TOA PAYOH DRIVING TEST CENTRE (Location)

Mr Ivan Baptist asked the Minister for National Development and Communications the exact location of the proposed driving test centre at Lorong 8, Toa Payoh.

Mr Ong Teng Cheong (for the Minister for National Development and Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, the proposed new driving test centre will be located at No. 1253, Block J, in the middle of Toa Payoh Industrial Park, off Lorong 8, Toa Payoh. The office for this centre is a factory premises with an area of 210 square metres. In front of this office is a plot of vacant ground which will be metalled and will be used for conducting parking and hill-climbing tests.

Mr Ivan Baptist: Sir, has the Senior Minister of State any plans to ensure the road safety of the pedestrians, especially school children from the many schools in the area? The safety of these children would be greatly endangered by the increased traffic especially of learner drivers with limited driving experience and skill.

Mr Ong Teng Cheong: Mr Speaker, Sir, I certainly share the concern of the hon. Member, when he raised the supplementary question. The site of this test centre has been chosen after an exhaustive survey of alternative areas in other locations. The sites considered included reverted properties in Changi, Sembawang, Tanglin and Seletar areas. However, these sites have been abandoned because their locations are inconvenient to the majority of learner drivers and instructors. Fringe car parks have also been found unsuitable because of the absence of facilities, such as office premises, toilets and canteens.

The Toa Payoh test centre is a suitable location as it is sited in an industrial estate adjoining a residential town. It is easily accessible and is convenient to most learner drivers. Moreover, office promises, toilets and canteen facilities are available in the industrial estate.

I wish to assure the hon. Member that traffic congestion will be minimised. Driving tests will commence at 8.00 a.m. when the schools nearby are already in session. During lunch time, from 1.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m., no driving tests will be conducted so that the safety of children leaving or going to schools in the area will not be endangered. Driving tuition will also be prohibited on certain selected roads during traffic peak hours. Driving tests will be conducted during non-peak hours and these tests will be spread over 10 different routes to avoid congestion. As I mentioned earlier, the parking and hill-climbing tests will be conducted within the industrial estate. Noise generated will therefore not create any nuisance.

I hope that what I have described will give the hon. Member the necessary assurance that he needs.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister of State indicate the cost of setting up this test centre?

Mr Ong Teng Cheong: The estimated cost of the Toa Payoh driving test centre and the one at Jalan Ubi is about $60,000 for both. I do not have a detailed breakdown of the figure.

Mr Ivan Baptist: Sir, could I seek clarification from the Senior Minister of State whether learner drivers will be allowed to practise late at night? If so, that could cause a terrible nuisance.

Mr Ong Teng Cheong: Yes, of course they will be allowed to have their lessons at night. It is too early to say whether or not this would create a nuisance. But if it creates a nuisance, we will look into the matter.