Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Test) (Amendment) Rules 2014

No. S 891

Road Traffic Act

(CHAPTER 276)

Road Traffic
(Motor Vehicles, Test)
(Amendment) Rules 2014

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 90 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 (Motor Vehicles, Test) (Amendment) Rules 2014 and shall come into operation on 1 January 2015.

Amendment of rule 2

2. Rule 2 of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Test) Rules (R 21) (referred to in these Rules as the principal Rules) is amended —

(a)

by deleting the definition of “examination” and substituting the following definitions:

“ “examination” means an examination of a motor vehicle for the purposes of ascertaining whether the prescribed statutory requirements applicable to the vehicle have been complied with;

“heavy vehicle” means a motor vehicle with at least 4 wheels and which has a maximum laden weight exceeding 3.5 metric tons;”;

(b)

by deleting the words “or 15(5)” in the definition of “inspection report”; and

(c)

by deleting the definition of “inspector” and substituting the following definitions:

“ “in‑vehicle unit” has the same meaning as in rule 2 of the Road Traffic (Electronic Road Pricing System) Rules 2011 (G.N. No. S 97/2011);

“light vehicle” means a motor vehicle with at least 4 wheels and which has a maximum laden weight not exceeding 3.5 metric tons;

“passenger car” means a motor vehicle with at least 4 wheels and which is designed and constructed solely for the carriage of passengers and their effects and is adapted to carry not more than 7 persons exclusive of the driver;”.

Amendment of rule 3

3. Rule 3 of the principal Rules is amended by deleting paragraph (2) and substituting the following paragraph:

“(2) An applicant for authorisation must make to the Registrar a separate application in respect of each vehicle testing station at which the applicant proposes to carry out any examination.”.

Amendment of rule 4

4. Rule 4 of the principal Rules is amended by deleting paragraph (2) and substituting the following paragraph:

“(2) The Registrar may authorise a person to carry out examinations even if the person has not made an application under rule 3.”.

Amendment of rule 5

5. Rule 5 of the principal Rules is amended —

(a)

by deleting sub‑paragraphs (b) and (c) of paragraph (1) and substituting the following sub‑paragraphs:

“(b)

subject to sub-paragraph (ba), the examiner must appoint, in respect of each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations —

(i)	a manager to oversee the operations of the station;
(ii)	an engineer to manage and oversee the operations of the station;
(iii)	a chief inspector to manage the operations of the station; and
(iv)	one or more inspectors to carry out or personally supervise examinations at the station and to sign test certificates;

(ba)

the examiner must not appoint the same person —

(i)	as manager under sub-paragraph (b)(i) in respect of more than 3 vehicle testing stations;
(ii)	as engineer under sub-paragraph (b)(ii) in respect of more than one vehicle testing station; or
(iii)	as chief inspector under sub‑paragraph (b)(iii) in respect of more than one vehicle testing station;

(c)

the examiner must notify the Registrar in writing of —

(i)	the name of each person whom the examiner proposes to appoint as a manager, an engineer, a chief inspector or an inspector; and
(ii)	any cessation in the appointment of any person as a manager, an engineer, a chief inspector or an inspector, no later than 7 days after such cessation in appointment;

(ca)

the examiner must prepare or cause to be prepared for each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations a daily roster that sets out the name of each inspector, each inspector’s respective assigned vehicle test lane and the time slots during which each inspector is on duty at the inspector’s assigned vehicle test lane;”;

(b)

by deleting the word “and” at the end of paragraph (1)(d)(i);

(c)

by deleting sub‑paragraph (ii) of paragraph (1)(d) and substituting the following sub‑paragraphs:

“(ii)	a list of the names of the inspectors for the time being appointed to carry out or personally supervise examinations at that station and to sign test certificates; and
(iii)	the daily roster referred to in sub‑paragraph (ca) for that vehicle testing station;”;

(d)

by inserting, immediately after sub‑paragraph (d) of paragraph (1), the following sub‑paragraph:

“(da)

the examiner must put up and keep exhibited in conspicuous places within the examiner’s vehicle testing station, a sufficient number of signs to indicate the expected waiting time at the station during peak and off‑peak hours;”; and

(e)

by deleting paragraph (2) and substituting the following paragraphs:

“(2) A person must not be appointed as a manager for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(i) unless —

(a)	the person has at least a degree in engineering (or an equivalent qualification) and 5 years of relevant working experience; and
(b)	the Registrar is of the opinion that the person is competent to act as a manager.

