Transport — Topics

4 Oct 2022

Key Performance Indicators for Road Opening Coordination Committee

Leon Perera asked the Minister for Transport about the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the Road Opening Coordination Committee and whether KPI data would be published.
S Iswaran referred to a written reply from the 3 October 2022 Parliament sitting that addressed the question, directing attention to the Official Report for details.

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4 Oct 2022

Evaluation of MRT Infrastructure Designs for Robustness in View of Climate Change

Dr. Tan Wu Meng inquired whether MRT infrastructure designs have been evaluated for robustness against climate change, including considerations for rising sea levels and soil changes, and if scenarios go beyond optimistic and median severity levels.
The Minister for Transport confirmed that MRT designs incorporate climate change scenarios such as rising sea levels, rainfall, temperature, and wind strength, referencing the Centre for Climate Research Singapore's Second National Climate Change Study and the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report.
MRT infrastructure also adheres to PUB's drainage and flood protection codes, with the Land Transport Authority regularly reviewing designs to align with international standards and the latest climate science, potentially implementing additional resilience measures.

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4 Oct 2022

Economic Impact of Imposing Ban on Transporting Workers on Back of Lorries

Ms He Ting Ru asked whether the Ministry of Transport had studied or would consider studying the economic impact and practical challenges of banning worker transport on lorry backs.
Minister S Iswaran responded that the Ministry is engaging stakeholders to understand sector-specific needs rather than commissioning a formal academic study.
He added that new safety measures for workers on lorries will be announced later in the year, urging employers to prioritize worker welfare.

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4 Oct 2022

Enforcement against Motorists for Exceeding Noise Emission Limits in Last Five Years

In the past five years, enforcement actions were taken against 167 vehicles in 2017, 177 in 2018, eight in 2019, nine in 2020, and 76 in 2021 for exceeding noise emission limits.
The National Environment Agency sets and enforces noise emission standards for vehicles based on feedback, targeting factors like illegal modifications and poor maintenance.
NEA is exploring the use of acoustic cameras for enforcement but notes they require rigorous testing due to limited accuracy in detecting individual vehicle noise violations.
The agency continues to consider trialling acoustic cameras to support enforcement during late-night and early-morning hours when traffic is light.

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4 Oct 2022

Trend of Fare Evasion by Private Hire Car Passengers

Minister S Iswaran reported that fare evasion cases for taxis and private hire cars fell from 233 in 2017 to 96 in 2021, representing about one in two million trips overall.
Drivers can report fare evasion to operators, the police, or directly to the Land Transport Authority, with about 60% of investigated cases resulting in fare recovery.
Since the private hire car regulatory framework began in late 2020, only 21 PHC fare evasion cases were investigated in 2021, with no penalties imposed so far.

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4 Oct 2022

Relevance of Preferential Additional Registration Fee Scheme to Minimise Pollution from Older Vehicles

Murali Pillai questioned whether the Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) scheme, aimed at keeping car fleets young and reducing pollution, remains relevant given Singapore’s electric vehicle goals and the environmental impact of battery production.
S Iswaran affirmed that the PARF scheme effectively reduces old car numbers, breakdowns, and pollution by promoting newer, cleaner-engine vehicles, with the average car age currently at nine to 10 years.
The Minister noted that as Singapore transitions to electric vehicles, the Land Transport Authority will study how vehicle age affects breakdown rates and reassess the PARF scheme’s relevance accordingly.

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4 Oct 2022

Extending Maximum Age of Vocational Driving Licences for Drivers Certified Medically Fit

Dr Amy Khor stated that a medical study recommended against raising the current 75-year age limit for vocational driving licences, as older drivers have significantly higher accident rates, and the LTA has decided not to increase the limit for now but will continue periodic reviews.
Ms Yeo Wan Ling highlighted that drivers want to continue working past 75 due to good health and financial needs, and suggested allowing annual medical checks for a restricted licence with limited hours or routes.
The Minister acknowledged the drivers' request, noted past extensions of the age limit, and said the LTA will consider such suggestions in future reviews while weighing safety and administrative feasibility.

