Statute Details
- Title: Road Traffic (Authorisation of Use) Notification 2013
- Act Code: RTA1961-S314-2013
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Enacting/Authorising Act: Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276)
- Legal Basis: Powers conferred by section 5(2) of the Road Traffic Act
- Primary Instrument Date: Made on 20 May 2013
- Commencement (practical effect): Authorisation period runs from 23 May 2013 to 30 May 2013 (inclusive)
- Key Provisions:
- Section 1: Citation
- Section 2: Authorised use of a specified vehicle (registration number BKU6672) subject to conditions
- Related Legislation: Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules (R 9); Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Lighting) Rules (R 10); Road Traffic Act (Ch. 276)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Road Traffic (Authorisation of Use) Notification 2013 is a short, targeted subsidiary legal instrument made by the Land Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA). In plain terms, it temporarily permits the use on Singapore roads of a specific motor vehicle—identified by its registration number, BKU6672—even though the vehicle does not comply with certain road traffic regulatory requirements.
Ordinarily, Singapore’s road traffic framework requires vehicles to meet prescribed standards under subsidiary rules. This Notification operates as a limited exception: it authorises the vehicle’s road use for a defined period (23 May 2013 to 30 May 2013, inclusive), notwithstanding non-compliance with the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules (R 9) and the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Lighting) Rules (R 10). The exception is not open-ended; it is time-bound and subject to strict safety and insurance-related conditions.
For practitioners, the key point is that this Notification does not “amend” the underlying rules. Instead, it creates a narrow legal authorisation for a particular vehicle for a particular window of time, under the LTA’s statutory power in section 5(2) of the Road Traffic Act.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation (Section 1)
Section 1 provides the short title: the instrument may be cited as the Road Traffic (Authorisation of Use) Notification 2013. While this is standard drafting, it matters for legal referencing in enforcement correspondence, court filings, and administrative records.
2. Authorised use of vehicle (Section 2)
Section 2 is the operative provision. Sub-paragraph (1) states that, subject to sub-paragraph (2), the vehicle bearing registration number BKU6672 and which does not comply with:
- the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules (R 9), and
- the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Lighting) Rules (R 10),
is nonetheless authorised for use on any road in Singapore from 23 May 2013 to 30 May 2013 (both dates inclusive).
This wording is legally significant in several ways:
- Specificity: the authorisation is tied to a single registration number, not a class of vehicles.
- Non-compliance acknowledged: the Notification expressly contemplates that the vehicle does not comply with the specified rules.
- Geographic scope: “any road in Singapore” indicates the authorisation is not limited to particular routes or zones.
- Temporal scope: the authorisation is strictly limited to the stated dates; outside that window, the authorisation does not apply.
3. Conditions attached to authorisation (Section 2(2))
Sub-paragraph (2) imposes two conditions that must be satisfied at all times when the vehicle is used during the authorisation period.
(a) Insurance requirement (Section 2(2)(a))
There must be in force at all times a policy of insurance in relation to the vehicle, insuring against liability for:
- damage to any property,
- the death of any person, and
- bodily injury sustained by any person,
caused by or arising out of the use of the vehicle.
Practically, this condition ensures that even though the vehicle is permitted to operate despite regulatory non-compliance, it remains covered for third-party risks. For counsel advising vehicle owners or operators, this condition is a compliance “gate”: if insurance lapses, the authorisation may cease to be effective, potentially exposing the driver/owner to enforcement action.
(b) Escort by auxiliary police officers (Section 2(2)(b))
The vehicle must be escorted by auxiliary police officers at all times when it is driven on any road in Singapore.
This is a heightened operational safeguard. The requirement is not merely that auxiliary police be present at the start or end of a journey; it is “at all times” while the vehicle is driven. For practitioners, this raises evidential and operational questions that often matter in disputes:
- What constitutes “escorted” in practice (e.g., accompanying vehicle, position, communication)?
- How “at all times” is satisfied if the vehicle stops, changes routes, or is temporarily stationary?
- What documentation or logs would demonstrate compliance if challenged?
4. Formal making clause
The Notification is “Made this 20th day of May 2013” and signed by the Chairman of the LTA, Michael Lim Choo San. The inclusion of the LTA reference number and the Attorney-General’s Chambers reference underscores that this is an official instrument with traceable administrative provenance.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Notification is structurally minimal, consistent with its purpose as a targeted authorisation. It contains:
- Section 1 (Citation): identifies the instrument.
- Section 2 (Authorised use of vehicle): provides the authorisation and the conditions.
There are no additional Parts or complex schedules in the extract provided. The operative content is concentrated entirely in Section 2, which (i) identifies the vehicle, (ii) specifies the non-compliance rules, (iii) sets the authorisation period, and (iv) lists the two conditions—insurance and auxiliary police escort.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Notification applies to the vehicle BKU6672 and, by extension, to the persons responsible for its use on Singapore roads during the authorisation period. Although the text does not expressly name the driver, owner, or operator, the conditions are framed in a way that necessarily binds those who arrange, permit, or carry out the vehicle’s driving on public roads.
In practice, the authorisation is relevant to:
- Vehicle owners and fleet operators who must ensure insurance coverage remains in force and that escort arrangements are made;
- Drivers who must ensure the vehicle is escorted by auxiliary police officers whenever it is driven; and
- Advisers and compliance teams who must verify that the authorisation period is respected and that the vehicle’s use does not extend beyond the dates.
Because the authorisation is time-limited and condition-dependent, it is not a general permission that can be relied upon for later periods or different vehicles. If the vehicle is used outside 23–30 May 2013, or if insurance lapses or escort is not maintained, the legal basis for “authorised use” would be undermined.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Notification is brief, it is legally important because it demonstrates how Singapore’s regulatory system can accommodate exceptional circumstances without abandoning safety and liability protections. The underlying rules (construction/use and lighting) exist to reduce risks on public roads. This Notification allows a temporary exception for a specific vehicle, but it compensates for the regulatory gap by imposing stringent conditions.
1. Enforcement and compliance consequences
For practitioners, the most practical significance lies in enforcement risk. If a vehicle is used in reliance on this authorisation but the conditions are not met—particularly the “at all times” insurance and escort requirements—the authorisation may not protect the parties involved. In disputes, the presence or absence of auxiliary police escort and the continuity of insurance coverage will likely be central facts.
2. Risk allocation and third-party protection
The insurance condition is a direct mechanism for risk allocation. Even where a vehicle does not comply with certain technical rules, the Notification ensures that third-party claims for property damage, death, or bodily injury remain insurable. This is crucial for owners and insurers, and for lawyers handling claims arising from road incidents.
3. Operational planning for time-limited permissions
Because the authorisation period is narrow, the Notification is also a compliance-management tool. It requires careful scheduling and coordination—especially for escort arrangements. Practitioners advising on logistics, regulatory approvals, or temporary road use should treat the dates and conditions as hard constraints rather than administrative formalities.
Related Legislation
- Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276) — in particular, section 5(2) (the enabling provision for authorisation notifications)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules (R 9)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Lighting) Rules (R 10)
- Road Traffic (Authorisation of Use) Notifications (as a category of subsidiary instruments, if applicable in the relevant timeline)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Road Traffic (Authorisation of Use) Notification 2013 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.