ALLOWING MOTOR VEHICLES INTO SENTOSA

Mr Sin Boon Ann asked the Minister for Trade and Industry whether Sentosa Development Corporation's decision to allow more motor vehicles into Sentosa in the evening will result in greater danger for the pedestrians and cyclists who use the roads on the island, and whether allowing more motor vehicles on the island will tarnish the image of Sentosa as a quiet and pollution-free tropical island resort.

Mr Lee Yock Suan: Presently, private vehicles are not allowed to enter Sentosa. Only authorised vehicles such as suppliers' delivery vehicles and taxis taking hotel guests are allowed into Sentosa. The Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) reviewed this policy recently and decided to fine-tune it, to allow a limited number of motorists to drive into Sentosa in the evening.

SDC has put in place measures to preserve the rustic charm of Sentosa and ensure the safety of pedestrians. Firstly, cars driving into Sentosa have to proceed directly to the designated car parks. The Sentosa rangers will ensure that vehicles do not roam freely around the island.

Secondly, there is already a speed limit of 40 km/h on Sentosa's roads. In addition, there are many pedestrian footpaths and cycle tracks to segregate human traffic from the motor traffic. In any case, most cycling activities would have stopped at night.

The Night Entry Scheme is on trial for 6 months and SDC will monitor the situation closely throughout this period.