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Road Traffic Act

(CHAPTER 276, Sections 114 and 140)

Road Traffic (Expressway Traffic) Rules

R 23

G.N. No. S 197/1982

REVISED EDITION 1990

(25th March 1992)

[1st August 1982]

Citation

1. These Rules may be cited as the Road Traffic (Expressway Traffic) Rules.

Definitions

2.—(1) In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires —

“ambulance” means a motor vehicle that is specifically equipped for —

(a)	the transport on roads of; and
(b)	the provision, during such transport, of out-of-hospital clinical care to,

sick or injured individuals who require emergency medical treatment;

[S 1070/2021 wef 03/01/2022]

“authorised”, for an ambulance, means —

(a)	being specified in a licence (other than a revoked licence) under the Healthcare Services Act 2020 authorising the use of the ambulance to provide a licensable healthcare service specified in that licence; or
(b)	being owned by the Government and used for the purposes of the Singapore Armed Forces or the Singapore Civil Defence Force;

[S 1070/2021 wef 03/01/2022]

“carriageway” means that part of an expressway which is constructed with a surface suitable for the regular passage of vehicular motor traffic along the expressway and is distinguishable from the other parts of the expressway by the fact that on each side that part of the expressway consists of a shoulder or a verge, or is contiguous to a raised kerb, but does not include any part of a central divider or a shoulder;

“central divider” means that part of an expressway which separates two carriageways running along that expressway parallel or approximately parallel to each other, and which is contiguous on one side to one of those carriageways and on the other side to the other of those carriageways;

“expressway” means any of the expressways specified in Part II of the Second Schedule and includes any part of such expressway that is an expressway tunnel;

[S 649/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

“expressway tunnel” means any part of an expressway that runs through any tunnel specified in Part III of the Second Schedule;

[S 649/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

“recumbent device”, “three‑wheeled pedal cycle” and “trishaw” have the meanings given by rule 2 of the Road Traffic (Bicycles, Three‑wheeled Pedal Cycles, Trishaws and Recumbent Devices — Construction and Use) Rules 2024 (G.N. No. S 157/2024);

[S 165/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

“road tunnel” means any road tunnel specified in Part I of the Second Schedule;

[S 649/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

“shoulder” means the narrow strip along the left or near side of a carriageway which is constructed with a surface suitable for a motor vehicle to move along or stop and is distinguishable from the carriageway by a continuous white marginal strip;

“traffic sign” has the same meaning as in section 119(6) of the Act;

“verge” means any part of an expressway which is not a carriageway, kerb, shoulder or central divider.

(2) Any provision of these Rules containing any prohibition or restriction relating to the driving, moving or stopping of a vehicle, or to its remaining at rest, shall be construed as a provision that no person shall use an expressway by driving, moving or stopping the vehicle or by causing or permitting it to be driven or moved, or to stop or remain at rest, in contravention of that prohibition or restriction.

Application of Rules

3. These Rules shall apply in respect of the following special roads:

(a)	any expressway; and
(b)	any road tunnel. [S 649/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

Use of carriageway

4. No vehicle shall be driven on any part of an expressway which is not a carriageway.

Direction of driving

5. Every vehicle on a carriageway of an expressway shall be driven in such a direction that the central divider of the expressway is at all times on the right or off-side of the vehicle.

Restriction on stopping

6.—(1) Subject to this rule, no vehicle shall stop or remain at rest on a carriageway.

(2) Where it is necessary for a vehicle to stop or remain at rest while it is on an expressway —

(a)	by reason of a breakdown or mechanical defect or lack of fuel, oil or water required for the vehicle;
(b)	by reason of any illness, accident or emergency;
(c)	to permit any person in or on the vehicle to recover or remove any object which has fallen on the expressway; or
(d)	to permit any person in or on the vehicle to give help to any other person in any of the circumstances specified in this paragraph,

the vehicle shall, as soon as is practicable, be driven or moved off the carriageway to the shoulder or verge on the left or near side of the vehicle.

