Transport — Topics

13 Sep 2021

Enforcement Measures to Prevent Drivers of Heavy Vehicles from Being Overworked

The Ministry of Manpower outlined that the Employment Act limits working hours for heavy vehicle drivers and imposes fines on employers who violate these rules, while the Workplace Safety and Health Council provides guidelines and industry education on fatigue management.
Accident statistics show a decline in heavy vehicle incidents, and investigations have not identified long working hours or fatigue as a key cause, leading the government to currently refrain from mandating changes to driver pay models.
Regulations already require speed limiters for heavy vehicles, and the government supports the adoption of safety technologies like anti-fatigue monitoring systems through grants, rather than making them mandatory for all vehicle owners.

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13 Sep 2021

Proposal for Private Condominiums to Allocate Parking Space Within Their Compounds for Delivery Riders and Drivers

Miss Rachel Ong proposed legislation to prevent private condominiums from encouraging illegal parking by delivery riders on public pavements and to require them to allocate safe parking spaces within their compounds for delivery personnel.
Desmond Lee confirmed that parking on public pavements is illegal under the Road Traffic Rules and enforcement action will be taken, while urging residents and management corporations not to request such illegal parking.
Authorities are developing best practices with stakeholders to guide condominium management in facilitating safe deliveries, including considering the provision of appropriate parking spaces based on each development’s specific needs and circumstances.

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13 Sep 2021

Update on Outcome of Mandatory Installation of Speed Limiter on Heavy Vehicles since Its Introduction

Mandatory speed limiters for heavy vehicles over 12,000 kg have been required since 1999, capping their speed at 60 km/h.
From 1999 to 2020, 24 cases of tampering with speed limiters were prosecuted, with penalties including fines up to $2,000 and imprisonment up to six months for repeat offenders.
The Traffic Police began tracking speeding violations by heavy vehicles with limiters only from 2011, so a before-and-after comparison of speeding offences since 1999 is not available.

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13 Sep 2021

Yearly Breakdown of Speeding Violations Involving Singapore-registered Lorries from 2016 to 2020

From 2016 to 2020, 19,758 speeding violations involving Singapore-registered lorries were detected by Traffic Police.
The highest recorded speed among these violations was 132 km/h.
Traffic Police does not track whether the speeding lorries were ferrying workers during the violations.

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13 Sep 2021

Rationale for Only Accepting Individuals With Class 3 Driving Licence as Bus Captains

Melvin Yong asked why bus captain applicants with a Class 3A licence are rejected and sought the rationale for requiring a Class 3 licence.
S Iswaran explained that Class 3A licence holders must obtain a Class 3 licence before training for a Class 4A licence due to historical rules for manual transmission buses.
He noted that most public buses now use automatic transmission, and recent requests to allow Class 3A holders to train were mostly approved, with only three rejections due to driving offences.
The Ministry of Transport agrees with union feedback that the rule may deter applicants and is discussing a review with the Ministry of Home Affairs to clarify and encourage recruitment.

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13 Sep 2021

Proposal for New Category of COEs for Motorcycles Used for Delivery Work

Chong Kee Hiong proposed a new COE category for delivery motorcycles or an increased quota to address rising prices.
S Iswaran explained that COE prices are driven by demand and supply, noting a temporary supply increase followed by a drop, which together with high demand led to higher prices.
He cautioned that splitting the motorcycle COE quota could distort the market and conflicted with vehicle-light, green environment goals.
The government highlighted existing subsidies for motorcycles and the difficulty of implementing targeted subsidies for delivery riders in the gig economy.
LTA is monitoring the market for any undesirable bidding behavior, with only a few exercises held since supply adjustments.

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13 Sep 2021

Options for Drivers to Safely Drop Off and Pick Up Passengers from Bus Stops

Darryl David asked whether cars, motorcycles, and similar vehicles are allowed to make quick stops at bus stops to drop off or pick up passengers and what options are available for safe passenger handling.
S Iswaran explained that bus stops are designed for public bus commuters and allowing other vehicles to stop could cause congestion and affect bus service reliability.
He noted that it is an offence to stop at heavily used bus stops, such as those on bus lanes during operation hours or with "No Stopping Except Public Buses" signs.
Motorists may make quick stops at other bus stops but cannot park or wait, as this would disrupt bus operations, and enforcement action will be taken against violations.

