No. S 193
Road Traffic Act
(Chapter 276)
Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) Rules 1998
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 111 of the Road Traffic Act, the Land Transport Authority of Singapore hereby makes the following Rules:
Citation and commencement
1.  These Rules may be cited as the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Amendment) Rules 1998 and shall come into operation on 1st April 1998.
Amendment of rule 5
2.  Rule 5(2) of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Rules (R 14) (referred to in these Rules as the principal Rules) is amended —
(a)by deleting the words “12 years” in sub-paragraph (b) and substituting the words “15 years”; and
(b)by deleting sub-paragraph (c) and substituting the following sub-paragraphs:
(c)a taxi which has been used for more than 7 years; or
(d)a private hire car which has been used for —
(i)more than 7 years if it has been registered using a certificate of entitlement issued prior to 1st April 1998; and
(ii)more than 10 years if it has been registered using a certificate of entitlement issued on or after 1st April 1998.”.
New rules 55A and 55B
3.  The principal Rules are amended by inserting, immediately after rule 55, the following rules:
Conveyance of school children
55A.—(1)  A private bus may be used for the conveyance of school children to and from their school, subject to such conditions as the Registrar may impose.
(2)  The provisions of Part VII, with the exception of rules 44, 45(b) and 49 shall apply, with the necessary modifications, to a private bus which is being used for the conveyance of school children as they apply to a school bus.
(3)  Where a holder of a private bus licence —
(a)fails to comply or fails to secure the compliance of any driver employed by him with all or any of the provisions of the Act or these Rules or any condition imposed by the Registrar; or
(b)fails to provide and maintain adequate and satisfactory service in conveying school children to and from their school,
the Registrar may by notice in writing prohibit the holder of the private bus licence from using his private bus for the conveyance of school children under this rule.
Conveyance of adult workers
55B.—(1)  A private bus may be used for the conveyance of adults to and from their place of work at a fixed or agreed rate or sum subject to such conditions as the Registrar may impose.
(2)  The conditions which the Registrar may impose under paragraph (1) shall include conditions requiring the holder of the private bus licence —
(a)to keep in the private bus at all times a list of names and addresses of adults conveyed regularly on the private bus;
(b)to keep in the private bus at all times another list of the name or names of the company or companies to and from which the adults are conveyed; and
(c)to notify the Registrar within a specified period of any change in the particulars referred to in this paragraph.
(3)  Where a holder of a private bus licence —
(a)fails to comply or fails to secure the compliance of any driver employed by him with all or any of the provisions of the Act or these Rules or any condition imposed by the Registrar; or
(b)fails to provide and maintain adequate and satisfactory service in conveying adults to and from their place or places of work,
the Registrar may by notice in writing prohibit the holder of the private bus licence from using his private bus for the conveyance of adults under this rule.”.
New Part IXA
4.  The principal Rules are amended by inserting, immediately after Part IX, the following Part:
PART IXA
BUS FOR GENERAL PURPOSES
Registrar may allow private hire buses, private buses and excursion buses to be used for certain purposes
55C.—(1)  The Registrar may —
(a)upon an application made by the holder of an excursion bus licence issued under Part V, permit the holder of the licence to use his excursion bus as a private hire bus or a private bus or both, notwithstanding that the holder of the excursion bus licence has not been issued with a private hire bus licence under Part VIII or a private bus licence under Part IX;
(b)upon an application made by the holder of a private hire bus licence issued under Part VIII, permit the holder of the licence to use his private hire bus as an excursion bus or a private bus or both, notwithstanding that the holder of the private hire bus licence has not been issued with an excursion bus licence under Part V or a private bus licence under Part IX; and
(c)upon an application made by the holder of a private bus licence issued under Part IX, permit the holder of the licence to use his private bus as an excursion bus or a private bus or both, notwithstanding that the holder of the private bus licence has not been issued with an excursion bus licence under Part V or a private hire bus licence under Part VIII.
(2)  The Registrar may grant an application under paragraph (1) subject to such conditions as he thinks fit to impose.
(3)  The provisions of Part V (except rules 32 and 37) and Part VIII (except rules 51(1) and 52) as appropriate shall apply in respect of a bus which has been permitted by the Registrar under paragraph (1) to be used as an excursion bus or a private hire bus.
(4)  The Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Vocational Licences and Conduct of Drivers, Conductors and Passengers) Rules (R 8) shall apply to any person authorised to drive a bus which has been permitted by the Registrar under paragraph (1) to be used as an excursion bus, a private hire bus or a private bus.
(5)  Where a holder of an excursion bus licence, a private bus licence or a private hire bus licence whose application under paragraph (1) has been granted by the Registrar —
(a)fails to comply or fails to secure the compliance of any driver employed by him with all or any of the provisions of the Act or these Rules or any condition imposed by the Registrar; or
(b)fails to provide and maintain adequate and satisfactory service in connection with the use of his bus as an excursion bus, private hire bus or private bus, as the case may be,
the Registrar may by notice in writing revoke any permission granted by him under paragraph (1) to the holder of the licence.”.
[G.N. Nos. S 70/94; S 385/94; S 453/94; S 85/95; S 331/95; S 403/95]
Made this 31st day of March 1998.
FOCK SIEW WAH
Chairman,
Land Transport Authority,
Singapore.
[AG/LEG/SL/276/97/6 Vol. 1]
(To be presented to Parliament under section 141 of the Road Traffic Act).