Transport — Topics

27 Feb 2020

Number of Cars Registered under Vehicle Emission Schemes from January 2018

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked for monthly data on car registrations under the Vehicle Emission Schemes (VES) from January 2018 in bands A1, A2, B, C1, and C2, and whether the Ministry will collect such data if not already doing so.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M explained that the VES has been in place since January 2018, assessing new cars, taxis, and newly imported cars on five pollutants, with bands determined by the worst-performing pollutant.
He noted that quarterly registration trends under the VES bands indicate positive progress in promoting cleaner cars.

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27 Feb 2020

Data on Number of Registered Electric Cars, Hybrid Car and Petrol Car in Past Three Years

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Transport for the numbers of registered electric, hybrid, and petrol cars over the past three years, broken down by engine size and whether such data is collected.
Minister Khaw Boon Wan provided the requested statistics in a tabulated format for each of the three categories of vehicles.
The debate centered on the availability and granularity of vehicle registration data, with a focus on tracking trends in electric and hybrid car adoption versus petrol cars.

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27 Feb 2020

Prevalence of and Enforcement against Jaywalking

The Ministry reported that about 2,500 jaywalking violations were detected in 2019, with 59 fatal traffic accidents involving jaywalkers from 2017 to 2019, 68% of which involved the elderly.
Measures to improve safety include public education campaigns like the "Be Seen, Be Safe" carnival, community outreach with organizations like Lion Befrienders, and the implementation of Silver Zones, with plans to expand from 17 to 50 by 2023.
Enforcement is conducted at accident-prone locations, with penalties increased to $50, though the use of technology like CCTV and facial recognition is being considered cautiously due to privacy concerns.
The Ministry acknowledges the need for more education on dangers like using mobile phones while crossing, aligning with calls for stricter enforcement and community engagement.

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27 Feb 2020

Exempt Taxi Drivers who have Taken Medical Assessments for Personal Licence from Retaking Same Tests for Vocational Licence within Same Year

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah proposed that taxi drivers aged 65 and above who have taken medical assessments for their personal driving licence should be exempted from retaking the same tests for their vocational licence within the same year.
The Senior Minister of State for Transport explained that LTA and Traffic Police are aligning medical assessment processes, allowing taxi drivers who pass their TDVL medical to use it for renewing their Class 3 personal driving licence by end of this year.
Er Dr Lee Bee Wah raised concerns about the high fees for heavy vehicle tests and urged further reductions, noting the financial burden on drivers aged 69 to 74.
The Senior Minister of State for Transport acknowledged the feedback on test fees and stated they would be considered, while also highlighting ongoing tripartite efforts to support taxi drivers and operators during the COVID-19 crisis.

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26 Feb 2020

Drivers Fined for Leaving Engines of Stationary or Parked Vehicles Idling

The National Environment Agency (NEA) reported that idling engine offences decreased from 6,400 cases in 2016 to 2,800 in 2019 after increasing penalties and stepping up public education and enforcement.
Dr. Intan Azura Mokhtar questioned whether awareness of the idling engine regulation is included in the Highway Code and suggested expanding public education to further reduce the number of offenders.
The Senior Minister of State confirmed that the idling engine regulations have been included in the Highway Code Handbook and theory test since December 2016, and over 1.3 million educational pamphlets have been distributed since 2011.
Both parties emphasized the importance of continued public outreach and education to protect public health and the environment.

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18 Feb 2020

Increase in Number of Non-renewal of Road Tax Offences after Implementation of E-notification to Vehicle Owners

The Minister for Transport stated that e-notifications for road tax renewals were introduced in November 2018 to provide timely reminders to vehicle owners.
Contrary to the concern, the number of non-renewal offences has decreased from 7.3% in 2018 to 6.9% after the e-notification system was implemented.
The government has no plans to withdraw the offence for non-renewal of road tax, as it is necessary to ensure compliance with the road tax regime.
Each appeal for the offence will be assessed by LTA on a case-by-case basis, considering any extenuating circumstances.

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18 Feb 2020

Balancing Needs of Motorists and Pedestrians with Increasing Number of Silver Zones Built

The Ministry for Transport emphasized that Silver Zones, introduced in 2014, prioritize pedestrian safety—especially for seniors—through features like longer crossing times, reduced speed limits, and narrower lanes, despite some inconvenience to motorists.
Data shows a 75% drop in road accidents involving senior pedestrians since the implementation of Silver Zones, underscoring the program's effectiveness in enhancing safety for vulnerable road users.
Locations and designs for Silver Zones are determined through community consultation by the Land Transport Authority, balancing the needs of motorists, senior pedestrians, and other stakeholders in high-risk areas.

