Availability of Heavy Vehicle Parking Spaces
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the availability of heavy vehicle parking spaces and the enforcement of the Vehicle Parking Certificate (VPC) scheme. Mr Murali Pillai inquired about the ratio of lots to registrations and measures against owners who do not use their designated spaces. Minister Desmond Lee stated that with 41,200 lots for 32,800 vehicles, there is a sufficient supply to meet the needs of all heavy vehicles. He highlighted that failing to use registered overnight parking is an offence under the Road Traffic Act, punishable by fines or imprisonment. Minister Desmond Lee emphasized that business owners must take responsibility for providing proper parking solutions and transport arrangements for their drivers.
Transcript
64 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the current number of heavy vehicle parking spaces island-wide as compared to the number of heavy vehicles registered with LTA under the Vehicle Parking Certificate (VPC) scheme; and (b) what steps can be taken to impose responsibility on vehicle owners who do not use the designated parking space stipulated in the VPCs and instead require their drivers to find alternative parking options for the vehicles.
Mr Desmond Lee: As of January 2021, there are about 41,200 Heavy Vehicle Parking (HVP) lots island-wide and about 32,800 heavy vehicles registered under LTA’s Vehicle Parking Certificate (VPC) scheme. So, there are more than enough lots for all heavy vehicles.
The VPC scheme was implemented in 1994 to curb overnight parking of heavy vehicles along public streets, especially in residential estates. Under the scheme, all heavy vehicles have a registered overnight parking space, where they are required to park between midnight and 6.00 am. Heavy vehicle owners who require their drivers to park overnight outside of their registered parking space are committing an offence under the Road Traffic Act and could face a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment of up to three months.
We would like to reiterate that it is the responsibility of business owners to ensure that they have appropriate parking solutions for the heavy vehicles they own and that their drivers park responsibly. Business owners should also work out transport arrangements for their drivers to commute to and from work.