CAR POPULATION AND GROWTH (Control)

Mr Yeo Choo Kok asked the Minister for Communications and Information (a) what is the maximum volume of car population that our roads can take; (b) whether the current growth of car population has warranted the increase in road tax in the near future; and (c) whether zero growth in car population will result in no increase in road tax.

The Minister for Communications and Information (Dr Yeo Ning Hong): Mr Speaker, Sir, our land transport policies are designed to ensure that there is smooth traffic flow on our roads. We do this by providing a vast network of roads and a public transport system that is efficient, affordable and relatively fast. At the same time, we keep the growth of vehicle population under control.

To date our objectives have been achieved. Our present network of roads can just about cope with the current population of about half a million vehicles, about half of which are cars. At the moment there are only traffic jams in localized areas each day, particularly during the peak periods.

Our road building programme is coming to an end, shortly after 1990. Any significant increase in vehicles must obviously increase traffic jams, particularly along roads in the City when no more roads are being widened or added.

The present level of increase of cars at an annual rate of about 1% or less is manageable nationwide, at least for the next five years. If there is zero growth in the car population, then there is no necessity for increase in road tax.

Mr Tan Soo Khoon (Alexandra): Sir, can the Minister assure the House that, if there is zero growth in the car population, he would not try to resort to other measures, like increasing the import duties on cars or increasing the additional registration fees or the PARF?

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Sir, if there is zero growth in the car population, there is no necessity for any increase in road tax and all the other fiscal measures.