LTA to review lorry passenger capacity
Straits Times, Jul 26, 2011
LORRY owners will not have to figure out how many passengers they can carry in the back of their vehicles by Aug 1.
Under safety rules that would have taken effect from that date, they were supposed to allocate more seating space for workers at the back of their lorries.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is now reviewing its previous requirement that lorry owners double the minimum deck space for each seated worker to 8 sq ft. Lorry owners were then supposed to show the new Maximum Passenger Capacity (MPC) label on their vehicles.
An LTA spokesman said some industry stakeholders have said that reducing maximum passenger capacity may lead to operational constraints.
She said the authority will carefully assess the feedback from various industry groups while balancing safety needs of workers.
Singapore Contractors Association (SCAL) president Ho Nyok Yong welcomed the news, and said 'it was a great relief'. He said some members were concerned because they may need to make more trips, leading to lower productivity.
Dr Ho noted that smaller contractors could not shoulder the financial burden of buying more vehicles or leasing buses to ferry workers.
Some SCAL members are even thinking of getting workers to take public transport to work sites, he said.
He added that his association has been actively educating its members about lorry safety.
For now, lorry owners will not have to change passenger capacity till LTA completes its review in the last quarter of this year and announces its decision.
During the review, LTA will also assess the effectiveness of measures already put in place to enhance the safety of workers being transported on the cargo deck of lorries.
From Feb 1, the LTA imposed higher fines and demerit points for lorry owners and drivers who flouted safety regulations.
Light lorries used to ferry workers also had to be fitted with canopies and higher side railings by then.
While the rule on MPC has been temporarily suspended, heavy lorries - those with maximum laden weight above 3,500kg - will still need to install higher side railings and canopies by Aug 1. Owners who fail to comply can be charged in court, and face a fine of up to $1,000 or a maximum jail term of three months.
LORRY owners will not have to figure out how many passengers they can carry in the back of their vehicles by Aug 1.
Under safety rules that would have taken effect from that date, they were supposed to allocate more seating space for workers at the back of their lorries.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) is now reviewing its previous requirement that lorry owners double the minimum deck space for each seated worker to 8 sq ft. Lorry owners were then supposed to show the new Maximum Passenger Capacity (MPC) label on their vehicles.
An LTA spokesman said some industry stakeholders have said that reducing maximum passenger capacity may lead to operational constraints.
She said the authority will carefully assess the feedback from various industry groups while balancing safety needs of workers.
Singapore Contractors Association (SCAL) president Ho Nyok Yong welcomed the news, and said 'it was a great relief'. He said some members were concerned because they may need to make more trips, leading to lower productivity.
Dr Ho noted that smaller contractors could not shoulder the financial burden of buying more vehicles or leasing buses to ferry workers.
Some SCAL members are even thinking of getting workers to take public transport to work sites, he said.
He added that his association has been actively educating its members about lorry safety.
For now, lorry owners will not have to change passenger capacity till LTA completes its review in the last quarter of this year and announces its decision.
During the review, LTA will also assess the effectiveness of measures already put in place to enhance the safety of workers being transported on the cargo deck of lorries.
From Feb 1, the LTA imposed higher fines and demerit points for lorry owners and drivers who flouted safety regulations.
Light lorries used to ferry workers also had to be fitted with canopies and higher side railings by then.
While the rule on MPC has been temporarily suspended, heavy lorries - those with maximum laden weight above 3,500kg - will still need to install higher side railings and canopies by Aug 1. Owners who fail to comply can be charged in court, and face a fine of up to $1,000 or a maximum jail term of three months.
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