EXPRESSWAYS (Speed limit for light goods vehicles)

Mr Cheo Chai Chen asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether he will consider allowing the expressway speed limit for light goods vehicles such as vans and pick-ups to be increased from 50 km/h to 70 km/h.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Sir, the Public Works Department, together with the Registry of Vehicles and the Traffic Police, regularly reviews the speed limits of the various categories of vehicles on our roads. They have found no reason to change these limits.

The present 50 km per hour speed limit for light goods vehicles is imposed for safety reasons. Light goods vehicles are heavier and usually longer than ordinary class 3 vehicles. Given their weight and size, the potential damage and danger caused by these vehicles in the event of an accident would be greater. They would also require a longer distance to stop. Both for the safety of the drivers as well as other roadusers, it is necessary to impose a lower speed limit on such vehicles.

I would be cautious about increasing the speed limit for such vehicles. Research in the United States has shown that increasing the speed limit on the expressways would lead to more road casualties.