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13 Sep 2021

Impact on Singapore Due To Change in Government in Malaysia

Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan affirmed that Singapore will continue to work constructively with Malaysia's new government led by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, emphasizing that bilateral ties remain strong regardless of political changes.
Both countries are actively cooperating on key projects like the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link, which is under construction and scheduled to start service in 2026, and on COVID-19 border control measures including mutual recognition of vaccine certificates.
The Minister highlighted ongoing efforts to safely resume cross-border travel in the endemic phase, with both governments working to establish public health protocols that protect citizens while easing movement restrictions.

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3 Aug 2021

Electric Vehicle Common Charger Grant for Condominiums and Private Apartments with Less than 100 Parking Lots

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked if the Electric Vehicle Common Charger Grant applies to condominiums and private apartments with fewer than 100 parking lots.
The Minister for Transport, S Iswaran, confirmed that the grant is indeed applicable to such properties.
The debate clarified eligibility, ensuring smaller residential developments can access support for EV charging infrastructure.

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2 Aug 2021

Protection from Inclement Weather for Workers Transported in Lorries

Since 2011, lorries transporting workers must have canopies to protect against rain, with penalties for non-compliance, and the Ministry actively enforces this and encourages the use of additional rain covers or delaying trips in severe weather.
The Ministry does not currently require specific guidelines beyond the canopy rule but urges employers to prioritize worker welfare by considering extra measures like waterproof tarps.
The question was raised by a Member of Parliament seeking clarification on measures and possible new guidelines for worker protection during rainy transport in lorries.

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2 Aug 2021

Transportation Infrastructure Plans to Support Build-up of Tuas Mega Port and Increased Business Activities in Tuas

The Land Transport Authority has completed infrastructure upgrades such as the Tuas West Extension, new MRT stations, bus services, and the Tuas Road Viaduct to support growing travel demand in Tuas, with further improvements expected from the upcoming Jurong Region Line.
Authorities continue to monitor transport needs and engage stakeholders to ensure adequacy, with future MRT extensions contingent on holistic demand assessments from both port workers and surrounding industrial developments.
Plans for expanding road networks and increasing expressway capacity to serve Tuas Mega Port are under ongoing review, with developments phased to align with the port’s operational scaling.

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27 Jul 2021

Adoption Rates of Electric Passenger Vehicles

The Minister reported that electric vehicle adoption is rising, with 1.3% of new vehicle registrations in early 2021 being electric, up from 0.3% in 2020, and this growth is expected to continue due to incentives and lower battery costs.
The government aims to install 60,000 charging points by 2030, with plans to add 600 more at public carparks next year and encourage private premises to expand charging infrastructure.
For public buses, the government has committed to purchasing only cleaner energy buses since 2020, with 60 electric buses expected by the end of the year and a goal to eliminate diesel buses by 2040.

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27 Jul 2021

Plans for Zero Emissions Transport System in Jurong Innovation District and Existing Jurong Industrial Areas

The government outlined a three-pronged strategy to achieve zero-emissions transport in Jurong, focusing on promoting walk-cycle-ride modes, expanding public transport including the new Jurong Region Line, and capping vehicle growth while incentivizing electric vehicles (EVs).
The Jurong Innovation District will be a car-lite area with 50% reduced parking norms and an 11-kilometer Sky Corridor for walking and cycling, while the wider Jurong area will become an EV-ready town with charging points in HDB carparks by 2025.
All new public buses since 2020 are electric or hybrid, and future public transport infrastructure like the Tengah Depot will integrate solar panels to offset energy consumption.
In response to a follow-up question, the Minister confirmed that the government is exploring measures to promote EV motorcycles, including swappable batteries, in consultation with industry stakeholders.