(3) A vehicle which is at rest on a shoulder or verge in any of the circumstances specified in paragraph (2) —

(a)	shall, as far as is reasonably practicable, remain at rest on that shoulder or verge in such a position that no part of it or of any load carried obstructs or is a cause of danger to any other vehicle using the carriageway; and
(b)	shall not remain at rest on that shoulder or verge longer than is necessary in those circumstances.

(4) Nothing in this rule shall preclude a vehicle from stopping or remaining at rest on a carriageway while it is prevented from proceeding along that carriageway by the presence of any other vehicle or any person or object or in accordance with a traffic sign or on the direction of a police officer.

Restriction on reversing

7. No vehicle on a carriageway shall be driven or moved backwards except in so far as it is necessary to enable the vehicle to proceed forward along the carriageway or to be connected to any other vehicle.

Restriction on use of shoulder and verge

8. No vehicle shall be driven, moved, stopped or allowed to remain at rest on any shoulder or verge except in accordance with rule 6(2) and (3).

Central divider

9. No vehicle shall be driven, moved, stopped or allowed to remain at rest on a central divider.

Holder of provisional driving licence

10.—(1) No holder of a provisional driving licence granted under section 36(3) of the Act shall drive a motor vehicle on an expressway.

[S 277/2013 wef 01/06/2013]

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a holder of a Class 2B provisional licence who is attending a training programme known as the “Expressway Familiarisation Ride” pursuant to rule 9 of the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) Rules (R 27) between the hours of 9.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on any day except public holidays.

[S 277/2013 wef 01/06/2013]

11. [Deleted by S 649/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

Vehicles of speed limit of 60 kmph and below

12.—(1) Any vehicle which has a speed limit of 60 kmph and below shall be driven along the left hand lane of the expressway except when overtaking another vehicle or passing an obstruction or in compliance with any traffic or directional sign.

[S 324/2004 wef 10/06/2004]

[S 649/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any vehicle which is being used on an expressway —

(a)	for the maintenance, repair, improvement, cleaning or clearance of any part of the expressway; or
(b)	for the erection, laying, maintenance, alteration or removal of any structure, works, apparatus or any other thing on, over or under any part of the expressway. [S 649/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

General restrictions in relation to conduct in road tunnels and expressway tunnels

13. Except as otherwise directed or signalled by a police officer or conforming to any traffic sign, no person shall in any road tunnel or expressway tunnel —

(a)

stop any vehicle or permit it to remain at rest except when —

(i)	lawfully required to do so;
(ii)	compelled to do so by reason of accident, breakdown or emergency;

(b)

enter therein on foot;

(c)

alight from a vehicle except in an emergency or to summon assistance;

(d)

use the horn, siren, whistle or any other noise making device except in an emergency;

(e)

make any U-turn or reverse a vehicle;

(f)

change a tyre or wheel;

(g)

refuel or repair a vehicle; or

(h)

propel a vehicle by pushing it, whether manually or by other means.

[S 649/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

[S 201/2017 wef 02/05/2017]

General prohibitions in relation to vehicles allowed in road tunnels and expressway tunnels

14.—(1) No person shall drive or cause or permit to be driven in or cause to remain in any road tunnel or expressway tunnel any of the following vehicles:

(a)

a vehicle which is not carrying sufficient fuel in its fuel tank to enable it to be driven through;

(b)

a vehicle carrying animals or poultry which are not properly controlled or confined, or carrying garbage, fine particles or other similar materials which are not sufficiently covered;

(c)

a vehicle which is carrying any of the substances or articles set out in the Third Schedule;

(d)

a vehicle with a load or the cover of the load, not properly secured so as to prevent such cover or any part of the load from falling off or coming into contact with the road, the tunnel structure or its fittings or fixtures;

(e)

a vehicle carrying a person standing on the outside of the vehicle or seated with any part of his person overhanging the sides or rear of the vehicle;

