PART IV | RULES GOVERNING THE USE ON ROADS OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAILERS |
| 98. [Deleted by S 83/2006 wef 15/02/2006] |
| Laden weights of vehicles |
99.—(1) The weight transmitted to the road surface by any one wheel of a motor vehicle where no other wheel is in the same line transversely may amount to but shall not exceed 6 metric tons, and the total weight so transmitted by any 2 wheels in line transversely may amount to but shall not exceed 12 metric tons, and the sum of the weights so transmitted by all the wheels may amount to but shall not exceed —| (a) | in the case of a motor vehicle with 2 axles, 19 metric tons; | | (b) | in the case of a motor vehicle with 3 axles, 28 metric tons; | | (c) | in the case of a motor vehicle with 4 axles or more, 34 metric tons; | | (d) | in the case of a 4 axle articulated vehicle, 39 metric tons; and | | (e) | in the case of a 5 or more axle articulated vehicle, 46 metric tons. |
| (2) The weight transmitted to the road surface by any one wheel of a trailer where no other wheel is in the same line transversely may amount to but shall not exceed 6 metric tons, and the total weight so transmitted by any 2 wheels in line transversely may amount to but shall not exceed 12 metric tons. [S 771/2004 wef 01/01/2005] |
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| 100. The weight transmitted by more than 2 wheels of a heavy motor car, motor car or trailer, whether laden or unladen, to any strip of the road surface upon which the vehicle rests contained between any 2 parallel lines drawn 600 millimetres apart on that surface at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle shall not exceed 12 metric tons. [S 771/2004 wef 01/01/2005] |
| Maintenance and use of vehicle so as not to be a danger |
101.—(1) Every motor vehicle, every trailer drawn thereby and all parts and accessories of such vehicle and trailer shall at all times be in such condition and the number of passengers carried by such vehicle or trailer, the manner in which any passenger is carried in or on such vehicle or trailer, and the weight, distribution, packing and adjustment of the load of such vehicle or trailer shall at all times be such that no danger is caused or is likely to be caused to any person in or on the vehicle or trailer or on a road.| (2) In the case of a public service vehicle the provisions of this rule with regard to the number of passengers carried shall be deemed to be complied with if the number does not exceed that for the time being permitted by the permit or licence issued. |
| (3) In the case of a motor cycle with a side-car, constructed for the carriage of goods, attached thereto, the provisions of this rule with regard to the weight of the load shall be deemed to be complied with if the weight of the load carried in the side-car does not exceed 70 kilogrammes. |
| (4) The load carried by a motor vehicle or trailer at all times shall be so secured or be in such a position that danger is not likely to be caused to any person by reason of the load or any part thereof falling from the vehicle or by reason of any other movement of the load or any part thereof in relation to the vehicle. |
| (5) No motor vehicle or trailer shall be used for any purpose for which it is so unsuitable as to cause or be likely to cause danger to any person in or on the vehicle or trailer or on a road. |
| (6) No container shall be carried on a vehicle without the prior written permission of the Registrar. |
| (7) The load carried by a goods vehicle shall not be higher than the top of the side rails or panels of a vehicle unless such goods are so securely tied or attached to the vehicle that the goods are not likely to fall from the vehicle. |
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102.—(1) If the load carried by a vehicle projects to the rear by more than 300 millimetres beyond the body of the vehicle, a clean red flag of 300 millimetres square shall be displayed unfurled at a point as near as practicable to the extreme projecting point at the rear of the load so as to be clearly visible from the rear of the vehicle in the day time.| (2) Where a heavy motor car is fitted with a crane having a jib which extends beyond the front edge of a driver’s seat, a clean red flag of 300 millimetres square shall be displayed unfurled at a point as near as practicable to the extreme projecting point at the front of the jib so as to be clearly visible outside the heavy motor car in the day time. |
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| Prohibition on spilling of oil carried on vehicle |
| 103. No person shall cause or permit any oil carried on a motor vehicle of which he is the driver to spill on to a road. |
| Maintenance of brakes, steering gear and windscreen wipers |
