MINIMUM SPEED ON EXPRESSWAYS

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng asked the Minister for Home Affairs if he will consider imposing a minimum speed for vehicles on an expressway which has three or more lanes.

Prof. Jayakumar (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, when the Expressway Traffic Rules 1982 were being formulated, the question of a minimum speed on our expressways was considered. It was decided, after studying the problem carefully, not to impose a minimum speed limit on our expressways. There were three main reasons for this.

First, due mainly to the constraints of space, our expressways run through densely populated areas. Where they are close to residential areas, pedestrians cross the expressway.

Secondly, our expressways also have bus stops, U-turns and traffic lights which, from an ideal viewpoint, expressways should not have. The PWD is taking corrective action on these problems but this will take time to implement.

For these two reasons, it may be impractical and somewhat dangerous to impose a minimum speed limit.

I might add a third reason. The Expressway Rules prohibit bicycles, tricycles, motorcycles with side cars, L-drivers and all other vehicles whose maximum speed limit is 40 km per hour from using the expressways. In other words the law already prohibits slow moving vehicles.

Expressways are new to Singapore. With the passage of time, we hope that our motorists will learn how to use expressways properly. The Traffic Police has provided extensive publicity to educate the motoring public on the correct use of expressways. At the same time, strict enforcement action has been taken against those who road-hog as can be seen from the fact that from 1st August 1982 to 31st July 1983, 4,215 persons were booked for road-hogging on expressways and 899 were warned. I might add that the PWD has also agreed to put up road signs along expressways requiring slower drivers to keep to the inner lanes. Let me assure the hon. Member that we will keep the situation under review.