(3) A person must not be appointed as an engineer for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(ii) unless —

(a)

the person has at least —

(i)	a degree in engineering (or an equivalent qualification); or
(ii)	a diploma in engineering (or an equivalent qualification) and 5 years of relevant working experience; and

(b)

the Registrar is of the opinion that the person is competent to act as an engineer.

(4) A person must not be appointed as a chief inspector for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(iii) unless —

(a)

the person has 5 years of relevant working experience and at least —

(i)	a National Institute of Technical Education Certificate;
(ii)	a National Technical Certificate 2; or
(iii)	any other equivalent qualification; and

(b)

the Registrar is of the opinion that the person is competent to act as a chief inspector.

(5) A person must not be appointed as an inspector for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b)(iv) unless —

(a)	the person has at least a National Institute of Technical Education Certificate, a National Technical Certificate 3 or any other equivalent qualification;
(b)	the person has attended and completed a course in vehicle inspection conducted by the Institute of Technical Education or any training centre approved by the Registrar; and
(c)	the Registrar is of the opinion that the person is competent to act as an inspector.

(6) A person must not be appointed by an authorised examiner as a manager, an engineer, a chief inspector or an inspector unless the person is —

(a)	in the case where the authorised examiner is an individual, the authorised examiner;
(b)	in the case where the authorised examiner is a partnership, a partner in the authorised examiner;
(c)	in any case, an employee of the authorised examiner.”.

New rule 5A

6. The principal Rules are amended by inserting, immediately after rule 5, the following rule:

“Cancellation of appointment

5A.—(1) If it appears to the Registrar that a person appointed by an authorised examiner as a manager, an engineer, a chief inspector or an inspector (called in this rule the relevant appointee) is unfit to perform the functions and duties of the appointment, the Registrar may by notice in writing require the examiner to cancel the relevant appointee’s appointment as such.

(2) The Registrar must, before requiring an authorised examiner to cancel a relevant appointee’s appointment under paragraph (1), give the examiner and the relevant appointee notice in writing of the Registrar’s intention to do so and an opportunity to submit reasons, within such period as the Registrar may specify in that notice, as to why the relevant appointee’s appointment should not be cancelled.

(3) Pending any decision to require an authorised examiner to cancel a relevant appointee’s appointment under paragraph (1), the Registrar may, if the Registrar considers it necessary in the interest of public safety, by notice in writing require the examiner to immediately stop the relevant appointee from performing the functions and duties of the relevant appointee’s appointment.

(4) The Registrar is not liable for any expenses that an authorised examiner may incur in complying with this rule.

(5) To avoid doubt, nothing in this rule empowers the Registrar to require an authorised examiner to terminate the employment of the examiner’s employee.”.

Amendment of rule 7

7. Rule 7 of the principal Rules is amended by inserting, immediately after paragraph (2), the following paragraph:

“(2A) No person appointed as an inspector by an authorised examiner under rule 5(1)(b)(iv) may act on behalf of any other person in the making of an application by the other person under paragraph (1) to that authorised examiner.”.

Deletion and substitution of rule 9

8. Rule 9 of the principal Rules is deleted and the following rule substituted therefor:

“Manner of carrying out examination, facilities, apparatus, etc.

9.—(1) Without prejudice to rule 5(1)(a), an authorised examiner must —

(a)	carry out examinations of motor vehicles in accordance with the Third and Fifth Schedules; and
(b)	comply with the Fourth Schedule in respect of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations.

(2) Without prejudice to the requirements of Part II of the Fourth Schedule, an authorised examiner must —

(a)	maintain in an efficient state every apparatus used in accordance with the Third Schedule or referred to in the Fourth Schedule; and
(b)	ensure that any such apparatus designed to indicate any measurement does so accurately.”.

Amendment of rule 15

9. Rule 15 of the principal Rules is amended —

(a)

by deleting paragraphs (1) to (4) and substituting the following paragraphs:

“(1) An authorised examiner must keep at each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations a record relating to all examinations carried out at that station in a manner approved by the Registrar, including the following:

(a)

the name of every inspector at that station, the time slots during which the inspector was on duty and the vehicle test lane at which the inspector was on duty, each day;

(b)

in respect of the examination of a passenger car or motor cycle, a copy of the following visual images:

(i)	the front, sides and back of the passenger car or motor cycle;
(ii)	the exhaust system of the passenger car or motor cycle.