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3 Oct 2022

Utilisation Rate of Parking Lots in Multi-storey Car Parks of Newer HDB Estates

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked about the utilisation rates of parking lots in newer HDB estates like Sengkang and Punggol, the average usage-to-empty lot ratio, and plans to repurpose underutilised lots.
Desmond Lee responded that HDB monitors car park utilisation, with an average season parking take-up rate of 66% islandwide and 50% to 70% in Sengkang and Punggol.
HDB considers repurposing underutilised car parks for other uses, such as community gardens or urban farms, subject to feasibility and resident impact assessments.

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3 Oct 2022

Plan to Train 1,000 Automotive Technicians to Maintain Electric Vehicles and Build Up Workshop Capabilities

The Singapore Motor Workshop Association Training Academy has trained around 100 technicians for EV maintenance since January 2021, with plans being reviewed amid COVID-19 impacts and growing alternative training options.
Government agencies are collaborating with higher education institutions and industry partners to upskill the workforce for EV maintenance roles.
Thirteen automotive workshops received the Enterprise Development Grant between December 2020 and September 2022 to develop EV and charging system capabilities, while none used the Enterprise Financing Scheme for this purpose.

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3 Oct 2022

Safe Riding Habits for Students Using Active Mobility Devices to Get to School

The Land Transport Authority partners with schools to promote safe riding through assembly talks and the Confidence on Wheels programme, which includes practical riding exercises.
Since December 2021, over 40 sessions have been conducted, and safe riding toolkits are shared with educators to foster a path-sharing culture.
Collaborations with groups like the Singapore Kindness Movement help integrate safe riding content into student outreach.
The Ministry encourages schools to engage with LTA to explore further partnerships for public education.
Efforts focus on building safe and gracious riding habits among young students from an early age.

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3 Oct 2022

Peak Ridership Levels of Public Buses and Moves to Rationalise Services

Melvin Yong asked if peak-hour public bus ridership has returned to pre-COVID levels and whether services need rationalising for the post-pandemic "new normal".
Transport Minister S Iswaran stated that as of August 2022, peak-hour ridership is about 85% of pre-COVID levels, up from 75% in March 2022.
The Land Transport Authority is monitoring bus network demand and will collaborate with operators to adjust bus capacity as needed.

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3 Oct 2022

Audits to Improve Road Safety

Member Joan Pereira inquired whether the Ministry of Transport would engage the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) for periodic road safety audits and sought details on audit frequency and assessment of recommendations.
Minister S Iswaran explained that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Traffic Police (TP) already conduct comprehensive road safety measures, including regular audits, infrastructure enhancements like Silver Zones, and driver training and enforcement.
He noted that road fatality rates have improved over the past decade, with agencies closely monitoring trends and using existing data to implement safety improvements without the need for external audits at this time.
The government has assessed that engaging iRAP is unnecessary given the current holistic approach and ongoing efforts to enhance road safety through multiple initiatives.

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3 Oct 2022

Traffic Mitigation Efforts with Moving-in of Residents at New Mass Condominium in Tampines

The developer of Treasure at Tampines conducted a Transport Impact Assessment and will implement measures such as new footpaths, covered linkways, a cycling path, and a larger bus stop to enhance walk-cycle-ride connectivity and public transport access.
A new public road, Tampines Lane, will be constructed to link Tampines Street 11 directly to the PIE slip road, easing vehicular traffic on local roads and benefiting both new and existing residents.
LTA’s assessment is that traffic in the area will be manageable given the plans, and it will collaborate with the developer on a follow-up study after project completion to assess if further improvements are needed.

