Prevention of E-scooter Accidents

14 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Transport (a) whether he can provide an update on the number of e-scooter accidents and near-misses in 2017 involving pedestrians on footpaths and walkways; (b) what avenues for redress or compensation are available for pedestrians injured in e-scooter accidents; and (c) how awareness of the relevant laws can be enhanced among e-scooter and electric bicycle users of (i) local and (ii) foreign origin.

15 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Transport (a) what are the current measures taken by LTA and the Traffic Police to (i) ensure that e-scooters are not used on roads and expressways, and electric bicycles are not used on expressways and (ii) address unsafe and inconsiderate usage of e-scooters on footpaths and walkways; and (b) whether more measures will be taken to (i) abate such occurrences and (ii) enhance public awareness of the laws governing the usage of e-scooters and electric bicycles.

The Minister for Transport (Mr Khaw Boon Wan): Sir, may I take Question Nos 14 and 15 together, please?

Mr Deputy Speaker: Yes, please.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: There were about 30 reported accidents involving pedestrians and Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs), including e-scooters, on public paths from January to September last year. We do not have statistics on near-misses.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will step up efforts to prevent accidents through enforcement and education. Last year, LTA issued more than 1,700 advisories for unsafe riding behaviours. Offenders will also pay fines once the Active Mobility Act comes into force soon. LTA is working with 800 Active Mobility Patrol volunteers to conduct regular patrols in their communities and also to share safe riding practices.

LTA will soon be conducting a campaign to raise awareness of the active mobility rules and penalties. The Safe Riding Programme will be launched in schools, foreign worker dormitories and community centres. It will be compulsory for all cyclists and PMD users who are caught riding recklessly.

In the event of an accident, the victim should file a Police report, and the Police will investigate. If the offender is convicted in Court for committing an offence, the Court will consider if compensation to the victim should be paid. The victim can also seek compensation through civil lawsuits, mediation or private settlement.

All types of bicycles, including power-assisted bicycles or e-bikes, are not allowed to be used on expressways. Offenders can face prosecution, be convicted and pay a fine up to $1,000, or imprisonment of up to three months, or both.

The use of PMDs on all public roads is also prohibited. In response to the growing use of PMDs, the composition sum of $100 will be increased to $300 and $500 for offenders who ride on local and major roads, respectively, from next week, 15 January. Repeat offenders will face stiffer penalties, including Court action. If convicted, offenders face a fine of up to $2,000, or imprisonment of up to three months, or more.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Dr Tan Wu Meng.

Dr Tan Wu Meng (Jurong): I thank the Minister for his reply. I have got two supplementary questions. Firstly, regarding near-misses, would the Minister feel it is beneficial for residents who have been involved in a near-miss to make it known to LTA and the authorities, so that we can draw lessons from such near-misses which may herald more serious incidents in future?

Secondly, would the Ministry continue studying or perhaps reviewing whether we should introduce some form of compulsory insurance for device owners, especially where the potential of harm from an accident from that device is higher than other device types? The reason I raise this is because some of my residents are worried that when an accident occurs, there could be a double financial tragedy. The injured party is injured, has medical bills, the person riding the device may be of limited means and unable to provide compensation even if the Civil Court finds him or her liable.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Sir, I thank the Member for both suggestions. I think both are reasonable and good suggestions. I have actually asked the Active Mobility Advisory Panel chaired by my colleague, Assoc Prof Faishal Ibrahim, to review the code of conduct and practices governing active mobility devices (AMDs). We have now almost a year of experience and, in the light of that experience, we should see what other rules we should introduce, rules we should tweak or toughen.

Some of these suggestions, I am sure the panel will take into account as well, including insurance, wearing of helmets and whether we should register e-scooters. We have started registering e-bikes, so whether there is a case to also register e-scooters. I do not think we should be registering all scooters or all bicycles but I think those which are power-assisted and, therefore, potentially can incur greater harm, there may be a case of some sort of registration. I leave it to the panel to review this.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order. End of Question Time. Personal explanation. Mr Leon Perera.

[Pursuant to Standing Order No 22(3), provided that Members had not asked for questions standing in their names to be postponed to a later Sitting day or withdrawn, written answers to questions not reached by the end of Question Time are reproduced in the Appendix.]