(2) The authorised examiner must ensure that the information and documents relating to an examination which are required to be kept as part of the record under paragraph (1) are so kept as soon as practicable after each examination has been carried out.

(3) The authorised examiner must, for the purpose of an inspection under rule 16, keep the information and documents relating to an examination, which are required to be kept as part of a record under paragraph (1), for at least 3 years after the date of the examination.

(4) Despite paragraph (3), the authorised examiner must keep copies of the visual images referred to in paragraph (1)(b) —

(a)	in the case of a passenger car, for a period of not less than 2 years after the date of the examination of the passenger car; and
(b)	in the case of a motor cycle, for a period of not less than one year after the date of the examination of the motor cycle.”; and

(b)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (6), the following paragraphs:

“(7) An authorised examiner must, for each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations, submit to the Registrar at such intervals and in such form and manner as the Registrar may require, the results of every examination carried out at that vehicle testing station, and the date and time of the examination.

(8) An authorised examiner must submit to the Registrar, in such form and manner as the Registrar may require, monthly statistics on the following matters for each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations:

(a)	age profile of vehicles examined;
(b)	relative frequency of examination failure;
(c)	examination frequency;
(d)	breakdown of defects by stages;
(e)	breakdown of defects by systems (for all vehicles and according to each type of vehicle).

(9) An authorised examiner must submit to the Registrar the statistics for each calendar month —

(a)	for the matters referred to in paragraph (8)(a) and (b), no later than 7 working days after the end of that month; and
(b)	for the matters referred to in paragraph (8)(c), (d) and (e), no later than 14 working days after the end of that month.

(10) Where a particular type of vehicle was not examined at a vehicle testing station in a calendar month, the authorised examiner of that vehicle testing station must submit a nil return for that type of vehicle in the statistics to be submitted for that calendar month under paragraph (9).

(11) An authorised examiner must, on reasonable written notice being given by the Registrar, furnish to the Registrar such other information or statistics relating to the examinations carried out at any or all of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations as the Registrar may require, within the time specified in the notice.”.

Amendment of rule 16

10. Rule 16 of the principal Rules is amended by deleting the words “rule 15(1), (4) and (5)” in paragraph (c) and substituting the words “rule 15(1), (3), (4) and (5)”.

Amendment of rule 18

11. Rule 18(1) of the principal Rules is amended by deleting the words “rule 15(1), (4) and (5)” and substituting the words “rule 15(1), (3), (4) and (5)”.

Amendment of First Schedule

12. The First Schedule to the principal Rules is amended —

(a)

by deleting the words “rules 35, 37, 38, 40 and 106” in paragraph (j) and substituting the words “rules 38 and 106”;

(b)

by deleting the word “and” at the end of paragraph (l); and

(c)

by deleting the full‑stop at the end of paragraph (m) and substituting a semi‑colon, and by inserting immediately thereafter the following paragraphs:

“(n)	the requirements of regulation 7 of the Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emissions) Regulations (Cap. 94A, Rg 6), which relate to noise emission;
(o)	the requirements of rules 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5), which relate to the index mark and the identification mark;
(p)	the requirements of rules 43(2), 44(2), 45, 45A, 45B and 45C of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules, where applicable;
(q)	the requirements of rule 9 of the Road Traffic (Carriage of Persons in Goods Vehicles) Rules 2010 (G.N. No. S 663/2010), which relate to the marking or label on passenger capacity, where applicable;
(r)	the requirements of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Rear and Side Markings) Rules (R 18), where applicable.”.

Amendment of Third Schedule

13. The Third Schedule to the principal Rules is amended —

(a)

by deleting the definition of “exhaust’s requirements” in paragraph 1 and substituting the following definition:

“ “index mark and identification mark requirements” means the prescribed statutory requirements specified in paragraph (o) of the First Schedule;”;

(b)

by inserting, immediately after the definition of “lighting requirements” in paragraph 1, the following definitions:

“ “marking requirements” means the prescribed statutory requirements specified in paragraphs (p), (q) and (r) of the First Schedule;

“noise and exhaust requirements” means the prescribed statutory requirements specified in paragraphs (j) and (n) of the First Schedule;

“rear marking and side marking requirements” means the prescribed statutory requirements specified in paragraph (r) of the First Schedule;”;