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27 Jul 2021

Enforcing Safe Distancing Measures on Trains and Public Buses and Managing Commuter Volume during Phase Three (Heightened Alert)

The Ministry of Transport outlines measures such as enhanced cleaning, mask-wearing, and discouraging talking on public transport, supported by staff and Auxiliary Police to ensure compliance during Phase Three (Heightened Alert).
Commuters are encouraged to first gently remind others who violate measures, then report to transport staff if needed, while operators and LTA may issue fines or involve police for non-compliance.
Employers are urged to adopt flexible work arrangements to stagger commuting times and reduce peak-hour congestion, emphasizing collective responsibility for a safe public transport environment.

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26 Jul 2021

Licences and Special Lanes to Improve Safety and Insurance Coverage for Cyclists

The Minister for Transport highlighted that cycling is healthy and environmentally friendly, emphasizing the need to balance cycling facilitation with safety for all road users, including by building more off-road cycling paths and expanding the network to 1,320 km by 2030.
The Active Mobility Advisory Panel is reviewing safety rules for on-road cycling, including licensing, registration, and third-party liability insurance, while consulting stakeholders who have mixed views on the costs and barriers of such measures.
The government will prioritize public education and gracious road behavior, with outcomes of the review to be published in due course, noting that most countries do not impose these measures on cyclists.

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26 Jul 2021

Reasons for Unsuccessful Six-month Trial of On-demand Public Buses in Joo Koon, Marina-Downtown and Central Business District to Bedok/Tampines

The six-month on-demand bus trial failed because of low ridership, with usage ranging from 14% to 27% of scheduled bus services.
Such services require high public subsidies to be viable, diverting resources from more widely beneficial options like feeder buses.
New towns like Tengah will instead get planned feeder bus services to connect to the rail network, such as the future Jurong Region Line.
The Ministry is open to exploring proposals from service providers to improve first-and-last mile connectivity in new towns.

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26 Jul 2021

Number and Profile of Commuters with Issued Public Transport Concessions Cards

As of end-June 2021, there were about two million valid public transport concession cards in Singapore.
Senior citizens and students form the majority, accounting for 47% and 31% of the cards respectively, while other groups include children (6%), adult monthly travel and full-time NSF concession cards (3% each).
The Workfare Transport Concession Scheme and Persons with Disabilities Concession Scheme account for 9% and 1% of cardholders, with annual government subsidies ranging from $14.5 million to $18.3 million since 2014.

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26 Jul 2021

Update on Introduction and Rollout of EV Common Charger Grant

The EV Common Charger Grant will open for applications on 29 July 2021 to co-fund the installation of up to 2,000 chargers at private residences like condominiums, with 50% reimbursement capped at S$4,000 per charger.
Eligible developments can benefit from the grant for up to 1% of their residential parking lots, with applications to be submitted through the Government’s Business Grants Portal.
The Ministry of Transport will monitor the grant's take-up and effectiveness and consider extending it based on need in the future.

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26 Jul 2021

Refresher Road Safety Training for Drivers of Heavy Vehicles and Buses

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary outlined existing road safety training for heavy vehicle and bus drivers, including integrated learner courses, optional defensive driving classes, and mandatory vocational licence modules, with refresher courses and corrective training for high-risk drivers.
Bus operators are trialling new technologies to monitor driving behaviours and provide corrective training, while public bus captains receive regular safety briefings and ongoing operator-run refresher courses.
In response to concerns about mental well-being, the Senior Parliamentary Secretary noted that drivers can access public mental health resources and are referred to psychological support and counselling if needed, especially after traumatic incidents.

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26 Jul 2021

Accidents Involving Public Buses and Probe into Recent Accident at Bukit Batok Bus Interchange

Multiple MPs raised questions about a bus accident at Bukit Batok Bus Interchange on 11 July 2021, requesting details on its cause, contributing factors, support for the injured, and the safety of interchange designs.
The Senior Minister of State for Transport confirmed the accident involved two buses, noted ongoing police investigations, and reported that support is being provided to the injured, while highlighting existing safety measures like speed limits, driver training, and telematics systems.
Official data presented showed a steady decline in public bus accidents, from 270 in the first five months of 2017 to 148 in the same period in 2021, with human factors often cited as the primary cause.

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