Transport — Topics

28 Feb 2023

Proportion of Cars by Open Market Value

Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for Transport for the annual percentage of cars registered since 2010 in Open Market Value bands of $40,000–$60,000, $60,000–$80,000, $80,000–$100,000, and above $100,000.
S Iswaran provided the average proportion for each Open Market Value band across all cars registered from 2010 to 2022.
The response did not specify yearly breakdowns but offered an overall average for the entire period.
The debate centered on transparency regarding the distribution of car values based on Open Market Value.

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28 Feb 2023

Older, More Pollutive Motorcycles Remaining in Use on Singapore’s Roads

Mariam Jaafar inquired about the number of older, pollutive motorcycles still in use, how many will fail the new April 2023 emissions standards, and whether more incentives could be offered to deregister them.
Grace Fu Hai Yien stated that motorcycles registered before July 2003 must meet tightened emission standards from April 2023, with an incentive of up to $3,500 offered since 2018 for deregistration.
From April 2018 to January 2023, 23,328 older motorcycles were deregistered, with 4,490 still in use.
Recent inspections indicate about one in five of these remaining motorcycles will not meet the tightened emissions standards.

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28 Feb 2023

Number of Children Under Age 12 Who were Injured in Taxis and Private Hire Cars

Between 2018 and 2022, 48 children under 12 were injured in taxis and 63 in private hire cars, with detailed data on seat belt and child restraint usage only available for private hire cars due to a taxi exemption under the Road Traffic Act.
The Minister noted that taxis are exempt from requiring child restraints or seat belts for passengers under 1.35 meters, which is why data on child safety measures in taxis is not tracked, unlike for private hire cars.
Louis Ng asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to start tracking child injuries in taxis to assess the problem's scale and consider policy changes, and questioned the safety rationale behind the taxi exemption.
The Minister responded that the government is considering diverse societal needs while prioritizing safety, noting positive developments like ride-hail app options and mixed responses from past pilots.

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28 Feb 2023

Additional Measures to Encourage Prudent Bidding of Motorcycle COEs

Mariam Jaafar raised concerns about rising motorcycle COEs and asked if additional measures beyond the March 2022 changes (like higher bid deposits and shorter validity periods) are being considered to encourage prudent bidding.
Dr Amy Khor acknowledged the impact of previous measures but noted motorcycle COEs are rising again, stating the government is monitoring the situation and will consider further actions if necessary, while highlighting efforts like adjusting COE quota computation to reduce volatility.
Pritam Singh inquired if LTA has ever transferred COEs from the Open Category to the motorcycle category (Cat D) to increase supply, to which Dr Amy Khor responded that while transfers from Cat D to Open Category have been restricted, there have been no instances of transferring COEs in the reverse direction.

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27 Feb 2023

Public Transport Vouchers Disbursed with Letters Bearing Letterheads of Citizens' Consultative Committees

Mr Leong Mun Wai questioned why Public Transport Vouchers are distributed on letters with Citizens’ Consultative Committees (CCCs) letterheads, what other government payments are disbursed via CCCs or other grassroots organisations (GROs), and the role of grassroots advisers in this process.
The Minister explained that GROs, including CCCs, help administer government programmes and support community outreach, with Grassroots Advisers guiding their efforts and assisting needy households through schemes like the CCC ComCare Fund.
For Public Transport Vouchers, GROs notify eligible households, raise awareness, administer the programme, and assess applications from those who marginally miss eligibility or need additional support.

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27 Feb 2023

Update on Proposed Flying Taxi Service since Joint Trial in 2019

Leon Perera asked for an update on the flying taxi service since the 2019 trial, its expected initial daily trip capacity, and the number of jobs it could create over the next five years.
Minister Gan Kim Yong stated that progress has been made in growing Singapore’s Advanced Air Mobility ecosystem since Volocopter’s 2019 eVTOL test flight, with initiatives in R&D, commercialisation, manufacturing, and maintenance.
The government is exploring a piloted eVTOL commercial trial in Singapore, but the specific capacity and job creation figures remain dependent on still-developing operating models.

