Land Transport and Related Matters Bill - Cai Yinzhou
Reposted from Source: MDDI Singapore (3 February 2026 - 4:20 PM) & MDDI Singapore (4 February 2026 - 4:09 PM)
Source: MDDI Singapore
Full Transcript
Mr Cai Yinzhou (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Mr Deputy Speaker, between July and October last year, I walked through the aftermath of three major fires in Toa Payoh Central. I stood alongside neighbours during chaotic moments of evacuation, offering immediate aid and a listening ear.
In one of these fires, we faced the ultimate tragedy – the loss of two of our own residents. Post fires, residents shared insecurities of living in their own homes. One major concern involved living near neighbours with AMDs.
Since debates commenced in this House in September, I have asked seven Parliamentary Questions on AMD safety, six Parliamentary Questions on electrical battery safety and three Parliamentary Questions on fire safety. I filed a total of 16 questions across MOT, MHA and MTI, because one fire is a fire too many, especially in what is supposed to be a safe abode. And it is given this context that I respond to the Bill.
I rise in support of the Bill and commend its decisive measures to improve the safety of our public paths and roads for all. In particular, it addresses common concerns of Singaporeans about the misuse of PMAs. By strengthening enforcement powers against AMDs, the Bill ensures safer roads, fairer usage of transport infrastructure and more sustainable mobility for all. To better aid enforcement and implementation of the Bill, and to support vulnerable demographics that may be impacted, I would like to raise four points of clarification for the Ministry's consideration.
First, there is a need to complement the implementation of the new regulations with community education to avoid inadvertent violations by genuine PMA users, particularly on the new rules regarding medical certification and registration. Some users, such as the elderly, are already not familiar with existing regulations. For instance, the AMAP noted during their focused group discussions, that several participants were confused about the distinction between PMAs and PMDs. This points to a potential gap between legislative intent and user awareness. Thus, changes brought about in this Bill must be communicated effectively to ensure compliance.
In addition, some of the changes introduced requires active steps to be taken by existing PMA users, such as visiting their healthcare provider for a certification that they are eligible to use or registering and obtaining an identification mark for their PMA. Genuine users have raised concerns and questions as to what this will entail. The Disabled People's Association has recommended that the Ministry optimise inclusivity and ease the process for obtaining medical certification and registration for genuine users, such as by: (a) ensuring that grants or subsidies be established to cover any potential costs of certification and registration; (b) clarifying that the relevant "certification" needed does not require a formal medical diagnosis, but simply documentation from an assessor noting the need for the use of a PMA; and (c) ensuring that "medical need" to ride a PMA is assessed on a broad and inclusive basis.
I would like to ask the Minister, what specific plans will be put in place to ensure the proper dissemination of information to existing PMA users, such as the elderly and the disabled? How can these groups, particularly the elderly, be supported in navigating changes such as obtaining medical certification and registering their PMAs, in time before the enforcement of the new rules? I would like to highlight that the Disabled People's Association has published a very comprehensive commentary on the Bill and I hope that the Ministry will consider their perspective for genuine users of PMAs.
My second question relates to the disposal of non-compliant PMAs. The Bill introduces new size and design requirements of a PMA, such as requiring it to only have one seat and to not exceed the maximum dimensions stated. I note that the Bill will also make it illegal to keep unsafe devices at home and those who currently possess non-compliant PMAs will have to dispose of it.
I would like to ask the Minister for clarifications on the disposal process, especially for some owners who may fear reproach or penalties and instead discreetly dump it. When the Government introduced regulations against PMDs in 2019, LTA worked with e-waste recyclers to set up designated disposal points across HDB estates, which facilitated the disposal of PMDs at no cost to existing owners. Moreover, to incentivise early disposal, registered owners who stepped forward for disposal qualified for an early disposal incentive. Separately, weeks before etomidate was classified as a Class C illegal drug, the "Bin the Vape" Campaign offered a form of amnesty period – voluntary, no-questions-asked disposal of vape devices and related products.
I would like to ask whether the Ministry will consider setting up similar initiatives this year in partnership with agencies like HDB, Town Council and People's Association for the disposal of non-compliant AMDs.
My third point relates to the enforcement and implementation of speed limits. A key development in this Bill lowering of the speed limit from 10 kilometres per hour to six kilometres per hour for PMAs. I support this move, as it better reflects the intended use of PMAs to replace walking for users with mobility challenges.
For vehicles on the road, there are cameras to track when vehicles go past the speed limit. Will the Ministry also install similar cameras along walkways and shared paths to ensure that errant PMAs are properly fined for speeding offences? While members of the public may report incidents of errant device users on public paths to LTA, it is more often difficult to do so practically. Similar to how the Police and NEA has volunteers with enforcement powers, will the Ministry consider empowering LTA volunteers instead to check on PMA licences?
Enforcement of the new rules should not just focus on the behaviour of PMA users in our communities, but actions should also be considered to be taken against retailers and sellers of these non-compliant PMAs and illegal PMDs. In this vein, I would like to clarify whether the Ministry will move beyond physical patrols to collaborating with community marketplaces, like Carousell, to automatically flag and delist these devices, and whether a proactive social media monitoring unit or public whistle-blowing mechanism will be established to identify users and retailers of modified devices.
How does the Ministry intend to address the issue of platform workers who currently use PMAs for food delivery, who are concerned that the lowered speed limit would affect the number of deliveries they can make and their livelihoods directly? Platform workers are a valued part of the Singapore workforce, many of them work tirelessly to make ends meet. Does the Ministry have plans to work together with platform operators like Grab and Foodpanda, to introduce initiatives that will ease the burden of the impact of new regulations on their livelihoods?
