Transport — Topics

4 Nov 2019

Statistics on Infants and Toddlers Not Secured in Child Seats and Injured in Motor Accidents in Past 10 Years

Louis Ng asked for annual statistics on infants and toddlers injured in motor accidents who were not secured in child seats over the past 10 years.
The Minister for Home Affairs responded that Traffic Police does not have the data for the full 10-year period.
For 2017 and 2018, an average of 53 children aged three and below were injured in vehicles each year.
Of these, 27% were in taxis or public buses where child seats are not required, 15% were not in child seats, and 7% were in child seats.
The remaining 51% of cases lacked tracking data on whether child seats were used.

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4 Nov 2019

Peak and Off-peak Waiting and Clearance Times at Singapore-Malaysia Land Checkpoints

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira asked for peak and off-peak waiting and clearance times at Singapore-Malaysia land checkpoints and for the Ministry to publish daily and hourly data on traffic volumes, waiting times, and clearance times to improve accountability and help commuters and businesses plan ahead.
Minister K Shanmugam noted that the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints are among the world’s busiest, with around 400,000 travellers daily, peak weekday traffic from 5 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 9 pm, waiting times up to 1.5 hours during peak and 30 minutes off-peak, and longer waits during holidays, festive periods, and long weekends.
He added that waiting times can be affected by unpredictable factors such as accidents, vehicle breakdowns, security incidents, and traffic tailbacks from Johor, and that real-time updates are provided through radio, social media, LTA signage, live CCTVs, and commercial apps.
The Minister indicated that compiling and publishing hourly and daily data may not be useful or meaningful, as existing real-time information and broad traffic trends already help travellers plan their journeys.
The debate highlights the balance between providing detailed checkpoint data for transparency and the practical challenges of real-time variability and the effectiveness of current information channels.

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4 Nov 2019

Tracking of Delivery Riders using PMDs to Carry Out Their Delivery

Dennis Tan asked the Ministry for Transport whether the government tracks the number of delivery riders using PMDs for work and, if not, whether it plans to start doing so.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that the government does not track the number of such riders because they can work for multiple companies.
He added that, according to major food delivery companies, most deliveries are done by motorcycles and vehicles, with less than 30% of Deliveroo and FoodPanda riders using e-scooters.

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4 Nov 2019

Statistics on PMD Riders Caught for Speeding on Footpaths and Reported Accidents between PMD Users and Pedestrians

LTA caught 55 PMD riders for speeding on footpaths between February and September 2019 after the speed limit was lowered to 10 km/h.
There were about 90 reported accidents between PMD users and pedestrians on footpaths in the same period.
The government decided to prohibit e-scooter usage on footpaths from 5 November 2019 to improve pedestrian safety.

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4 Nov 2019

Progress of Discussion with Malaysia on Cross-country MRT Line

Singapore and Malaysia signed a supplemental agreement in May 2019 to suspend the RTS Link project until September 2019, with Malaysia requesting the pause to study cost-reduction measures.
Malaysia later requested and received extensions of the suspension period, ultimately conveying in October 2019 their intent to proceed with changes to the project, though details were not yet shared with Singapore.
Singapore welcomed Malaysia's decision to continue with the project, which aims to ease Causeway congestion and boost connectivity, and both sides are now discussing amendments to the bilateral agreement and related operational contracts.

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4 Nov 2019

Expected Fare Revenue Increase for Public Transport Operators from Commuters Fare Hike and Impact on Operators' Service Delivery

Murali Pillai questioned if the projected $132.5 million annual fare revenue increase for MRT operators would be sufficient to prevent performance degradation.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that existing regulatory mechanisms, including operating licenses and contractual standards, are in place to guard against service decline for rail and bus operators.
The government plans to invest nearly $1 billion over five years for rail asset renewal and $1 billion annually to subsidize bus operations.
Khaw noted that these government subsidies, combined with the $132.5 million fare revenue increase, will help sustain public transport service levels.
The government emphasized its commitment to maintaining a reliable and high-quality public transport system while keeping fares affordable.