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27 Feb 2023

Distinction between Social and Illegal Carpooling

The Ministry defines social carpooling as trips among friends or colleagues with no payment, while illegal carpooling involves strangers matched through unlicensed channels like Telegram chat groups for a fee, which lacks safety safeguards.
The Land Transport Authority enforces the Road Traffic Act against illegal carpooling, relying on public feedback or targeted operations to gather evidence of trips between strangers for payment outside licensed operators.
The Ministry urges the public to use licensed carpooling services for safety, as these operators verify drivers and record trips, unlike unregulated platforms.
Enforcement distinguishes social from illegal carpooling by investigating reported trips, ensuring reasonable action only against unlicensed fee-based services between strangers.
The Ministry plans to continue monitoring and collaborating with other agencies to address illegal carpooling facilitated through chat groups, focusing on evidence-based enforcement.

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23 Feb 2023

Data on Use of Child Car Seats in Private Hire Vehicles and Instances of Non-compliance

Louis Ng asked the Ministry for Transport about data on child car seat usage in private-hire vehicles, violations of child restraint regulations, and whether such data would be collected if not already available.
The Ministry of Home Affairs reported that violations of child restraint rules in private-hire cars decreased from 66 cases in 2018 to 29 in 2019, and to just one or two cases annually from 2020 to 2022, with enforcement priorities unchanged.
Ride-hail operators offer family-friendly services and child car seats upon request, with about 415,000 such trips per year over the past three years.

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23 Feb 2023

Conviction and Deterrence of Road Touts

The Minister reported that between 2018 and 2022, there were two or fewer police reports on road touting each year and no convictions in the last five years.
Measures to deter and detect road touts include enforcing the Miscellaneous Offences Act and addressing related offences like traffic violations and harassment, with action taken based on case facts.
The Minister noted that motorists often handle road touts by disengaging calmly and seeking help from insurers or legal counsel for civil remedies.
A follow-up question highlighted public concern about the prevalence of road touting and asked about measures targeting both touts and the workshops facilitating fraudulent claims.
The Minister affirmed that road touting is an offence, and authorities will act where necessary if reports indicate a serious issue.

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14 Feb 2023

Cooperative and Unified Smart Traffic System Project's Ability to Detect Bicycles

Leon Perera asked whether the Cooperative and Unified Smart Traffic System project will detect bicycles to enhance cyclist road safety.
The minister explained that the CRUISE project uses AI and multi-sensor data to dynamically adjust traffic lights for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists using pedestrian crossings.
Detecting cyclists on roads would require algorithm enhancements and more trials, increasing system complexity and cost.
The government has implemented initiatives like new regulations and safety handbooks to improve road safety for cyclists and motorists.
Authorities will continue studying ways to enhance road safety for all road users.

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14 Feb 2023

Deployment of Mobile Speed Cameras to Encourage Motorists to Comply with Speed Limits on Roads

Murali Pillai questioned the effectiveness of mobile speed cameras since 2017 and whether more would be deployed to address rising speeding violations and accidents.
K Shanmugam explained that mobile speed cameras are flexible tools and may lead to fixed cameras if speeding is rampant in a specific area.
The 2022 mid-year report noted an increase in speeding violations and accidents due to higher traffic volume post-COVID, though numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels.
The Traffic Police will continue monitoring and may strengthen enforcement actions as needed.
Mobile speed cameras are part of a broader enforcement strategy that includes fixed cameras, red-light cameras, and patrols.

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7 Feb 2023

Enforcement Actions against Abuse of Car Park Label Scheme Meant for Disabled Persons or Their Caregivers

Melvin Yong asked the Ministry for Social and Family Development about annual enforcement actions taken against abuse of the Car Park Label Scheme for disabled persons or caregivers and whether public education to deter such abuses would be increased.
The Ministry reported summonses issued for misuse of accessible parking lots: 1,628 in 2018, 1,544 in 2019, 2,108 in 2020, 2,418 in 2021, and 1,821 in 2022.
The Ministry emphasized that only vehicles with valid labels may use accessible lots and will continue public information efforts, including signage and the SG Enable hotline, to deter misuse and support eligible drivers.

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7 Feb 2023

Offence for Leaving Vehicle Engines Idling and Whether it Applies to Electric Vehicles

Melvin Yong questioned whether the offence for leaving vehicle engines idling applies to electric vehicles, which have no tailpipe emissions.
Grace Fu clarified that the Environmental Protection and Management Regulations prohibit idling only for vehicles with engines that are kept running while stationary.
She explained that electric vehicles do not have engines that idle, as their motors stop when the vehicle is stationary, so the regulation does not apply to them.
The key distinction is based on whether a vehicle has a combustion engine that can be left idling versus an electric motor that shuts off.