104.—(1) Every part of every braking system and of the means of operation thereof fitted to a motor vehicle or trailer shall at all times while the motor vehicle or trailer is used on a road be maintained in good and efficient working order and be properly adjusted.| (2) Every steering gear fitted to a motor vehicle shall at all times while the motor vehicle is used on a road be maintained in good and efficient working order and be properly adjusted. |
| (3) Every windscreen wiper fitted to a motor vehicle shall at all times while the motor vehicle is used on a road be maintained in good and efficient working order and be properly adjusted. |
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| Maintenance of lighting equipment and reflectors |
105.—(1) Every lamp and reflector and all other equipment with which a motor vehicle is required by rules 26 to 32 to be equipped shall at all times while the vehicle is used on a road be maintained in such a condition as to render the vehicle capable of being driven on a road during the hours of darkness without contravention of the provisions of any written law relating to such lamp, reflector or equipment which are applicable to that vehicle.(2) Where a person is charged with a contravention of paragraph (1) in respect of the use of a motor vehicle on a road otherwise than during the hours of darkness, it shall be a good defence for that person to prove that —| (a) | the contravention arose from a defect in the lighting equipment of, or in a reflector carried by, the vehicle which occurred in the course of the journey during which the contravention occurred; or | | (b) | the contravention arose from a defect in the lighting equipment of, or in a reflector carried by, the vehicle and that before, the contravention occurred, steps had been taken to have the defect remedied with all reasonable expedition. |
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| (3) No reversing lamp shall be lit except when the vehicle is travelling backwards. |
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| Use and maintenance of exhaust system |
106.—(1) Any person who uses or causes or permits to be used on a road any vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine with —| (a) | an exhaust system that is not approved for use by the Registrar; | | (b) | an exhaust system or any part thereof which is not in good and efficient working order; or | | (c) | an exhaust system or any part thereof which has been modified or altered in any way which is likely to prevent the exhaust system or any part thereof from working properly or efficiently, |
| shall be guilty of an offence. |
| (2) In this rule, “exhaust system” means a system in a vehicle consisting of a silencer, expansion chamber, exhaust pipe or other contrivance used individually or in combination with each other for the purpose of expelling exhaust gases into the atmosphere. [S 271/2002 wef 03/06/2002] |
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| Maintenance of speedometer |
107.—(1) Every instrument for indicating speed fitted to a motor vehicle in compliance with rule 14 shall at all times while the vehicle is used on a road —| (a) | be maintained in good working order; and | | (b) | be kept free from any obstruction which might prevent its being easily read. |
(2) Where a person is charged with a contravention of any of the provisions of paragraph (1), it shall be a good defence for that person to prove that —| (a) | the defect occurred in the course of the journey during which the contravention was detected; or | | (b) | at the time when the contravention was detected, steps had already been taken to have the defect remedied with all reasonable expedition. |
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| Maintenance of fuel measuring equipment |
| 108.—(1) Every instrument or appliance, or combination of instruments or appliances, fitted to a motor vehicle for measuring or indicating or measuring and indicating the amount of motor fuel in each fuel tank of the motor vehicle shall at all times while the vehicle is used on a road be maintained in good working order. [S 1/2012 wef 03/01/2012] | (2) Any person who uses on the road any motor vehicle fitted with an instrument or appliance, or combination of instruments or appliances referred to in paragraph (1) while such instrument or appliance or combination thereof is not maintained in accordance with paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $500. |
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| Condition and maintenance of tyres |
