Transport — Topics

4 Jan 2021

New Public Education Efforts for Pedestrians, Cyclists and PMD Riders on Safe Riding/Use of Footpaths, Cycling Paths or Park Connectors and Their Effectiveness

The Ministry of Transport outlined new public education campaigns for pedestrians, cyclists, and PMD riders on safe use of footpaths, cycling paths, and park connectors over the past year.
These efforts complement existing programs like the Safe Riding Programme, which has engaged over 82,000 participants since 2018, and include community and school engagements.
The initiatives are supported by Active Mobility volunteers and have contributed to a near 50% reduction in public path accidents between pedestrians and active mobility users.
The government plans to continue these education efforts to further promote safety and responsible use of shared paths.

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4 Jan 2021

Plans to Re-evaluate Motorcycle COE Regime to Address High COE Prices

Sitoh Yih Pin raised concerns about high motorcycle COE prices affecting livelihoods and questioned the low bid deposit of S$200, which might encourage speculation.
Ong Ye Kung explained that COE prices are driven by supply and demand, with supply constrained by a 0% growth rate since 2018 and adjustments made to ease COVID-19 disruptions.
He noted that recent COE prices have remained stable and that the low bid deposit helps keep costs affordable for lower-income users, while higher deposits could increase buyer prices.
Ong also highlighted that most temporary COEs issued in July 2020 were used for genuine registrations, indicating limited speculative activity in the motorcycle COE market.

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4 Jan 2021

Responsibility of Employers of Tipper Truck Drivers Issued Fines for Failure to Ensure Proper Cover while Transporting Earth and Sand

Between January and November 2020, about 27 tipper truck drivers were fined for transporting earth and sand without adequate cover or causing spillage, with enforcement targeting drivers as they are in direct control during trips.
The Ministry explained that while drivers are responsible for checking covers and securing loads, transport companies must ensure their fleets have suitable and functional flap covers and conduct regular inspections.
The Ministry does not plan to implement a uniform flap cover standard, as it may not suit all trucks and would not prevent spillage if misused or unchecked, but it urges companies to remind drivers to perform pre-drive checks and remain vigilant.

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4 Jan 2021

Renewal of COEs for Five Years

Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked about the number of COEs renewed for five and ten years in the last three quarters of 2020 and whether five-year renewals could be allowed more than once at the initial renewal price to curb speculation.
Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that 13,637 COEs were renewed for five years and 13,281 for ten years in that period.
Allowing multiple five-year renewals would reduce COE recycling and disrupt the balance between existing and new car owners.
The one-time five-year renewal option was introduced as an exception for owners whose vehicles might not last ten years, with deregistration required after five years.
Permitting another five-year renewal would effectively allow paying for a ten-year COE in two installments, which is unfair to those who pay upfront, so LTA prefers to maintain the current rule.

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4 Jan 2021

Expansion of Usage of EZ-Link Card to All Private and Public Car Parks

Saktiandi Supaat asked whether EZ-Link cards can be integrated with older in-vehicle units, expanded to all car parks, and have their maximum stored value raised.
Ong Ye Kung explained that CEPAS technology is open, most vehicles have compatible in-vehicle units, and publicly owned EPS carparks accept both EZ-Link and NETS CEPAS cards, but private carparks decide payment modes.
He noted that about 460 out of 3,300 EPS carparks accept only NETS CEPAS cards due to cost and system upgrade considerations.
On stored value, EZ-Link’s $500 limit is a business decision balancing risk, with average top-ups around $20 and automatic top-up options available for frequent users.

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4 Jan 2021

Provision of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in Car Parks of Public and Private Residential Properties

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked if there are plans to mandate EV charging infrastructure in public and private residential car parks.
Ong Ye Kung stated that Singapore currently has about 1,800 EV charging points and aims to increase this to 28,000 by 2030.
The Land Transport Authority is reviewing infrastructure plans to support EV growth, including expanding charging networks in public car parks and adding facilities in private car parks.
Authorities are studying various options, including whether to mandate the installation of charging points in both public and private residential car parks.
The review considers rapid advancements in battery technology and the expected cost parity between EVs and internal combustion engine vehicles.