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18 Feb 2020

Complaints to Traffic Police about Noisy Vehicles in Last Three Years

From 2017 to 2019, the Traffic Police received 147 complaints about noisy vehicles, with 11 related to Nee Soon South, and have stepped up enforcement and installed three speed cameras in the area, including one in March 2019.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary explained that vehicles must comply with noise emission limits under environmental regulations, and non-compliant vehicles cannot have their road tax renewed, with Traffic Police and LTA collaborating on enforcement against speeding and illegal exhaust modifications.
Er Dr Lee Bee Wah raised concerns about health impacts from traffic noise, asked if there is a decibel cap for vehicles, inquired about exploring new technologies like sound cameras, and questioned action against workshops that illegally modify vehicles.
The response noted that Singapore already has noise standards for vehicles and that the authorities would look into the new technologies mentioned if more details are provided.

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18 Feb 2020

Efforts to Combat Spread of COVID-19 on Public Buses and Trains

The Ministry of Transport outlined precautionary measures such as enhanced cleaning, hand sanitisers, temperature screening for staff, and restrictions on staff returning from China to combat COVID-19 spread on buses and trains.
Commuters are advised to practice good personal hygiene and avoid public transport if unwell, with the government continuing to work with relevant agencies to adapt measures as the situation evolves.
While the Transport Ministry does not control work or school hours, it noted that current community transmission remains limited and public transport remains safe for daily use without immediate plans for staggered schedules.

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4 Feb 2020

Imposing Legal Obligations on Food Delivery Companies to Ensure their Drivers Comply with Active Mobility and Road Traffic Regulations

Dennis Tan asked whether the government will impose legal obligations on food delivery companies to ensure their riders comply with active mobility and road traffic regulations, including device requirements and proper usage.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that the Active Mobility (Amendment) and Shared Mobility Enterprises Bills passed on 4 February 2020 already include regulations for businesses like food delivery companies, and that companies should be responsible for ensuring their riders ride safely.
The government will introduce a legal obligation on these companies to ensure all active mobility users they engage have third-party liability insurance, covering bicycles, personal mobility devices, power-assisted bicycles, and personal mobility aids.
Khaw also noted that retailers and users of active mobility devices share responsibility in ensuring devices used on public paths are compliant and used safely.

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4 Feb 2020

Shared Mobility Enterprises (Control and Licensing) Bill

The Senior Minister of State for Transport introduced the Shared Mobility Enterprises (Control and Licensing) Bill to establish a new regulatory Act for shared mobility services, replacing and expanding the existing licensing regime under the Parking Places Act.
The Bill is linked to the Active Mobility (Amendment) Bill 2020, with both discussed in prior debates where questions and views were already raised, though members could still contribute additional input.
The House proceeded to read the Bill a second time, committed it to a Committee of the whole House, considered it without amendments, and passed it at the third reading.

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4 Feb 2020

Active Mobility (Amendment) Bill

The Active Mobility (Amendment) Bill bans all motorised personal mobility devices (PMDs) from footpaths, allowing only non-motorised devices like bicycles and kick-scooters, while expanding cycling path infrastructure to support connectivity.
It introduces new safety regulations, including mandatory theory tests and a minimum age of 16 for e-scooter riders, rules against distracted riding, and a mandatory inspection regime for e-scooters to ensure compliance with safety standards.
The Shared Mobility Enterprises (Control and Licensing) Bill expands licensing to cover all device-sharing services, introduces a class licensing regime for different operators, and requires businesses like food delivery companies to provide third-party liability insurance for riders.

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4 Feb 2020

Analysis that Supported Development of SecureMyBike Project in Admiralty that was Eventually Discontinued

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira questioned the Minister for Transport about the studies and cost-benefit analyses that supported the $4.7 million SecureMyBike project at Admiralty, which was discontinued due to lack of demand, and how the Ministry plans to ensure future walk, cycle, and ride infrastructure improvements.
The Minister for Transport explained that the project was part of the Kampung Admiralty development, initiated in 2012, with extensive public consultations leading to underground bicycle parking to address a projected shortage, but demand shifted due to shared bicycles and e-scooters, making the pilot financially unviable.
Assoc Prof Walter Theseira suggested the Ministry develop guidelines for market research and logic models to review project assumptions post-completion, which the Minister agreed to, noting ongoing reviews and potential future demand for bicycle parking as cycling infrastructure expands.

