government will monitor demand to ensure adequate access for HV drivers across the island.

Alex Yam Ziming asked about plans to enhance road safety awareness among drivers and evaluate the sufficiency of current road design in high traffic areas. Chee Hong Tat highlighted that Singapore's roads are designed with safety as a priority, adhering to international guidelines and supplemented by annual safety audits. The Land Transport Authority implements traffic calming measures and collaborates with the Traffic Police and Singapore Road Safety Council on educational campaigns to promote safe road user behavior. Additionally, the use of Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) 2.0 will provide notifications to motorists about various safety zones to enhance awareness and improve road safety.

Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for Transport about the number of traffic junctions allowing discretionary right turns, accident statistics over the last five years involving these turns, and serious injuries from such accidents. Chee Hong Tat explained that discretionary right turns occur at signalised junctions without Red-Amber-Green arrows, and since 2018, RAG arrows have been implemented at over 1,200 junctions, with plans for about 200 more. The aim is to reduce discretionary right turn junctions to less than 15% of all signalised junctions. Between 2019 and 2023, approximately 2,700 accidents occurred at these junctions, with 56 resulting in fatalities.