30 e-scooter accidents involving pedestrians in Jan-Sep 2017: Khaw
From January to September 2017, there were 30 e-scooter accidents involving pedestrians on footpaths and walkways, but the Active Mobility Act will help regulate such incidents, said Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan in Parliament on Monday (8 January).
The Minister noted that in 2017, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) issued more than 1,700 advisories for unsafe riding behaviour. LTA does not have statistics on near-misses.
The Active Mobility Act empowers the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to regulate the types of devices permitted and the behaviour of device users on public paths. As such, errant users of Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) will face fines once the Act comes into force.
The use of PMDs, such as e-scooters, on all public roads is 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,” said Khaw.
First-time offenders who are convicted face a fine of up to $2,000 or jail of up to three months or both under new regulations.
Besides enforcement, LTA is working with 800 active mobility patrol volunteers to conduct regular patrols in their communities and to share safe riding practices. The programme will also 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.
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