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4 Nov 2019

Improvement of Quality of Standards for Buses Under Bus Contracting Model

Commuters have experienced better bus service levels since the Bus Contracting Model began in September 2016, with all trunk services now scheduled at headways of 15 minutes or less during peak hours, an improvement from the previous 30-minute standard.
Feeder services have also improved, with all now scheduled at headways of no more than eight minutes during peak hours, compared to the previous standard of 10 minutes for at least 90% of such services.
The Land Transport Authority uses commuter travel data from the fare ticketing system and bus GPS data from the Common Fleet Management System to monitor operations and adjust bus capacities according to demand.
These technological tools help ensure bus services consistently meet the required standards by allowing regular adjustments based on real-time data.

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4 Nov 2019

Higher Cost of Monthly Student Concession Pass Covering Travel on Trains and Buses

Liang Eng Hwa questioned why the hybrid monthly student concession pass for both trains and buses costs significantly more than single-mode passes.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that students can choose concession options based on travel habits, with single-mode passes at $25-$27.50 and the hybrid pass at $51 for full flexibility.
The hybrid pass is priced higher to provide unlimited rides on both modes, contrasting with the more expensive adult pass at $120 per month.
Student concessions are funded by other commuters, and further discounts could increase fares for other groups or burden taxpayers.

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4 Nov 2019

New Timeline to Complete Construction of Johor-Singapore Rapid Transit System

Malaysia has confirmed its intention to proceed with the Johor-Singapore RTS Link project with proposed changes, but details are not yet shared for Singapore to assess feasibility.
Singapore has agreed to extend the suspension period to 30 April 2020 to allow for further discussions on the project’s changes and amendments to the bilateral agreement.
The project remains mutually beneficial, aiming to ease Causeway congestion and enhance connectivity, with both countries working to finalize agreements for an operating company and concession.

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4 Nov 2019

Enhancing Road Safety for Elderly Pedestrians with Public Education

The Ministry engages the elderly at Senior Activity Centres and organizes events like the Road Safety Carnival to educate them on using pedestrian crossings and avoiding jaywalking.
Road safety outreach targets motorists and motorcyclists through island-wide messages, the "Use Your RoadSense" movement, and the annual Singapore Ride Safe campaign.
Community partnerships with the Singapore Road Safety Council are used to amplify these public education efforts for both seniors and road users.

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4 Nov 2019

Subsidies for School Bus Services

Christopher de Souza queried if subsidies for school bus services are available, particularly for families with multiple children attending school.
The Ministry of Education's Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) provides financial support for lower-income Singapore Citizen students, covering school fees, textbooks, uniforms, meals, and a 50% subsidy on school bus charges.
FAS is applied per child, ensuring families with multiple children are not disadvantaged.

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4 Nov 2019

Improving Connectivity from Private Estates to Public Transport Nodes to Encourage More Go Car-lite

Miss Cheryl Chan inquired about enhancing connectivity from private estates to public transport nodes, particularly for seniors and those encouraged to go car-lite, and sought short- to mid-term plans.
Khaw Boon Wan affirmed the commitment to adequate bus services for private estates based on ridership, with collaboration with MPs and grassroots to address commuter needs.
Approximately 20% of bus services currently serve private estates, focusing on routes that maximize resident coverage, though complete coverage of every area is not always feasible.

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4 Nov 2019

Number of Hybrid and Fully Electric Cars Registered in Singapore

There are currently 34,000 hybrid cars and 1,000 fully electric cars registered in Singapore.
The Land Transport Master Plan 2040 aims for all taxis, private hire cars, and public buses to be hybrid or fully electric by 2040.
Existing vehicle owners decide whether to switch, but taxi companies and some private hire providers have committed to 100% cleaner fleets by 2040.