(c)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph 2, the following paragraph:

“2A. An authorised examiner must ensure that the examination of every vehicle is carried out with due diligence and in adherence to the following procedures:

(a)

subject to sub-paragraph (b), only the inspector rostered to a vehicle test lane may carry out the examination of a vehicle assigned to that test lane;

(b)

an inspector must not examine a vehicle which was not assigned to the inspector’s vehicle test lane unless the manager approved the re‑assignment of the vehicle to that test lane;

(c)

the manager must keep a written record of the reasons for approving the re‑assignment of a vehicle, or the re‑rostering of an inspector, to another test lane;

(d)

before starting an examination, the inspector conducting the examination must —

(i)	scan the inspector’s staff card on the computerised card reader described in paragraph 4(b) of the Fourth Schedule and ensure that the inspector’s name and staff identification number have been recorded;
(ii)	where the vehicle is not a motor cycle, ensure that the vehicle’s in‑vehicle unit number is recorded by the in‑vehicle unit reader described in paragraph 5(b) of the Fourth Schedule; and
(iii)	enter into the computerised system described in paragraph 4(c) of the Fourth Schedule, the last 4 digits of the chassis body number stamped on the vehicle and ensure that the chassis body number of the vehicle the inspector has entered matches the chassis body number in the computerised system.”;

(d)

by deleting Part IX; and

(e)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph 29, the following Parts:

“Part xiii

Index Mark and Identification Mark Requirements

30. The examination of a motor vehicle to ascertain whether the vehicle complies with the index mark and identification mark requirements must be carried out in accordance with this Part.

31. The vehicle must be examined to ascertain whether —

(a)	the identification mark on the vehicle contains an index mark and a registration number assigned to the vehicle under rule 14 of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules (R 5);
(b)	the identification mark on the vehicle complies with the index mark and identification mark requirements in relation to its letters, figures, size, colour and number, and the position in which it is fixed upon the vehicle;
(c)	every letter and figure in the identification mark is easily distinguishable and is not obscured; and
(d)	where the identification mark on the vehicle is affixed with a seal, the seal is not removed, broken or tampered with.

Part XIV

Marking Requirements

32. The examination of a motor vehicle to ascertain whether the vehicle complies with the marking requirements must be carried out in accordance with this Part.

33. The vehicle must be examined to ascertain whether —

(a)	it bears every marking which is applicable to it;
(b)	each marking on the vehicle complies with the applicable marking requirements as respects its letters, figures, size, colour, type and number, and the position in which it is displayed on or fixed upon the vehicle;
(c)	every marking is clean and is not obscured;
(d)	where the vehicle bears a marking relating to the maximum speed of the vehicle, the marking shows the correct vehicle speed limit;
(e)	where the vehicle is a goods vehicle and bears a marking or label on the passenger capacity of the vehicle, the marking or label shows the correct passenger capacity;
(f)	where the vehicle is a light goods vehicle or small bus, the markings required to be displayed on both sides of the vehicle are legible and contains accurate information; and
(g)	where the vehicle is a long vehicle, each rear marking or side marking required to be displayed on the vehicle complies with the applicable rear marking or side marking requirements in relation to its approval mark, number, size, colour, type and material specifications, and the position in which it is fitted on the vehicle.”.

New Fourth and Fifth Schedules

14. The principal Rules are amended by inserting, immediately after the Third Schedule, the following Schedules:

“FOURTH SCHEDULE

Rule 9

FACILITIES AND APPARATUS

PART I

Vehicle Test Lanes

1. An authorised examiner must have, in each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations, at least one vehicle test lane for the examination of each of the following types of motor vehicles:

(a)	heavy vehicles;
(b)	light vehicles;
(c)	motor cycles.

2. An authorised examiner —

(a)	may examine motor cycles only at a vehicle test lane for motor cycles;
(b)	may examine light vehicles only at a vehicle test lane for light vehicles or heavy vehicles; and
(c)	may examine heavy vehicles only at a vehicle test lane for heavy vehicles.

3. An authorised examiner must ensure that each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations can accommodate a throughput of at least 80 motor vehicles per vehicle test lane per day.