109.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), no person shall use or cause or permit to be used on a road any motor vehicle or trailer, a wheel of which is fitted with a pneumatic tyre, if —| (a) | the tyre is unsuitable having regard to the use to which the motor vehicle or trailer is being put or to the types of tyres fitted to its other wheels; | | (b) | the tyre is not so inflated as to make it fit for the use to which the motor vehicle or trailer is being put; | | (c) | the tyre has a break in its fabric, or has a cut in excess of 25 millimetres or 10% of the section width of the tyre, whichever is the greater, measured in any direction on the outside of the tyre and deep enough to reach the body cords; | | (d) | the tyre has any lump or bulge caused by separation or partial failure of its structure; | | (e) | the tyre has any portion of the ply or cord structure exposed; or | | (f) | where the tyre is fitted to a wheel of a motor vehicle, being a motor cycle whereof the cylinder capacity of the engine does not exceed 50 cubic centimetres, the tread of the tyre does not show throughout at least 75% of the breadth of the tread and round the entire outer circumference of the tyre a pattern the relief of which is clearly visible, or where the tyre is fitted to the wheel of any other motor vehicle or any trailer, the tread pattern (excluding any tie-bar) of the tyre does not have a depth of at least one millimetre throughout at least 75% of the breadth of the tread and round the entire outer circumference of the tyre. |
| (2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall apply to a land tractor or land implement. |
| (3) Nothing in paragraph (1) or (4) shall apply to a broken-down vehicle or to a vehicle proceeding to a place where it is to be broken up, in either case being drawn by a motor vehicle at a speed not exceeding 35 kilometres per hour. |
| (4) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), no person shall use or cause or permit to be used on a road any motor vehicle or trailer a wheel of which is fitted with a recut pneumatic tyre the fabric of which has been cut or exposed by the recutting process. |
(5) Without prejudice to paragraphs (1) and (4), all the tyres of a motor vehicle or trailer shall at all times while the vehicle or trailer is used on a road be maintained in such condition as to —| (a) | be fit for the use to which the vehicle or trailer is being put; and | | (b) | be free from any defect which might in any way cause damage to the surface of the road or danger to persons on or in the vehicle or trailer or to other persons using the road. |
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| Condition and maintenance of tracks |
110. All the tracks of a track laying motor vehicle or trailer shall at all times while the vehicle or trailer is used on a road be maintained in such condition as to —| (a) | be fit for the use to which the vehicle or trailer is being put; and | | (b) | be free from any defect which might in any way cause damage to the surface of the road or danger to persons on or in the vehicle or trailer or to other persons using the road. |
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| 111. All glass or other transparent material fitted to a motor vehicle shall be maintained in such condition that it does not obscure the vision of the driver while the vehicle is being driven on a road. |
| 112. No person shall cause or permit the contents of any closet, urinal, lavatory basin or sink carried by a motor vehicle or trailer or of any tank (into which such closet, urinal, lavatory basin or sink drains) to be discharged or allowed to leak on to a road. |
| Use of audible warning instruments |
113.—(1) No person shall, when a vehicle is stationary on a road at any time, sound or cause or permit to be sounded any instrument or apparatus fitted to or otherwise carried on the vehicle, being an instrument or apparatus capable of giving audible and sufficient warning of its approach or position.| (2) Subject to this rule and without prejudice to paragraph (1), no person shall sound or cause or permit to be sounded a gong, bell, siren or any instrument or apparatus capable of making a sound similar to that emitted by a gong, bell, siren or a multi-tone horn fitted to or otherwise carried on a vehicle (whether it is stationary or not). |
| (3) Nothing in paragraph (1) or (2) shall have effect to prevent the sounding of an instrument or apparatus fitted to or otherwise carried on a vehicle at a time when the vehicle is being used for one of the purposes specified in rule 24(2) and it is necessary or desirable to do so either to indicate to other road users the urgency of the purposes for which the vehicle is being used, or to warn other users of the presence of the vehicle on the road. |
| (4) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall have effect to prevent the driver of a vehicle or some other person authorised by the owner thereof sounding or causing or permitting to be sounded an instrument or apparatus fitted to or otherwise carried on the vehicle if it is sounded for the purposes of raising an alarm as to the theft or attempted theft of the vehicle or its contents. |
(5) Subject to section 14 (1) of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act (Cap. 184) and notwithstanding paragraph (2), a person may sound or cause or permit to be sounded an instrument or apparatus other than a multi-tone horn fitted to or otherwise carried on a vehicle, being an instrument or apparatus designed to emit a sound for the purpose of informing members of the public that the vehicle is conveying goods for sale, if —| (a) | when the instrument or apparatus is sounded, it is sounded only for that purpose; and | | (b) | the instrument or apparatus is sounded otherwise than between the hours of 12 midnight and 6 a.m. |