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3 Feb 2020

Number of Cyclists Booked for Riding on Roads without Helmets since New Regulation Took Effect

Dennis Tan asked how many cyclists were booked for not wearing helmets on roads since the new regulation took effect on 1 February 2019.
The Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, stated that 109 pedal cyclists and 25 power-assisted bicycle cyclists were booked between 1 February 2019 and 31 December 2019 for not wearing helmets.
He noted that power-assisted bicycle cyclists have been required to wear helmets since 1 January 2005.

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3 Feb 2020

Number of Traffic Accidents in Past Five Years Involving Bicycles and Electric Bicycles and Efforts to Educate Cyclists on Safe Riding

From 2015 to 2019, an average of 520 road accidents annually involved bicycles and 39 involved power-assisted bicycles.
Traffic Police conduct enforcement at hotspots and issue an average of 1,377 summonses yearly to cyclists for offenses such as disorderly riding and riding without a front light.
Traffic Police raise awareness through road safety talks at schools, companies, and community events, and will continue collaborating with the Land Transport Authority and community partners to educate cyclists.

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3 Feb 2020

Statistics on Traffic Accidents Caused by Lane Splitting in Last Five Years and Plans to Raise Road Safety Awareness

Traffic Police does not track the number of accidents specifically caused by lane splitting in the last five years, so data on such incidents, including injuries and fatalities, is unavailable.
The Minister emphasized that road safety is a shared responsibility and highlighted initiatives like the Use Your RoadSense and Singapore Ride Safe campaigns to promote defensive riding and alertness among motorists.
Motorcyclists are advised to avoid weaving and practice defensive riding, while all road users are encouraged to check blind spots, give way when necessary, and remain cautious for unexpected situations.

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3 Feb 2020

Number of Drivers Caught for Not Securing Passengers below 1.35m in Height and Plans to Raise Awareness on Legal Requirement and Safety Benefits of Using Child Car Seats and Booster Seats

For the past five years, enforcement data on drivers caught for not securing passengers below 1.35 metres with an approved child restraint or body-restraining seat belt is provided in the table appended by the Minister.
The Traffic Police regularly engages the community and conducts enforcement actions to emphasize the legal requirement and safety benefits of using approved child restraints or booster seats.
The composition sums for this offence were increased on 1 April 2019, and the Ministry for Home Affairs will monitor the situation before considering further legislative strengthening.

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3 Feb 2020

Number of Train and Bus Trips Undertaken by Singapore Senior Citizens on Yearly Basis from 2015 by Age

Pritam Singh requested annual breakdowns of train and bus trips for Singaporean senior citizens in age groups from 60-65 to 80-90 from 2015 onward.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that the government tracks daily trips for all seniors above 60 using concession cards but does not collect data by the specific age groups requested.
The minister noted that all residents above 60 enjoy the same concessionary fares of up to 55% off, which is why data is not segmented by finer age brackets.

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3 Feb 2020

Number of Vehicle Fires Occurring in Housing Estates and Efforts to Educate Vehicle Owners

Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Transport about the number of vehicle fires in housing estates in the past year and how vehicle owners can better spot danger signs for quick remedial action.
Khaw Boon Wan reported that there were 64 vehicle fires in housing estates in 2019, including those in open-air carparks, multi-storey carparks, minor roads, and landed residential units.
To prevent vehicle fires, owners should check for fluid leakage, service their vehicles regularly, and avoid illegal modifications, with additional tips available from SCDF advisories at petrol kiosks, inspection centres, and customer service centres.

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3 Feb 2020

Drivers Penalised for Not Securing Loads Properly on Trucks in Last Three Years

From 2017 to 2019, 234 drivers were penalised for failing to properly secure loads on lorries and trucks, with 14 resulting in injuries and no fatalities.
The Traffic Police conduct engagement sessions with heavy vehicle drivers and there are existing advisory guidelines on safe loading and securing techniques.
The Road Traffic Act imposes fines up to $200 for light vehicles and $250 for heavy vehicles, with up to six demerit points; these composition sums were raised in April 2019.

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