Additional Safety Measures for Migrant Workers Travelling in Lorries Against Collisions Caused by Drink Driving
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether additional or existing safety measures are adequate to protect migrant workers travelling in lorries from collisions caused by impaired drivers. Miss Rachel Ong raised this query in light of recent cases involving motorists driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam replied that proposed legislative amendments seek to lower alcohol limits and penalise driving with controlled drugs or intoxicating substances. He highlighted lorry safety measures including mandatory driver rest times, "vehicle buddy" requirements, and an upcoming ban on ferrying workers in caged lorries from 1 January 2027. Furthermore, speed limiters will be mandated for lorries between 3,501 and 12,000 kilogrammes by 1 July 2027, with the Government continually reviewing measures to ensure road safety.
Transcript
9 Miss Rachel Ong asked the Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs in light of recent cases involving motorists allegedly driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, whether the Ministry will review whether (i) additional measures are needed to better protect migrant workers travelling in lorries from collisions caused by impaired drivers and (ii) existing safety measures remain adequate to minimise casualties.
Mr K Shanmugam: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs poses a serious risk to all road users, including workers travelling in lorries. The Ministry has introduced the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill for First Reading in July 2026, which proposes legislative amendments to lower the alcohol limits when driving and introduce a new offence for driving with controlled drugs, psychoactive or intoxicating substances present in one's blood. These measures are intended to deter motorists from such dangerous conduct.
Specific to improving the safety of workers travelling on lorries, the Government has also introduced measures in recent years to improve the safety of workers travelling on lorries, including requirements for employers to ensure sufficient rest time for drivers, and for drivers to have a "vehicle buddy" when ferrying workers. In addition, we will ban the ferrying of workers in caged lorries from 1 January 2027, and require all lorries with maximum laden weight between 3,501 kilogrammes and 12,000 kilogrammes to install speed limiters by 1 July 2027.
The Government will continue to monitor trends and review our measures to improve road safety as necessary.