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| 114. No person shall cause or permit a motor vehicle, other than a road roller or other road plant while engaged in the construction, maintenance or repair of roads, to travel backwards for a greater distance or time than may be requisite for the safety or reasonable convenience of the occupants of that vehicle or of other traffic on the road. |
| Opening doors and alighting from vehicle |
115.—(1) No person shall —| (a) | open or cause or permit to be opened any door; or | | (b) | alight from a motor vehicle, |
| so as to cause injury or danger to himself or any other person or so as to impede the flow of traffic. |
| (2) All doors, bonnets and hinged covers shall be kept firmly shut while the vehicle is in motion. |
| (3) Paragraph (2) shall be deemed to have been complied with in the case of a public service vehicle having a seating capacity for more than 14 persons, excluding the driver, and having folding doors fitted to the vehicle in accordance with rule 78 or 80 or rules 78 and 80 if such doors are held securely open. |
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| Application of brake of trailer |
| 116. No person in charge of a motor vehicle or trailer drawn thereby shall cause or permit such trailer to stand when detached from the drawing vehicle unless at least one of the wheels of the trailer is prevented from revolving by the setting of the brake or the use of a chain. |
| Duties relating to driving of vehicle |
117. No person while driving a motor vehicle on a road shall be in such a position that he —| (a) | cannot have proper control of that vehicle; | | (b) | cannot retain a full view of the road and traffic ahead or have an adequate view of the road to the rear; or | | (c) | cannot by means of hand signals or direction indicators give signals to traffic to the rear of the vehicle. |
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| Vehicle on road to be attended by licensed driver |
118.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), no person shall cause or permit to be on a road any motor vehicle which is not attended by a person duly licensed to drive it unless —| (a) | the engine is stopped; and | | (b) | where the vehicle is fitted with a brake capable of being set, the brake is set so as effectually to prevent at least 2 or in the case of a vehicle with only 3 wheels one of the wheels from revolving. |
(2) The requirements of paragraph (1) as to the stopping of the engine shall not apply to —| (a) | a fire brigade vehicle the engine of which is being used for any fire fighting purpose; [S 1050/2021 wef 03/01/2022] | | (b) | a vehicle when it is used for police purposes; and [S 1050/2021 wef 03/01/2022] | | (c) | an authorised ambulance when it is used to attend to a medical emergency. [S 1050/2021 wef 03/01/2022] |
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| Restriction on distance between motor vehicle and trailer and marking of trailer connections |
119.—(1) Where a motor vehicle is drawing a trailer solely by means of a rope or chain or, in a case where more than one trailer is being drawn, where a trailer is attached to another trailer solely by such means, the length of the rope or chain shall be such that the distance between the nearest points of the trailer and the vehicle to which it is so attached cannot exceed 4.5 metres.| (2) Where a motor vehicle is drawing a trailer or trailers and the distance between the nearest points of the trailer or, as the case may be, of any trailer so drawn and the vehicle to which it is attached exceeds 1.5 metres, steps shall be taken to render the means whereby that trailer is attached to that vehicle clearly visible to other persons using the road within a reasonable distance from either side of either vehicle. |
| (3) For the purposes of this rule, in determining the nearest points of 2 vehicles, any part of either vehicle designed primarily for use as a means of attaching the one vehicle to the other and of any fitting designed for use in connection with any such part shall be disregarded. |
(4) No motor vehicle shall draw any broken-down motor vehicle all the wheels of which are in contact with the ground unless —| (a) | the broken-down motor vehicle is in the charge of a person holding a valid driving licence in respect thereof; and | | (b) | the brakes and steering gear of the broken-down motor vehicle are such that the person in charge thereof can exercise control over its speed and direction. |
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| (5) Where a vehicle which is being drawn is attached to the drawing vehicle by a rigid tow bar, it shall not be necessary for the brakes of the vehicle which is being drawn to be in working order if the brakes of the drawing vehicle are such that the person driving the drawing vehicle can exercise control of the speed of both vehicles. |
