Transport — Topics

8 Jul 2019

Follow-up by Malaysia to Protect Information Leaked on Malaysian Vehicle Entry Permit Website

Rahayu Mahzam inquired about follow-up measures taken with Malaysian authorities after a security breach on Malaysia’s Vehicle Entry Permit website exposed data of Singaporean and foreign motorists in April 2019.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that the breach involved Malaysia’s VEP system, which uses RFID tags for foreign vehicles, distinct from Singapore’s VEP system that equalises costs for Malaysia-registered vehicles in Singapore.
The Malaysian Road Transport Department’s VEP website was taken down on 26 April 2019 after the breach was reported, with the issue rectified the following day, and Malaysia’s Transport Ministry emphasised its commitment to urgent data security.

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8 Jul 2019

Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill

The Bill introduces harsher penalties for irresponsible driving, including longer jail terms, minimum mandatory sentences for causing death or grievous hurt, and enhanced disqualification periods, especially for drink-driving offences.
It streamlines and consolidates existing irresponsible driving offences under the Road Traffic Act, introducing a clearer two-tier framework of Dangerous Driving and Careless Driving, with penalties calibrated based on the circumstances and harm caused.
The Bill also tightens the regulatory regime by allowing immediate licence suspension for certain offences, lengthening suspension periods for repeat offenders, and enabling courts to consider past compounded offences as an aggravating factor during sentencing.

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8 Jul 2019

Point-to-Point Passenger Transport Industry Bill

The bill aims to consolidate regulations for point-to-point passenger transport services by amending the Public Transport Council Act to oversee fare matters.
It proposes to repeal the Third-Party Taxi Booking Service Providers Act 2015 to streamline existing legislation.
The bill was introduced by the Senior Minister of State for Transport on behalf of the Minister for Transport and was read a first time in Parliament.

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8 Jul 2019

Sustainability of Rail Reliability Levels

Singapore’s MRT system has improved reliability to a world-class level, with the network achieving over 950,000 train-km between failures, a seven-fold improvement since 2015, but sustaining this requires significant ongoing investment and funding.
The government has spent billions on asset ownership and subsidies, with annual operating subsidies expected to reach nearly $1 billion over the next five years, as fare revenue alone cannot cover the high costs of intensified maintenance.
There is a need for disciplined fare adjustments under the existing formula to ensure financial sustainability, with reviews considered to reflect higher operating costs and maintain service quality without over-relying on taxpayer funds.

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8 May 2019

State of Bilateral Relations with Malaysia following 9th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat

Following the 9th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat, both countries agreed to de-escalate tensions by mutually suspending overlapping port limits and will soon begin negotiations on maritime boundaries through a joint committee.
Both sides reaffirmed the 1962 Water Agreement, with Singapore stating Malaysia has no right to review water pricing, while also highlighting concerns over river pollution in Johor that could threaten water supply sustainability.
Malaysia and Singapore agreed to suspend the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link and the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail projects for review, and will work to implement GPS-based procedures for Seletar Airport approaches.

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7 May 2019

Potential Job Creation in Electric Cars Industry

The government is developing a smart mobility ecosystem in Singapore through investments in electric vehicle manufacturing and auxiliary technologies, which is expected to create many new jobs across hardware and software sectors.
While exact job numbers cannot be provided, the ecosystem will benefit adjacent industries such as semiconductors, telecommunications, and finance, generating diverse employment opportunities.
Government agencies are collaborating with companies, training providers, and unions to prepare Singaporeans through Industry 4.0 training and AI/data analytics programmes to equip them for these new roles.

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7 May 2019

Decision in Paris to Ban E-scooters on Footpaths

The Ministry of Transport is studying e-scooter regulations in cities like Paris and Berlin but will tailor policies to Singapore’s context, emphasizing education and enforcement over a ban on footpaths.
A senior minister highlighted safety measures such as reduced speed limits and registration requirements, while noting that responsible riding culture, not prohibition, is the preferred approach.
Er Dr Lee Bee Wah raised safety concerns, citing pedestrian injuries and risks to vulnerable groups, and questioned what advice is given to pedestrians for their protection.
The minister responded by advising pedestrians to exercise caution and alertness, and urged e-scooter users to ride responsibly within speed limits and in crowded areas.

