Exclusive Motorcycle Lane on Expressways Given High Casualty Rate amongst Motorcyclists
Ministry of TransportSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns a proposal by Mr Murali Pillai for a feasibility study on constructing exclusive motorcycle lanes along expressways to address high road accident casualty rates among motorcyclists and pillion riders. Minister S Iswaran explained that dedicated lanes are impractical due to Singapore’s land scarcity and the heavy utilization of existing expressways by various vehicle types. Instead, the Government adopts a holistic approach involving the Land Transport Authority, Traffic Police, and Singapore Road Safety Council to improve safety through annual outreach and education. Specific initiatives include the Singapore Road Safety Month, the Ride Safe Campaign, and Ministry of Home Affairs regulations that increased penalties for selling non-approved motorcycle helmets. Minister S Iswaran affirmed that the Government remains committed to developing measures to reduce the over-representation of motorcyclists in traffic accidents and enhance safety for all road users.
Transcript
76 Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Transport whether the Ministry will consider conducting a feasibility study on the construction of exclusive motorcycle lanes along expressways to deal with the high road accident casualty rate amongst motorcyclists and pillion riders compared to other road users.
Mr S Iswaran: There are many competing uses for land in land-scarce Singapore. While we have been expanding and building new expressways over the years, these are heavily utilised. So, it is not practical for every vehicle type to have its own lane.
That said, we share the concern over the safety of riders. That is why our Government agencies work closely together and take a holistic approach to improve road safety. The Land Transport Authority (LTA), Traffic Police (TP), and the Singapore Road Safety Council (SRSC) have various outreach activities to engage key stakeholder groups annually. This includes the Singapore Road Safety Month, and the Ride Safe Campaign, which encourage all road users to do their part in making our roads safe, and motorcyclists to practise safe riding habits.
Last year, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) also enhanced the safety requirements for motorcycle helmets by increasing penalties for sellers who import or sell non-approved helmets.
Nevertheless, we recognise that motorcyclists remain over-represented in road traffic accidents. We will continue to work on various initiatives and measures to enhance and promote road safety for motorcyclists, as well as other road users.