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3 Oct 2022

Sustainability Criteria Applied to Infrastructure Projects under Singapore Green Bond Framework

Ms He Ting Ru raised concerns about using green bond proceeds to fund the Cross Island Line due to environmental issues and asked for the specific sustainability criteria applied to ensure projects remain truly green.
Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong explained that the government conducts thorough reviews of all projects' environmental impacts and works with stakeholders to mitigate risks, regardless of financing source, and that the Cross Island Line follows this process with public sharing of assessments.
He stated that the Singapore Green Bond Framework includes stringent eligibility criteria, such as the "Clean Transportation" category, and that the Cross Island Line qualifies as it is an electric rail line with zero direct emissions.
The framework was independently assessed as credible and aligned with international standards, and investor demand affirmed confidence in its green credentials, with annual reports on allocation and impact to be published for transparency.

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3 Oct 2022

Installation of On-demand Audible Traffic Signals at Pedestrian Crossings

The Minister for Transport announced that 1,300 pedestrian crossings (20%) currently have audio signals operating from 7am to 9pm, with plans to add 160 more and upgrade 460 to allow activation after hours for visually impaired users.
By the third quarter of 2025, 325 crossings in 10 towns will feature 24/7 softer locating tones to help visually impaired pedestrians identify crossings at all times.
The Land Transport Authority has collaborated with the Ministry of Social and Family Development to implement these inclusive features while balancing noise concerns for nearby residents.

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3 Oct 2022

Monitoring Road Surfacing and Related Works to Ensure Safety and Comfortable Ride for Motorists

Mr Lim Biow Chuan raised concerns about LTA’s regulation of frequent road digging, supervision of road surface reinstatement, and measures to ensure comfortable rides for motorists.
The government coordinates planned road works through the multi-agency Road Opening Coordination Committee to minimise excavations, and requires permits from LTA with fees that increase for longer durations to encourage timely completion.
Contractors must reinstate roads to LTA’s Code of Practice standards, with compliance ensured through supervision by qualified personnel, agency verification, and ad-hoc audits by LTA.

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3 Oct 2022

Motorists Jailed for Careless Driving since 2019 Amendment to Road Traffic Act

Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Home Affairs for the number of motorists jailed for careless driving since the 2019 Road Traffic Act amendment.
The amendments took effect on 1 November 2019, and as of August 2022, 470 motorists had been jailed for careless driving.
This statistic reflects the enforcement of stricter penalties for careless driving following the legislative change.

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3 Oct 2022

Enforcement against Illegal Use of Active Mobility Devices

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) detected about 7,500 offences related to illegal use of active mobility devices from May 2018 to December 2019, averaging 370 per month, before stricter rules took effect in January 2020.
After the ban on e-scooters on footpaths and new rules in 2020, offences averaged 870 per month in 2020, falling to 670 in 2021 and 610 in 2022 as public awareness grew.
LTA seizes non-compliant devices, prosecutes egregious offenders, and supports other agencies like Town Councils in enforcing rules at HDB estates and other public spaces.
Enforcement is complemented by ongoing education to promote shared responsibility for path safety among all users.

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3 Oct 2022

Ensuring Road Safety in Marina South Area Given Presence of Construction Sites and Heavy Vehicles

Lim Biow Chuan asked about the number of construction sites in Marina South and whether the ministry monitors heavy vehicles on nearby roads.
Desmond Lee confirmed there are five construction sites supporting infrastructure development like roads and drains in the area.
The Ministry of National Development does not monitor the number of heavy vehicles on roads leading to Marina South.

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3 Oct 2022

Review of Licensing Regulation for Senior Drivers to Ensure Road Safety

Seah Kian Peng asked whether the government will consider revising the "no age limit" rule for driving licences and setting a maximum age for licence renewal, with exceptions based on medical advice or a safety driving test.
Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim suggested imposing a maximum age limit or enhanced medical examinations every two years for Class 3 drivers to improve road safety.
K Shanmugam stated that drivers aged 65 and above must pass a medical examination every three years for Class 2 and 3 licences, with no maximum age, while heavy vehicle drivers face a 75-year age limit and annual revalidation.
The government aims to balance road safety and seniors' mobility, and will continue monitoring and reviewing the regulations.

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