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4 Jan 2021

Proposal for Green Link Determining (GLIDE) Traffic System for All Roads

Lim Biow Chuan asked about plans to implement the Green Link Determining (GLIDE) traffic system for all roads and align standalone pedestrian crossings to it.
Ong Ye Kung confirmed that all traffic lights at junctions and standalone pedestrian crossings are already connected to the GLIDE system.
He noted that GLIDE dynamically adjusts signal timings to balance traffic demands but is an outdated system with limitations in measuring traffic volume via road detectors.
The government intends to upgrade the GLIDE technology, with more details to be announced when ready.

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4 Jan 2021

Proposal for Rule Where Cyclists Have to Dismount when Using Zebra Crossings

Joan Pereira proposed making it mandatory for cyclists to dismount at zebra crossings for safety, prompting the Minister for Transport to respond.
The government already requires active mobility device users to slow down, stop, and look at crossings, a rule established in 2019 based on broad public consensus.
Requiring cyclists to dismount was considered but not adopted due to concerns about safety for those carrying passengers or loads and inconvenience for elderly users.
All road and path users are reminded to stop and stay alert at crossings, with LTA and Traffic Police continuing public education and safe riding programs.
The debate highlights the balance between safety measures and practicality for different road users in Singapore’s shared spaces.

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4 Jan 2021

Expenses Incurred to-date by Singapore on High Speed Rail Project

Singapore incurred approximately S$270 million in expenses for the High Speed Rail project, with some costs deemed abortive due to the project's cancellation, and Malaysia has agreed to provide termination compensation as specified in their bilateral agreement, though exact terms remain confidential.
The project was terminated due to Malaysia's proposal to remove the Assets Company (AssetsCo), which Singapore viewed as a fundamental change to the original agreement, and after two extensions at Malaysia's request, both parties agreed not to extend further.
The cancellation does not affect other projects like the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System or the Jurong Regional Centre, and Singapore remains open to future HSR discussions with Malaysia on a clean slate.

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4 Nov 2020

Jobs Created by Upcoming Electric Car-making Factory in Singapore

Desmond Choo asked about the number of jobs created by Singapore’s upcoming electric car-making factory and the Ministry’s long-term plans to grow the electric and autonomous driving industries.
Chan Chun Sing clarified that the Hyundai plant is not Singapore’s first car-making facility, but it will produce 30,000 electric vehicles annually by 2025 and create roles such as IoT engineers, data scientists, and cobot technicians, though the exact number of jobs is still being finalized.
The Ministry plans to grow the electric and autonomous mobility sector by attracting investments across the value chain, including firms like Motional and ST Engineering, and building an ecosystem with global players like BMW and Continental.
Future job opportunities will span R&D in battery tech, design of new vehicle forms, advanced manufacturing, IoT-focused maintenance, and new roles in autonomous systems and sensor development.
Singapore’s focus on electric and autonomous mobility aims to address land and carbon constraints while creating innovative career paths in a evolving urban mobility ecosystem.

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4 Nov 2020

Extension of Grace Period for Free Parking by Vehicles Ferrying Persons With Disabilities

Ms Yeo Wan Ling proposed extending the free parking grace period from 10 to 30 minutes for vehicles escorting persons with disabilities to medical facilities.
The Minister explained that current policy provides a 10-minute grace period for caregivers, after which standard charges apply, and highlighted the existing car park label scheme for accessible parking up to one hour.
The Minister supported the scheme’s role in aiding caregivers and persons with disabilities, noting its availability to both private caregivers and transport operators.

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3 Nov 2020

Protection of Data Collected for Next-generation ERP System

He Ting Ru asked detailed questions about the data fields, storage, anonymization, access, security protocols, and third-party access for the next-generation ERP system.
Ong Ye Kung explained that the system collects transaction and traffic data, with strict security safeguards including on-board units, anonymization of traffic data after transfer, and restricted access on a need-to-know basis.
Anonymized traffic data will be aggregated for transport planning and shared with third-party developers, while vehicle-specific data is limited to payments and enforcement, with all data handling following government standards and laws.

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3 Nov 2020

Reducing Volume and Frequency of Pre-recorded Public Announcements on MRT Trains and in MRT Stations

Gerald Giam asked the Minister for Transport to reduce the volume and frequency of pre-recorded public announcements on MRT trains and stations to create a quieter commute and help limit the spread of airborne viruses.
Ong Ye Kung explained that announcements serve essential purposes, including sharing service information and safety reminders, with volume calibrated to be heard above ambient noise.
He added that during COVID-19, commuters should refrain from talking and wear masks to keep the public transport experience safe and pleasant.