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7 May 2019

Dealing with Complaints of Reckless Behaviour of PMD Users

Joan Pereira asked the Ministry for Transport about the process for handling complaints on reckless PMD behaviour and near-misses, to which Senior Minister Dr Lam Pin Min responded that LTA collects feedback via multiple channels, assesses it to guide enforcement and education, and that accident reports should be made to the police.
Pereira further questioned the threshold for potentially banning PMDs on pavements, citing public safety concerns, but Lam Pin Min explained that banning them would push users to riskier roads and that promoting a culture of shared responsibility is preferred over prohibition.
Dr Lee Bee Wah inquired about the volume and trend of feedback reports over the past six months, and Lam Pin Min confirmed an increase, leading to enhanced public education, enforcement, and the implementation of mandatory e-scooter registration from July 2019.

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7 May 2019

Third-party Liability Insurance for PMD and E-scooter Riders Working for Food Delivery Companies

The Ministry of Transport has engaged food delivery companies to encourage third-party liability insurance for PMD and e-scooter riders, with Deliveroo and GrabFood already purchasing such coverage.
The Active Mobility Advisory Panel is considering stronger measures to ensure insurance coverage for riders, while companies are promoting safe riding through app messages and training programs.
A joint circular was issued to food delivery companies to ensure rider safety, including providing instruction, training, and avenues for reporting unsafe riding.
Mr Murali Pillai suggested that companies make contact details publicly available to facilitate claims, and the Ministry confirmed existing reporting avenues and willingness to discuss improvements.

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7 May 2019

Proposal for Enclosed HDB Deck Space to be Designated Pedestrian-only Paths to Prevent Accidents with PMDs

Murali Pillai proposed that enclosed HDB void deck spaces, especially lift lobbies and letter box areas, be designated pedestrian-only under the Active Mobility Act to prevent PMD-related accidents, citing an incident in Bukit Batok where an elderly resident was injured.
The Senior Minister of State for Transport explained that void decks are exempt from the Act, so Town Councils can set their own PMD rules, citing safety, connectivity, and clarity principles, and noted void decks have blind spots and are not critical for connectivity.
Dr. Lam Pin Min agreed safety is paramount and clarified that Town Councils can ban PMDs in void decks, including ground floor lift lobbies and letter box areas, under their by-laws, while the Ministry is considering legal amendments to allow Town Council officers to enforce rules in non-void deck areas.
Er Dr Lee Bee Wah raised concerns about crowded town centres where enforcement was previously possible but is now hindered by the Act, and Pritam Singh urged the Ministry to standardize PMD bans in void decks nationwide for consistency and safety given Singapore's aging population.

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6 May 2019

Traffic Recovery Procedures and Response Time

The Minister for Transport explained that traffic recovery procedures vary by incident type, with Traffic Police responding to accidents, LTA addressing road defects urgently, and NParks deploying Rapid Response Teams for fallen trees.
Response times depend on the nature of the incident, and on-site officers manage significant traffic disruptions while LTA uses radio and online channels to notify the public and advise avoidance of affected areas.
The Minister indicated that while current procedures are in place, there may be plans to improve responses to sudden traffic failures, though specific enhancements were not detailed.

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6 May 2019

Breakdown of Taxi Drivers and Private Hire Drivers by Age Group

Member Ang Hin Kee requested a breakdown of taxi and private hire drivers by age group from the Minister for Transport.
Minister Khaw Boon Wan provided figures showing approximately 41,000 PDVL holders and 99,900 TDVL holders as of February 2019.
The minister presented an age breakdown table in response to the query.

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6 May 2019

Review of Speed Limit on Non-Expressway Roads

Sitoh Yih Pin queried whether the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has considered lowering speed limits on non-expressway roads to enhance safety amid increased use of bicycles and personal mobility devices.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that speed limits are determined based on road geometry and pedestrian activity, with reduced limits already applied in high-activity zones like school and silver zones.
The government prioritizes building dedicated cycling paths and a comprehensive cycling network across HDB towns by 2030 instead of reducing road speed limits.
Emphasis was placed on user behavior, urging all road and path users to exercise caution and consideration for safety.
The overall approach focuses on infrastructure development and shared responsibility rather than solely lowering speed limits.

