Minimum Safety Standards for Motor Vehicle Repairs and Modification Works

6 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Transport in view of the number of fires in vehicles due to electrical and overheating causes (a) how can the Ministry ensure that the quality of work performed in our local car workshops meet the minimum standards for safety; and (b) how can the Ministry ensure the roadworthiness and safety of foreign vehicles entering Singapore as well as local vehicles which have had repairs and modification works done outside of Singapore.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The owner of a vehicle is responsible for ensuring that it is roadworthy. The Land Transport Authority conducts spot checks on both local and foreign vehicles travelling on the roads. Vehicles that do not meet roadworthiness standards are impounded and the owners penalised under the Road Traffic Act.

In addition, all Singapore-registered vehicles are required to undergo regular inspections and vehicles that fail these inspections cannot be used on the roads. For their and other road users' safety, we strongly advise vehicle owners to use reputable workshops for maintenance and repairs.