Transport — Topics

20 Oct 2022

Public Transport Commuters with Special Needs Issued with Caring SG Commuters Lanyard and Card

More than 3,200 Caring SG Commuters lanyards and cards have been distributed as of September 2022 to help commuters with invisible conditions discreetly request a seat, with positive feedback received since the initiative's launch in April 2021.
The number of commuters with disabilities using the Persons with Disabilities Concession Card has risen from 8,375 in 2014 to 14,152 in 2022, reflecting an increase in commuters with special needs.
All public transport staff receive training to assist commuters with special needs, and infrastructure has been enhanced to ensure wheelchair accessibility across buses, trains, stations, and interchanges.
The Land Transport Authority and public transport operators plan to continue collaborating to improve the Caring SG Commuters initiative.

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20 Oct 2022

Measures to Minimise Indiscriminate Parking of Shared Bicycles

LTA has implemented a three-pronged approach including expanding bicycle parking infrastructure, with over 246,000 lots across Singapore and ongoing expansion in high-demand areas.
Operators are required to enforce proper parking through a QR code system, impose fines on improper parking, remove stray bicycles promptly, and ban repeat offenders across all platforms.
The public is encouraged to report indiscriminately parked bicycles via the OneService app to facilitate quick removal.
These measures have already increased proper parking to over 90% of shared bicycle trips, but collective responsibility from all stakeholders is emphasized.

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20 Oct 2022

Rise in COE Prices and Need for Affordable Transport Solutions

Yip Hon Weng raised concerns about rising COE prices, road usage, and affordability, specifically asking if car-sharing and self-driving services have contributed to higher COE costs and how the government plans to support large families and those with mobility issues.
S Iswaran explained that COE prices have increased due to resilient vehicle demand and lower supply from fewer deregistrations, while clarifying that car-sharing services complement public transport and do not significantly drive up COE prices.
The government highlighted that car-sharing reduces the need for private car ownership and uses ERP to manage road usage, noting that 4,600 shared cars currently operate without evidence of inflating COE costs.
Both speakers acknowledged the role of car-sharing in improving transport access, with the government indicating it is part of broader efforts to maintain affordable and efficient transport solutions.

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20 Oct 2022

Legislation to Prevent Pedestrians Crossing Roads Whilst Interacting with Mobile Devices

Murali Pillai proposed legislation to ban pedestrians from using mobile devices while crossing roads to improve safety for everyone.
K Shanmugam responded that many distractions exist beyond mobile use, making a legal ban impractical and hard to enforce.
He emphasized fostering personal responsibility and road safety habits through education and public campaigns by the Traffic Police.
The Traffic Police conducts outreach like infographics and videos to highlight dangers of distracted crossing and jaywalking.
The government prefers educational efforts over new laws to address pedestrian safety concerns.

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20 Oct 2022

Safety Standards for Transport of Workers to Worksites Given New Code of Practice on Chief Executives’ and Board of Directors’ Workplace Safety and Health Duties

Louis Ng asked whether the new Code of Practice requires management to implement systems for safe worker transport to worksites and what safety standards are mandated, or why not.
The Minister clarified that the Code of Practice provides guidance for directors to uphold workplace safety duties, including safe worker transport, but allows companies to determine the best approach.
Companies are expected to establish management systems to review transport policies and processes, though specific safety standards are not prescriptively defined in the Code.

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20 Oct 2022

Affordability of Wheelchair-accessible Vehicular Services

The Ministry of Transport aims to ensure an inclusive transport system, noting that all public buses and trains, as well as many point-to-point and taxi services, are wheelchair-accessible.
Financial support is available through various schemes, including concessionary fares for public transport and subsidies for private transport services like taxis and dedicated vehicles for persons with disabilities.
The government provides a COE Grant Scheme for non-profit organisations to subsidize the cost of commercial vehicles used to transport elderly or disabled clients who cannot use public transport unassisted.

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20 Oct 2022

Setting of Idle Fees to Discourage Hogging of Electric Vehicle Charging Points

Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Government to regulate idle fees for EV charging to balance discouraging charger hogging and preventing unfair penalisation or profiteering by providers.
S Iswaran responded that LTA will monitor EV user behavior and operator practices, including idle fees, as the industry grows and adoption increases.
LTA will collaborate with charging operators and users to develop a fair charging culture that optimises network utilisation for all.