(f)

subject to rule 14B(a), a vehicle whose overall height (including any load) is 4.5 metres or above;

[S 201/2017 wef 02/05/2017]

(g)

a vehicle whose overall width (including any load) exceeds 3 metres;

[S 473/2011 wef 17/08/2011]

[S 496/2016 wef 10/10/2016]

(h)

a vehicle whose overall length (including any load) exceeds 13 metres;

(i)

a trailer conveying a standard container;

[S 201/2017 wef 02/05/2017]

(j)

a tanker carrying diesel fuel;

[S 649/2010 wef 01/11/2010]

[S 201/2017 wef 02/05/2017]

(k)

any vehicle that has pedals and is built to be propelled solely by human power, including a bicycle, three‑wheeled pedal cycle, recumbent device or trishaw;

[S 201/2017 wef 02/05/2017]

[S 165/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

(l)

any bicycle or trishaw that —

(i)	is equipped with an electric motor; and
(ii)	may be propelled by human power or by the electric motor with which it is equipped, or by both.

[S 201/2017 wef 02/05/2017]

[S 165/2024 wef 01/03/2024]

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1)(c) shall prohibit the conveyance in any vehicle of any of the substances or articles set out in the Third Schedule if —

(a)	the substance or article is of a small quantity intended for personal use; or
(b)	the substance or article is for the purpose only of the propulsion of the vehicle.

(3) Nothing in paragraph (1)(g) shall prohibit a person from driving or causing or permitting to be driven in or causing to remain in any road tunnel or expressway tunnel, any vehicle whose overall width (including any load) exceeds 3 metres, where the use of such vehicle in the road tunnel or expressway tunnel is authorised by and in accordance with a trip permit or a term permit granted under rule 5 of the Road Traffic (Control of Width and Length of Motor Vehicles) Rules 2010 (G.N. No. S 626/2010).

[S 473/2011 wef 17/08/2011]

[S 496/2016 wef 10/10/2016]

[S 201/2017 wef 02/05/2017]

Prohibition against going or remaining on expressway on foot or skates

14A.—(1) No person shall at any time while on foot go or remain on any part of an expressway not being a footway except —

(a)	for the maintenance, repair, improvement, cleaning or clearance of any part of the expressway; or
(b)	for the erection, laying, maintenance, alteration or removal of any structure, works, apparatus or other thing in, on, under or over any part of the expressway.

(2) No person shall at any time while on skates go or remain on any part of an expressway.

(3) No person shall cross an expressway except by using an overhead bridge or a subway.

(4) A Deputy Commissioner of Police may authorise any person on foot to go or remain on any part of an expressway not being a footway on such occasions as he thinks fit or for the purpose of enabling such person to cross an expressway or to secure access to any premises abutting on or adjacent to the expressway.

[S 191/96 wef 26/04/1996]

Particular restrictions for Sentosa Gateway Tunnel

14B. A person must not, in the road tunnel specified in paragraph 3 of Part I of the Second Schedule, drive or cause or permit to be driven in or cause to remain any of the following vehicles:

(a)	a vehicle whose overall height (including any load) is 3.5 metres or above;
(b)	an excursion bus;
(c)	an omnibus;
(d)	a private bus;
(e)	a private hire bus;
(f)	a school bus;
(g)	a goods vehicle.

[S 201/2017 wef 02/05/2017]

Exceptions

15. These Rules shall not apply to —

(a)	a fire engine used for the purpose of extinguishing fires, of preserving life and property in case of fire or of aiding or rescuing persons in danger, or in case of an accident;
(b)	an authorised ambulance used for the purpose of attending to a medical emergency; [S 1070/2021 wef 03/01/2022]
(c)	a motor vehicle owned by the Government and used by the Singapore Police Force for the purpose of executing its functions; or
(d)	a motor vehicle owned or authorised by the Authority for the purpose of executing the Authority’s functions, [S 324/2004 wef 10/06/2004]

if compliance with these Rules would be likely to hinder the use of the fire engine, ambulance or vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used.