More PMD users caught violating road traffic laws

SINGAPORE — More people have been caught riding personal mobility devices (PMDs), mainly e-scooters, on the roads so far this year compared with the whole of last year, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Tuesday (Dec 12).

Between January and November, an average of 40 PMD users a month were caught riding on the roads and had their devices impounded. This is an increase from the monthly average of 34 users caught last year, the LTA said in response to queries from TODAY.

The bulk of the impounded PMDs were e-scooters, with a small number of hoverboards or e-skateboards. Users were mostly caught for riding on minor roads, but a small minority used their PMDs on major roads and expressways.

"The increase reflects a rising usage of PMDs and a step-up in enforcement efforts," an LTA spokesperson said.

In the past 11 months, more than 430 PMD users were caught. From January to the start of July, the authority had seized 218 PMDs that were used on the roads.

The issue of unsafe use of PMDs has made headlines recently. On Nov 30, a 52-year-old e-scooter rider died after an accident with a double-decker bus. That same day, another 16-year-old e-scooter rider was taken to the hospital after being hit by a car.

Last month, a video showing a man riding his e-scooter illegally on the Pan-Island Expressway went viral on social media. He was eventually caught by the LTA and the Traffic Police.

Under the Road Traffic Act, those who use unauthorised vehicles such as PMDs on roads can be fined up to S$2,000 or be jailed up to three months for the first offence.

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan disclosed in October that there were about 90 accidents involving PMDs and electric bicycles in the first half of this year, which caused four deaths and about 90 injuries.

Earlier in January, Parliament passed laws to regulate the use of electric bicycles and PMDs.

The Active Mobility Act — which the LTA said is expected to come into effect later this year or early next year — will impose penalties for offences such as riding e-bikes or PMDs on paths meant only for pedestrians, or using PMDs recklessly.

When the Act comes into force, PMD users will have to make sure their PMDs weigh a maximum of 20kg, have a width of no more than 700mm, and clock a top speed of 25km/h.

As part of enforcement efforts until then, the LTA has issued more than 1,600 advisories for unsafe riding between January and November this year.

Under the new laws, a person cannot ride a bicycle, an e-bike or PMD on pedestrian-only paths.

Only those riding bicycles and PMDs are allowed on footpaths — subject to speed limits — while shared paths, such as cycling paths and park connectors, can be used by those riding bicycles, PMDs and e-bikes.

Those who flout the rules on safe riding, such as speeding on public paths or riding on pedestrian-only paths, can be fined up to S$1,000, or jailed up to three months or both.

Users of non-compliant or illegally modified e-bikes may be fined up to S$5,000, and/or jailed up to three months, for the first offence. For subsequent offences, he/she may be fined up to S$10,000, or jailed up to six months, or both.