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20 Oct 2022

Complaints of Improper Road Resurfacing Works

Melvin Yong asked the Minister for Transport about the annual number of complaints regarding road infrastructure over the past five years, the percentage of complaints related to improper resurfacing after works, and how LTA checks that roads are properly surfaced and levelled after road works.
S Iswaran responded that LTA receives about 10,000 feedback items annually on road defects, with around 5% concerning issues like uneven or aesthetically unpleasant reinstated roads, and LTA follows up to rectify any defects found.
LTA regulates road works through permits and conditions, requiring work-commissioning agencies to comply with the Code of Practice for Works on Public Streets, which includes ensuring road levelness.
Compliance is enforced through three checks: supervision by qualified personnel from contractors, verification by work-commissioning agencies, and ad hoc audits conducted by LTA.
The response highlights LTA’s systematic approach to monitoring and maintaining road quality, including feedback handling, regulatory oversight, and layered checks to prevent improper resurfacing.

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20 Oct 2022

Allotment of Upcoming Electric Vehicle Charging Points in HDB Car Parks for Vehicle Owners and for Rental Service Providers

Saktiandi Supaat inquired about the percentage of the 12,000 EV charging points in HDB carparks allocated for rental services versus private owners.
S Iswaran responded that the charging points under the tender are publicly accessible and not reserved exclusively for any vehicle segment.
The debate highlighted concerns about equitable access to charging infrastructure for different user groups.

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5 Oct 2022

Tracking Level of Usage of Rental Electric Vehicles at HDB and URA Car Parks

Saktiandi Supaat asked if the Ministry for Transport tracks the usage of rental electric vehicles at HDB and URA carparks in terms of metrics like non-idle time or distinct users.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) confirmed it does not currently track the utilisation of rental vehicles, including electric ones, regardless of location.

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5 Oct 2022

Key Lessons from Trial of Battery Swapping for Electric Motorcycles

The Transport Minister noted that Taiwan’s experience with battery-swapping electric motorcycles shows one isolated fire incident, prompting LTA to pilot the technology cautiously in regulatory sandboxes.
The current 12-month trial is limited to 26 electric motorcycles across two providers, with any expansion requiring LTA approval based on safety progress.
Battery-swapping electric motorcycles are expected to be used for both commercial point-to-point services and private purposes once safety is established.

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5 Oct 2022

Reports of Fare Evasions by Passengers of Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles

Don Wee asked for data on fare evasions by taxi and private hire vehicle passengers, including reporting frequency, successful fare recovery rates, and measures to improve reporting procedures.
S Iswaran referred to a written reply from a previous parliamentary sitting on 4 October 2022 regarding trends in fare evasion by private hire car passengers.
The debate highlighted the need for better data collection and assistance mechanisms for drivers to recover fares from evading passengers.

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5 Oct 2022

Consulting with Senior Residents on Locations for Pedestrian Crossings

Ms Ng Ling Ling raised concerns about pedestrian safety for seniors, asking about LTA’s planning norms, criteria for building overhead bridges or underpasses, and whether co-creation with senior residents is used to set up natural crossings in areas with many seniors.
The Minister for Transport explained that LTA prioritizes safety by providing signalized or zebra crossings as a default, with grade-separated crossings for wider, higher-speed roads, and has retrofitted 77 pedestrian overhead bridges with lifts, with plans to retrofit 30 more and ensure all new bridges are barrier-free.
LTA has implemented initiatives like Green Man + crossings and Silver Zones in areas with high senior populations, which include design features to slow traffic and improve safety, resulting in an 80% reduction in senior pedestrian accidents.
The Minister also highlighted community collaboration, such as repurposing roads for wider footpaths and barrier-free access, with examples like Havelock Road.
These measures collectively show LTA’s commitment to enhancing road safety for seniors through infrastructure planning, community engagement, and targeted interventions.