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7 Feb 2023

Installation of Noise Barriers on MRT Tracks near Residential Areas and Proposal to Reduce Train Speed near Residential Areas

LTA has installed 21.5 km of noise barriers at 45 locations and plans to add another 5.5 km at 16 more sites, chosen based on island-wide noise studies that account for track wear and train frequency.
Since July 2016, new developments near MRT tracks must undergo Traffic Noise Impact Assessments to ensure compliance with NEA’s noise guidelines.
Reducing train speed is not advised due to increased journey time and reduced capacity; LTA instead uses noise-dampening wheels, ballast, and frequent maintenance to mitigate noise.

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7 Feb 2023

Number of Road Traffic Accidents Involving Car-sharing Vehicles and Resulting in Casualties in 2021 and 2022

Gerald Giam asked the Minister for Home Affairs for statistics on car-sharing vehicle accidents resulting in casualties in 2021 and 2022, whether the incidence rate is higher than general cars, and what measures are being considered to reduce such accidents.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that the Traffic Police do not track whether vehicles involved in accidents are car-sharing vehicles, and traffic safety measures are aimed at reducing all accidents.
The Minister confirmed that the Traffic Police will continue to engage and educate motorists on safe driving and enforce the law to address overall road safety.

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7 Feb 2023

Update on Testing and Deployment of Autonomous Vehicles in Public Transport Sector

As of 27 January 2023, 43 autonomous vehicles (AVs) have passed Milestone 1 tests and one has passed Milestone 2 tests in Singapore, with trials since 2014 aiding capability development but highlighting needs for further R&D on local conditions.
The government stated that large-scale AV deployment in Singapore depends on technology maturity, safety, commercial viability, and public acceptance, with a gradual impact rather than a deliberate slowdown or acceleration.
The Ministry of Transport is collaborating with unions and workers, such as the National Transport Workers’ Union, to develop skills roadmaps and update training curricula to prepare bus, taxi, and private hire vehicle drivers for the transition to driverless technology.

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6 Feb 2023

Number of Lorries Approved to Ferry Passengers and Expiration of Their COEs

Melvin Yong asked the Minister for Transport about the number of lorries approved to ferry passengers and the years their Certificates of Entitlement (COEs) will expire within the next decade.
As of 31 December 2022, there were about 50,000 registered lorries, all permitted to ferry workers in the passenger cabin, with a subset requiring additional safety features for rear-deck use.
The Land Transport Authority does not track how many lorries actively ferry workers on the rear deck.
Approximately 34,000 lorries (two-thirds) have COEs expiring within the next five years, with the remainder expiring in five to ten years.
Owners can renew COEs up to the vehicle's 20-year statutory lifespan.

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6 Feb 2023

Installation of Passenger Lifts to Pedestrian Overhead Bridges along Hougang Avenue 3

Sylvia Lim questioned how the Land Transport Authority (LTA) should prioritize installing lifts at pedestrian overhead bridges (POBs), considering local demographics like senior density and specifically asked to include all non-lift POBs along Hougang Avenue 3 in the program.
Minister S Iswaran explained that LTA prioritizes lift installations based on the number of seniors and commuters with mobility challenges who would benefit and whether the lifts would provide barrier-free access to transport nodes and healthcare facilities.
The LTA retrofitted a lift at a specific POB on Hougang Avenue 3 in 2018 due to its high service to seniors and an eldercare facility, while the seven remaining POBs on the avenue are slated for future review, with four prioritized over the three in a lower-need industrial estate.

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6 Feb 2023

Number of Malaysian Registered Motorcycles Approved for Riding in Singapore

Abdul Samad asked the Minister for Transport about the number of Malaysian registered motorcycles approved to ride in Singapore.
The Minister stated that Malaysian motorcycles need a valid Vehicle Entry Permit, Autopass card, and third-party insurance to operate in Singapore.
As of January 2023, around 100,000 Malaysian motorcycles held valid Vehicle Entry Permits.
Approximately half of these motorcycles enter Singapore on each weekday.

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6 Feb 2023

Regular Past-midnight Public Transport Services to Benefit Late Shift Workers and Enterprises

Leon Perera proposed extending public transport services past midnight on weekends to support late-shift workers and the night economy.
The Minister for Transport responded that current services already operate almost 18 hours daily, and further extensions require balancing demand with affordability and maintenance needs.
Past night bus services had low ridership, averaging 13% even at peak times, and similar considerations apply to train services due to nightly maintenance requirements.
The Land Transport Authority will continue monitoring after-hours demand and is open to commercial proposals for night services, citing an approved trial of private night buses starting January 2023.

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