Mandatory registration of e-scooters by end-2018: Lam Pin Min
A mandatory e-scooter registration regime will be introduced by the end of this year, said Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min in Parliament on Wednesday (7 March).
Speaking during his ministry’s Committee of Supply debate, Lam said the government had accepted the Active Mobility Advisory Panel’s (AMAP) recommendation made last month to implement such a regime.
“Registering e-scooters will help deter reckless behaviour, accord more responsibility to the users and facilitate enforcement officers in tracking down errant users,” said the 48-year-old Member of Parliament for Sengkang West SMC.
According to a related Land Transport Authority (LTA) news release, the registration process will require e-scooter owners to submit their personal particulars and paste identification stickers prominently on their devices.
This comes on top of existing requirements for owners to ensure that their e-scooters do not exceed 20kg in maximum laden weight; 700mm in maximum width; and 25km in maximum device speed.
“AMAP also recommended that there is currently no need to mandate registration of other types of (Personal Mobility Devices), such as electric hoverboards and unicycles, as their usage is less widespread and their speeds are lower when used,” said the LTA.
Lam said the Active Mobility Act would be reviewed to accept the registration regime and that efforts would be made to keep process “as simple and as low-cost as possible”.
He added that the AMAP will also be taking a deeper look at the existing active mobility rules, such as reviewing the speed limit on footpaths as well as the current insurance and compensation framework, and will publish its recommendations by the end of this year.
“Our tough stance targets the minority of reckless users to deter bad behaviour. It should not discourage the majority of considerate or responsible users from enjoying the benefits of active mobility,” said Lam.
“With a safe environment, the benefits of active mobility far outweigh the obstacles we are facing,” he added.
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