PART II

Apparatus

4. An authorised examiner must provide the following apparatus and facilities at each vehicle test lane at each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations:

(a)

a closed‑circuit television or other electronic visual monitoring system which is capable of making a clear video recording of the examination of a motor vehicle carried out at the vehicle test lane, and the identification mark displayed on that motor vehicle;

(b)

a computerised card reader which is capable of reading a staff card issued by the authorised examiner and recording the name and staff identification number contained in the card;

(c)

a computerised system which is capable of verifying the authenticity of the identification mark displayed on a motor vehicle undergoing an examination at the vehicle test lane by checking the identification mark, and the last 4 digits of the vehicle chassis body number of the motor vehicle, against the register of vehicles maintained by the Registrar;

(d)

a side‑slip tester with a measurable range of —

(i)	In: 10 m per km; and
(ii)	Out: 10 m per km;

(e)

a roller brake tester which is capable of weighing an axle or individual wheel, and which has a maximum load per axle of —

(i)	500 kg for motor cycles;
(ii)	3,000 kg for light vehicles; and
(iii)	10,000 kg for heavy vehicles;

(f)

an exhaust emission tester with a measurable range of —

(i)

in the case of diesel engines, smoke density: 0 to 100%; and

(ii)

in the case of petrol engines —

(A)	carbon monoxide: 0 to 10%; and
(B)	hydrocarbons: 0 to 9,999 ppm;

(g)

a sound level tester with a measuring range of 30 to 130 dBA;

(h)

a headlamp tester with —

(i)

luminous intensity: 0 to 15,000 cd or more; and

(ii)

deviation of —

(A)	upper: 0 to 20 cm per 10 m;
(B)	lower: 0 to 40 cm per 10 m;
(C)	right: 0 to 50 cm per 10 m; and
(D)	left: 0 to 50 cm per 10 m;

(i)

a camera device which is capable of taking clear visual images of the front, the sides, the back, and the exhaust system of a motor vehicle undergoing examination at the vehicle test lane.

5. In addition to the apparatus and facilities required under paragraph 4, an authorised examiner must provide the following apparatus and facilities at each vehicle test lane for heavy vehicles and light vehicles at each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations:

(a)	an inspection pit to carry out an examination of the undercarriage of a motor vehicle;
(b)	an in‑vehicle unit reader approved by the Registrar which is capable of reading and recording the serial number of the in‑vehicle unit of a motor vehicle undergoing an examination at the vehicle test lane.

PART III

Calibration and Certification

6. An authorised examiner must ensure that every apparatus at each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations is adequately serviced, maintained and calibrated according to the recommendations of the manufacturer of that apparatus or, if there are no such recommendations, according to the recommendations of the Weights and Measures Office of the Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board, established under section 3 of the Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board Act (Cap. 303A).

7. An authorised examiner must ensure that every piece of apparatus at each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations is checked and tested at the start of each working day to ensure its functionality and accuracy.

8. An authorised examiner must ensure that every piece of apparatus at each of the examiner’s vehicle testing stations is calibrated, either at least once every 3 months or immediately prior to it being used —

(a)	against internationally recognised standards; or
(b)	where no such standards exist, on such basis as may be approved by the Registrar.

9. An authorised examiner must inform the Registrar of the examiner’s equipment calibration schedule, submit to the Registrar the calibration report for each scheduled calibration, and retain a copy of the report for a period of at least 3 years after the scheduled calibration.

10. An authorised examiner must carry out such calibration and accuracy tests on such apparatus at the examiner’s vehicle testing station as may be required by the Registrar.

FIFTH SCHEDULE

Rule 9

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

1. An authorised examiner must complete —

(a)	an examination of a vehicle (excluding the chassis dynamometer smoke test) within 20 minutes;
(b)	an examination of a vehicle (including the chassis dynamometer smoke test) within 35 minutes; and
(c)	a re‑examination of a vehicle within 20 minutes.

2. The times referred to in paragraph 1 —

(a)	include the time required to enter the information contained in an inspection report and the time required to issue the inspection report; but
(b)	exclude any waiting time before the commencement of the examination of the vehicle.

3. An authorised examiner must act professionally, competently and with integrity and objectivity, when carrying out the examiner’s duties and responsibility under section 90 of the Act and these Rules.”.

[G.N. No. S 520/2008]

Made on 10 December 2014.

MICHAEL LIM CHOO SAN

Chairman,
Land Transport Authority of Singapore.

[LTA/NC/MA/(MVT)R/01.14; AG/LLRD/SL/276/2010/75 Vol. 1]

(To be presented to Parliament under section 141(1) of the Road Traffic Act).

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