| (6) A vehicle being drawn by another shall have a notice, containing the words “On Tow” of 150 millimetres in height displayed at the rear thereof. |
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| Restrictions on use of motor vehicles to draw trailers |
120.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), no motor vehicle the overall length of which exceeds 7 metres shall draw a trailer.| (2) Nothing in paragraph (1) shall apply to a motor vehicle drawing a broken-down vehicle, in consequence of a break-down, in such a manner that the broken-down vehicle cannot be steered by its own steering gear. |
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| Restriction on motor vehicles drawing more than one trailer |
| 121. No motor vehicle, other than a works vehicle or land tractor, shall draw more than one trailer. |
| Side-car fitted to motor cycle |
| 122. Every side-car fitted to a motor cycle shall be so attached that the wheel thereof is not wholly outside perpendicular planes at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the motor cycle passing through the extreme projecting points in the front and in the rear of the motor cycle. |
| Prohibition on motor cycle drawing trailer |
| 123. No motor cycle shall draw a trailer. |
| Restriction on use of trailer to convey passenger |
| 124. No trailer shall be used for the conveyance of any passenger for the purpose of gain. |
| Restrictions on use of motor vehicles having accessories |
125.—(1) No mascot shall be carried by a motor vehicle in any position where it is likely to strike any person with whom the vehicle may collide unless the mascot is not liable to cause injury to such person by reason of any projection thereon.| (2) No part or accessory of a motor vehicle shall project beyond the body of the vehicle in such a manner or position as to cause or be likely to cause danger to any person on a road. |
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126.—(1) No person shall use or install for use in a motor vehicle a visual display unit if —| (a) | the screen is partly or wholly visible to the driver whilst in the driving seat, whether directly or otherwise; or | | (b) | the controls thereof, other than the sound volume control and the main switch, are within reach of the driver whilst in the driving seat. |
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a visual display unit may be used or installed in a motor vehicle if —| (a) | it displays information about the state of the vehicle or its equipment; | | (b) | it is solely used for the purpose of navigating the vehicle; | | (c) | it is used to assist the driver to see the area surrounding the vehicle; | | (d) | it is part of a message display or fare system used in public service vehicles; | | (e) | it is used solely by the civil defence or police forces for special purposes; or | | (f) | it is used to display such information as the Registrar may approve. |
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(3) No person shall drive, or cause or permit to be driven, a motor vehicle on a road if the visual display unit is installed in a manner or position that —| (a) | causes distraction to the driver of any other vehicle on the road; | | (b) | poses a safety hazard; or | | (c) | interferes with the transmission of signals between an in-vehicle unit and any ERP facility. |
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(4) In this rule —| “ERP facility” and “in-vehicle unit” have the same meanings as in the Road Traffic (Electronic Road Pricing System) Rules (R 38); |
| “visual display unit” means any appliance or electronic system which displays information in the form of images or words on a screen. [S 83/2006 wef 15/02/2006] |
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| Sign suggesting motor vehicle to be taxi |
126A.—(1) A motor vehicle which is not a taxi must not have installed, and must not display, on or within it a relevant sign except with the prior written permission of the Registrar.(2) In this rule, “relevant sign”, in relation to a motor vehicle, means any sign, notice, decal or label, in printed, electronic or any other form, which consists of —| (a) | the word “taxi”, “cab”, “mini‑taxi”, “mini‑cab”, “taxi‑cab” or “cab‑taxi”; | | (b) | the words “for hire” or “public hire car”; | | (c) | any other word or combination of other words in any language having the same meaning as the word or words in sub‑paragraph (a) or (b); or | | (d) | any word, picture, or combination of word and picture that reasonably suggests the motor vehicle is available to take up any passenger who wishes to hire the vehicle on any road or from any parking place or public stand. |
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[S 56/2018 wef 01/02/2018] |
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