Earlier this week, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) carried out enforcement operations at several locations against drivers who continue to provide car-pooling services during the circuit breaker period. Two drivers were booked and their vehicles have been seized while investigations are being carried out.
2 As announced in an advisory on the LTA website, car-pooling services such as those provided through GrabHitch, Rydepool, or those arranged privately are not designated as essential services and prohibited during circuit breaker period. Drivers who do not comply can be prosecuted under the Road Traffic Act, Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation Act) for the use of an unlicensed vehicle to provide transport services and using a vehicle that is not properly insured to ferry passengers, and the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.
3 While commercial operators have suspended their car-pooling services, LTA is aware that some drivers, like the two who have been booked, continue to offer such services privately through messaging platforms. Such irresponsible behaviour endangers the health of drivers, passengers and their families, and undermines Singapore’s ongoing efforts to suppress the spread of COVID-19. Members of the public who come across individuals providing illegal car-pooling services should notify LTA through the OneMotoring portal using the e-service, “Report Vehicle-Related Offences”.
4 During the circuit breaker period, commuters who must undertake essential travel should use public transport or taxis and private hire car services booked through their respective ride-hail applications. Those hailing taxis along the street should scan the QR code found in the taxi to provide their contact details or visit https://go.gov.sg/journeyinfo. Taxi drivers have also been instructed to issue passengers with receipts for their taxi rides. Passengers should keep these receipts for at least 14 days. These steps will facilitate contact tracing efforts, should the need arise.
5 Mr Chandrasekar Palanisamy, Group Director (Traffic & Road Operations) at LTA said, “We urge both drivers and commuters to be socially responsible and comply with the COVID-19 circuit breaker measures, which have been put in place to safeguard public health and to minimise community transmission. LTA views the provision of car-pooling services at this time as a serious offence. We will continue to actively enforce against those who provide such services illegally.”
ANNEX – Photographs of enforcement operations against illegal car-pooling services