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3 Nov 2020

Data on Profile of Private Hire Car Drivers

As of August 2020, there were 97,000 taxi driver's vocational licence holders, with 32,000 registered as active taxi drivers that month, while 52,000 private hire car driver's vocational licence (PDVL) holders existed, with 43,000 completing at least one private hire car trip in the same period.
Approximately 95% of PDVL holders are Singaporeans and the rest are permanent residents, with 85% aged above 30.
A new policy effective 15 September 2020 requires new PDVL applicants to be Singapore citizens at least 30 years old, though existing PDVL holders are not affected if they continue to renew their licences.

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3 Nov 2020

Utilisation Rate of Private Hire Cars Versus Taxis and Plans to Standardise Regulations for Both

Between 2018 and September 2020, taxis had an average monthly hired rate of about 90%, while private hire cars (PHCs) had a rate of about 79%.
The government limits taxi fleet growth to 2% annually and subjects PHCs to the COE system, causing both taxi and PHC populations to decrease since January 2020.
The government's policy is to encourage mass public transport, but point-to-point services like taxis and PHCs remain a part of the land transport system, providing jobs and convenience.

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3 Nov 2020

Lessons on Operations and Safe Distancing Measures Gleaned from 14 October 2020 MRT Service Disruption Incident

The Minister explained that the 14 October 2020 MRT disruption was caused by a combination of concurrent faults and a human error, leading to the need for a major replacement of power cables and circuit breaker components, which will be completed by the end of next year.
The Minister outlined that emergency protocols were activated promptly, including detrainment after 40 minutes, the deployment of additional staff and bridging buses, and the evacuation of vulnerable commuters, while acknowledging that maintaining safe distancing during such disruptions was challenging.
The Minister emphasized three key lessons: the complexity of MRT systems requires continuous learning and improvement; there must be no complacency, with regular reviews of procedures and training; and the transport agencies must work as a unified team, taking collective responsibility without finger-pointing to better serve commuters.

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2 Nov 2020

Plans to Build More Sheltered Walkways Beyond Current Parameters Set by LTA's Walk2Ride Programme to Encourage More Residents to Walk or Cycle

Murali Pillai asked if there are plans to extend sheltered walkways beyond the current LTA Walk2Ride programme parameters of 400 metres from MRT stations and trip generation hubs or 200 metres from transport nodes and education facilities to encourage walking and cycling.
Ong Ye Kung explained that LTA's covered linkway programme prioritizes connecting large numbers of commuters to major public transport nodes like MRT/LRT stations and bus interchanges.
The focus is on building covered linkways near these transport nodes to ensure prudent use of public funds and benefit more commuters.

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2 Nov 2020

Reasons Carparks Not Upgrading Their Systems to Accept Specification for Contactless e-Purse Application Cards

Only one out of 3,300 carparks using Electronic Parking Systems does not accept CEPAS cards for payment.
The decision to upgrade or not rests with the carpark owner, who considers factors such as cost and motorist experience.
The Ministry for Transport confirms that the vast majority of carparks already support CEPAS card payments.

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2 Nov 2020

Incident Rate of Commercial Vehicles in Past Five Years and Regulations and Mitigation Measures Planned

The incident rate of heavy commercial vehicles involved in accidents causing injuries or fatalities decreased from 1.7% (about 800 vehicles) in 2015 to 1.3% (about 560 vehicles) in 2019.
Heavy vehicles with a maximum laden weight over 12,000 kg are required by law to have speed limiters capping their speed at 60 km/h, with enforcement actions taken against tampering.
Authorities will continue studying additional safety technologies like lane departure warning, front collision warning, and electronic braking systems, while considering their effectiveness and impact on businesses and commuters.

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2 Nov 2020

Factors Pushing Up Motorcycle COE Prices in Last Few Months and Cooling Measures to Ensure Affordability for Lower Income Group

Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Transport about factors driving recent motorcycle COE price increases and whether cooling measures will be considered to keep it affordable for lower-income groups.
Ong Ye Kung explained that motorcycle COE prices are influenced by supply and demand, with supply affected by a 0% vehicle growth rate since 2018 and pent-up demand from COVID-19 bidding suspensions.
The Ministry frontloaded accumulated COEs from April-June 2020 and is distributing the rest over the next nine months, noting prices have stabilized but remain higher than pre-COVID levels.
The Ministry acknowledges motorcycles are vital for lower-income Singaporeans and have lower taxes compared to cars, and will continue monitoring the situation without committing to cooling measures.

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