My fourth point relates to fire safety. The disproportionate fire risk and danger of AMDs is widely recognised, with data shared by MHA revealing that while such devices accounted for less than 5% of residential fires in the past five years, they caused more than 25% of fatalities.
I note that the bulk of these fires occurred from devices that were illegally modified, or those that were not tested and certified. This highlights the significance of robust fire safety standards and enforcement measures. To this end, LTA has implemented a series of regulations, such as the UL2272 standard and periodic inspections every two years for PMDs and the EN15194 standard for PABs. These comprehensive measures have undoubtedly prevented many fires and greatly improved the safety of AMDs.
In my Parliamentary Question filed on 23 September last year on having PMAs to undergo periodic inspections, the reply noted that there are currently no commonly recognised international fire safety standards for PMAs. However, the fire risk posed by PMAs is no less serious than that posed by PMDs and PABs. Furthermore, PMAs are used by individuals like seniors with walking difficulties, who may not be able to escape to safety without substantial assistance in the event of a fire. For this vulnerable demographic, fire regulations should be even more stringent, as commensurate with the increased vulnerabilities of the persons involved.
Considering the potentially long wait for an internationally recognised fire standard for PMAs to be established, I call upon the Ministry to strengthen fire regulations for PMAs with periodic inspections.
Notwithstanding these clarifications, I support this Bill and look forward to the implementation on 1 June 2026.
Mr Baey Yam Keng (Minister of State for Transport)(Excerpt): Members, including Mr Cai Yinzhou, Mr Dennis Tan and Mr David Hoe, asked about specific plans to engage existing PMA users on the new rules, especially seniors and persons with disabilities. LTA will continue to work with the Agency for Integrated Care and SG Enable as well as relevant social service agencies, such as SPD, to reach out to seniors and persons with disabilities. LTA's public communications campaign on the new rules will also be rolled out in various languages.
On the ground, enforcement officers will engage and educate PMA users on the upcoming rules. We will also reach out through grassroots channels, and I seek Members' support to raise awareness among your residents.
Mr Baey Yam Keng (Minister of State for Transport)(Excerpt): Ms Yeo Wan Ling, Mr Dennis Tan, Mr Fadli Fawzi and Mr Cai Yinzhou raised concerns that the lower speed limit would increase journey times and affect delivery riders' earnings.
In accepting the recommendation to lower the speed limit to six kilometres per hour, our primary consideration was to peg the speed to brisk walking speed since PMAs are a replacement for walking. We acknowledge that the trade-off is that users travel more slowly. This is necessary to protect themselves and other path users.
Ms He Ting Ru and Mr Cai Yinzhou asked if users would have sufficient time to comply with the new rules that will come into effect on 1 June 2026. Mr Speaker, it will almost be two years since the proposals were announced in March 2024. We have received strong calls to implement the rules swiftly to improve path safety. Affected stakeholders, including retailers and users, have had time to change to compliant devices before the PMA rules commence on 1 June 2026.
But we will provide more time, until 1 January 2029, for existing mobility scooter users to register their devices and change to devices that comply with the new maximum device speed of six kilometres per hour.
Mr Baey Yam Keng (Minister of State for Transport)(Excerpt): Public tip-offs on errant users are gathered through LTA's website and social media today, as Members, such as Ms Poh Li San, Mr Ng Shi Xuan and Mr Cai Yin Zhou, have suggested. These complement other data sources to identify offence hotspots for targeted enforcement deployments.
Closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) focused on paths are already deployed island-wide to detect and deter offences, such as speeding. Some of the CCTVs are deployed permanently while others are deployed on a roving basis to allow us to respond quickly as new hotspots emerge.
In addition to ground enforcement, LTA conducts targeted operations against retailers who display or sell non-compliant and unregistered devices or offer illegal modification services. Non-compliant devices are seized and enforcement actions taken against offenders.
But we must acknowledge that no matter how many boots we put on the ground, enforcement officers cannot be everywhere, neither is it desirable to foster a culture where correct behaviour is dependent only on enforcement and penalties.
It is better to also focus on education and awareness. This is why LTA works with the community through Active Mobility Community Ambassadors to promote awareness of active mobility rules.
Mr Baey Yam Keng (Minister of State for Transport)(Excerpt): Mr Cai Yinzhou and Ms Poh Li San asked about the disposal process for non-compliant devices. If needed, owners may utilise designated e-waste recyclers or collection drives organised by ALBA in collaboration with Town Councils.
Mr Baey Yam Keng (Minister of State for Transport)(Excerpt): Dr Hamid Razak asked for national guidelines for safe charging. Mr Cai Yinzhou suggested periodic inspections for PMAs in the absence of a mandated safety standard. While we continue to monitor the development of international standards for PMAs, LTA and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will remind the public of safe charging and usage practices when using motorised active mobility devices and against using modified second-hand devices and non-original parts.
Today, periodic inspections are required for e-scooters to check that they remain compliant with the UL2272 standard and have not been illegally modified. The benefits of mandating periodic inspections for PMAs solely to check dimensions and speed limits must be weighed against the burden on users.
Dr Choo Pei Ling and Mr Cai Yinzhou asked how online marketplaces can take responsibility to eliminate unsafe and non-compliant devices. Mr Yip Hon Weng suggested making it an offence for a seller to mislabel a device as compliant. Since we commenced the Active Mobility Act, the sale of active mobility devices and related services are now more common online. LTA actively works with major e-commerce platforms like Carousell, Lazada and Shopee to take down listings of non-compliant devices. We will look at how we can strengthen rules for online sales and advertising in our legislation.
Link to Hansard: Official Reports - Parliamentary Debates (HANSARD) for 3rd Feb 2026 - Cai Yinzhou Speech & Official Reports - Parliamentary Debates (HANSARD) for 4th Feb 2026 - Mr Baey Yam Keng Reply