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6 May 2019

Steps to Ensure Thales Signalling System is Safe for Use on MRT System

Khaw Boon Wan emphasized that the Thales CBTC signalling system is an established product used globally, but is customised for Singapore's MRT with rigorous design, testing, and maintenance to ensure safety.
He noted that the Hong Kong Tsuen Wan line collision is under investigation, and Singapore will study the report once available, while clarifying that Singapore does not use the dual backup system speculated to be involved.
The Joo Koon incident in 2017 was attributed to operating legacy and new CBTC systems concurrently, which has been resolved as the NSEWL now runs entirely on CBTC.
LTA has established a CBTC simulation laboratory in Singapore with Thales to conduct additional tests and fine-tune the system, contributing to improved reliability on the NSEWL.
Khaw Boon Wan assured that LTA and SMRT remain vigilant in ensuring rail safety through continuous monitoring, testing, and maintenance.

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6 May 2019

Impact of Instrument Landing System Withdrawal at Seletar Airport

Dennis Tan asked about the technical and commercial consequences of Singapore’s withdrawal of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Seletar Airport and whether ILS was necessary for Firefly operations when first implemented.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that Seletar has long operated as a visual airport, with delays or diversions during bad weather, and that Firefly requested ILS in 2017 due to Malaysian regulator requirements, leading CAAS to install it.
He noted that while ILS is common, it is not the only option, and CAAS and CAAM are working on a GPS-based alternative, with current flights using visual procedures as before.

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6 May 2019

Disallowing Cyclists on Bus Lanes during Bus Lane Operating Hours

Melvin Yong asked if LTA will disallow cyclists from using bus lanes during operating hours due to insufficient width for safe distance between buses and cyclists.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that land constraints require cyclists to share lanes, with rules like staying left and cycling single-file to reduce obstruction to buses.
The Ministry has equipped buses with blind-spot mirrors and collision warning systems to improve bus captains' awareness of cyclists.
Khaw emphasized that road safety is a shared responsibility, requiring vigilance from all road users.

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6 May 2019

LCD Displays at MRT Platforms to Indicate Time Remaining before Train Doors Close

Joan Pereira proposed installing LCD display boards with countdown timers at MRT platforms to inform commuters about remaining time before train doors close, citing safety and convenience.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that the Land Transport Authority and operators previously considered countdown timers but rejected them, fearing they could cause commuter anxiety and distract attention from surroundings, compromising safety.
He emphasized that existing audio and visual cues, like train chimes and flashing lights, are already effective and consistently used across MRT lines, aligning with practices in other cities.

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6 May 2019

Number of and Time Taken to Clear Vehicles that Break Down on the Roads

Ang Hin Kee asked the Minister for Transport about monthly vehicle breakdown numbers, trends over time, the most frequent vehicle types involved, current recovery times and improvements, and suggestions to reduce road clearance time due to breakdowns.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that LTA tracks breakdowns only on expressways and tunnels, with monthly numbers ranging from 2000 to 2500 between 2013 and 2018, and cars consistently being the most frequent type at about 45% last year.
LTA aims to arrive within 8 minutes for tunnels and 15 minutes for expressways, clearing vehicles within 10 minutes after arrival, and motorists are urged to move broken-down vehicles to shoulders and service their vehicles regularly.

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6 May 2019

Road Accidents Involving Pedestrians Using Mobile Phones

Ms Rahayu Mahzam asked whether the Ministry tracks road accidents involving pedestrians using mobile phones, the numbers over the past three years, and if legislation or measures are needed to deter such use.
Minister K Shanmugam stated that the Police do not track such accident numbers, noting that mobile phone use is one of many distractions and that legislating against pedestrian distractions is impractical.
He emphasized that fostering good road safety habits and personal responsibility is a better approach, with Traffic Police conducting outreach like the "Use Your RoadSense" initiative and LTA installing "LOOK" road markings at crossings.

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6 May 2019

Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill

The Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill was introduced to amend the Road Traffic Act, presented by the Second Minister for Home Affairs, Mrs Josephine Teo, and was read for the first time.
The bill was scheduled for a second reading on the next available sitting of Parliament and ordered to be printed for legislative proceedings.
The debate focused on procedural steps to advance the bill through parliamentary stages without substantive discussion on its content in this initial presentation.

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