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5 Oct 2022

Ratio of Bicycle Parking Lots Per MRT Station

The Ministry does not use a fixed ratio for bicycle parking lots per MRT station, instead providing a range based on assessed local demand, with about 27,000 lots currently across 127 stations and hubs.
Utilization rates vary by station, with examples like 65% at Sengkang and 77% at Buangkok MRT in 2022, and the ministry will continue monitoring and expanding parking capacity over time.
Under the Land Transport Master Plan 2040, planning parameters for new stations consider factors like ridership and location, with first-mile stations expected to have between 250 and 800 parking lots.

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4 Oct 2022

Compliance with Safety and Emission Requirements by Drivers of Foreign-registered Vehicles Entering Singapore

Leon Perera asked how the Government works with Malaysian counterparts to inform drivers of foreign-registered vehicles about Singapore’s safety and emission requirements and what enforcement efforts exist to improve compliance.
The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and the National Environment Agency engage in regular bilateral exchanges with Malaysia on vehicular emissions policies and enforcement, updating each other ahead of implementation.
Singapore publicises emission rules for foreign motorists through media and posters at checkpoints, and vehicles are routinely screened at land entry points to ensure compliance with emission regulations.
Joint enforcement operations by LTA, NEA, and Traffic Police along roads target emission violations, with drivers offered composition sums for failing tests and excessive-smoke vehicles turned back at checkpoints.

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4 Oct 2022

Enforcement Actions Against Vehicle Owners and Workshops Since Increase of Penalties for Illegal Vehicle Modifications

Enforcement actions against vehicle owners increased by 6% in the 12 months after the penalty hike in July 2021, with 9,000 offences issued compared to the previous period.
The number of workshops charged for illegal modifications rose from two in the year before the penalty increase to six in the 12 months after.
While offences for illegal exhaust modifications decreased by 10% post-penalty increase, overall enforcement efforts were intensified to address the rise in motor vehicle traffic in 2022.

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4 Oct 2022

Improvement in Peak-hour Car Travel Speeds Since Implementation of High ERP Rates Along CTE

After higher ERP rates were implemented along CTE on 1 August 2022, average traffic speeds improved by 13% during the revised ERP hours.
The Thomson-East Coast Line Stage 3 will open by end-2023, providing faster train options for residents in Ang Mo Kio GRC and reducing reliance on CTE.
The future North-South Corridor, expected by the end of the decade, will directly connect northern Singapore to the city centre and help relieve congestion on CTE.

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4 Oct 2022

Need for New Cruise and Ferry Infrastructure to Include Environmental Baseline Studies and Environmental Impact Assessment

Leon Perera asked whether the Singapore Tourism Board's survey for new cruise and ferry infrastructure would include Environmental Baseline Studies and Environmental Impact Assessments to evaluate coastal impacts, and whether the survey report would be made public.
Gan Kim Yong stated that developments near marine and coastal areas undergo consultations with agencies like NEA, NParks, MPA, and SFA to discuss environmental impacts and mitigation, with EIAs including baseline studies conducted where required.
He added that such reports are generally made publicly available unless confidentiality is needed for reasons like security considerations.

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4 Oct 2022

Accidents Reported Involving Workers Transported in Back of Lorries and Other Vehicles

Ms He Ting Ru inquired about the number of accidents involving workers transported in the back of lorries and other vehicles, including casualties and deaths, for each quarter in the last year.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that Traffic Police only tracks accidents involving lorry passengers with casualties or deaths, without recording occupation or seating position.
The response indicated that specific data on workers transported in the rear of vehicles is not available, as the focus is on passenger casualties in general.
The debate highlighted limitations in data collection regarding worker safety during transport in lorries and similar vehicles.
The exchange underscores the need for improved tracking of occupational transport risks to inform safety measures.

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4 Oct 2022

Illegal Modifications to Motor Vehicle Involved in Tanjong Pagar Traffic Accident on 13 February 2021

The Minister confirmed that replacing the car's original charge pipes with aftermarket parts was not an illegal modification under LTA regulations, as they do not affect vehicle safety.
The Traffic Police conducted a mechanical inspection after the accident and found no illegal modifications on the car, so no further action was taken in that regard.
While the extensive damage prevented a full inspection, agencies did not pursue tracing the workshop to assess other potential modifications, as the investigation already confirmed the car's compliance with regulations.

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