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4 Nov 2019

Penalties for Wilful Obstruction of Emergency Vehicles

Yee Chia Hsing asked about current penalties for wilful obstruction of emergency vehicles and whether they can be increased, to which K Shanmugam responded that under the Road Traffic Act, composition sums were recently raised to $150 for light vehicles and $200 for heavy vehicles, with four demerit points, and court prosecution can result in fines up to $1,000 or imprisonment up to three months for first-time offenders and up to $2,000 or six months for repeat offenders.
Shanmugam noted that reported violations are generally low and the increased composition sums are being monitored for potential further action if necessary.
The penalties apply to motorists who obstruct emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines responding to emergencies, with prosecution reserved for cases with aggravating factors.

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4 Nov 2019

Monthly Average Number of Appeals to Traffic Police made by Members of Parliament on Behalf of Residents

In 2017 and 2018, the Traffic Police received about 350 monthly appeals from MPs on behalf of constituents, with only about 3% resulting in waived fines or demerit points.
Appeals for waiver are only considered if the motorist proves a breach occurred during a medical emergency, ensuring consistent enforcement of traffic rules for road safety.
Appellants unable to pay fines or facing licence suspension must seek general financial assistance from other Government schemes if they qualify.

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4 Nov 2019

Construction of Designated Cycling Paths in Bukit Panjang Town

Dr Teo Ho Pin requested an update on the construction of designated cycling paths in Bukit Panjang Town.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that 7 km of cycling paths will be built and completed by 2021, with 5 km finished next year and 2 km in 2021.
The paths will connect residents along key roads to transport nodes and amenities like LRT stations and town centres.
By next year, the network will serve areas like Bukit Panjang Ring Road, Pending Road, Fajar Road, Jelapang Road, Saujana Road, and Jelebu Road.
The cycling path network will be extended to Senja Road and Petir Road by 2021.

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4 Nov 2019

MRT Stations with Designated Parking Spaces for MRT Maintenance Vehicles

Melvin Yong asked about the number of MRT stations with designated parking for maintenance vehicles, parking alternatives when space is lacking, and whether future stations will include such spaces.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that about half of all MRT and LRT stations already have designated parking, with temporary arrangements at nearby taxi stands or bus stops for others to ensure worker safety.
He added that new MRT stations will include designated parking where possible, and LTA will coordinate with operators to arrange nearby parking where site constraints exist.

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4 Nov 2019

More Measures to Step Up PMD Safety

The Ministry of Transport announced a ban on e-scooters from all footpaths starting immediately, with an advisory period until 31 December 2019 and strict enforcement from 1 January 2020, to ensure pedestrian safety.
To support the transition, enforcement teams will be increased to 200 officers, and non-compliant e-scooters must be disposed of by 1 July 2020 with an early disposal incentive, while retailers selling non-compliant devices face penalties.
The government will expand dedicated cycling paths to 750 km by 2025, work with food delivery companies to help riders switch to other vehicles, and consider mandatory theory tests and age limits for PMD users based on advisory panel recommendations.

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7 Oct 2019

Driver Assistance Technologies to Make Our Roads Safer

Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Transport to review driver assistance technologies like intelligent speed assistance, drowsiness detection, lane-keeping assistance, and event data recorders to assess their potential for making roads safer in Singapore.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that LTA supports leveraging technology for road safety, citing existing safety features on public buses since 2014, and plans to collaborate with industry and government to adopt proven technologies when commercially available.
He emphasized that road safety is a collective effort requiring both technology and user behavior, noting a 20% drop in fatal accidents over five years and a reduction in injury accidents, while stressing the goal to eliminate all road accidents.

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7 Oct 2019

Impact of Proposed Reduction of Frequency of MRT Trains During Off-peak Periods on Use of Mass Public Transport

Prof Lim Sun Sun raised concerns that reducing MRT train frequency during off-peak periods might push commuters toward ride-hailing services, complicating efforts to boost mass public transport use.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that rail operators are testing adjusted headways to align train supply with commuter demand during off-peak periods.
He noted that such changes are unlikely to significantly steer people toward ride-hailing due to low ridership during these times.

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