Statute Details
- Title: Road Traffic (Authorisation of Use) Notification 2013
- Act Code: RTA1961-S314-2013
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276)
- Enacting Power: Made in exercise of powers conferred by section 5(2) of the Road Traffic Act
- Primary Citation: No. S 314
- Enactment Date: 20 May 2013
- Commencement / Authorised Period: Authorised use from 23 May 2013 to 30 May 2013 (both dates inclusive)
- Key Provisions (from extract): Section 1 (Citation); Section 2 (Authorised use of vehicle and conditions)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (per the legislation portal)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Road Traffic (Authorisation of Use) Notification 2013 is a short, targeted legal instrument issued 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, even though that vehicle does not comply with certain technical requirements under the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules and the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Lighting) Rules.
Rather than amending the underlying rules, the Notification operates as a time-limited authorisation. It creates a narrow exception for a particular vehicle (BKU6672) for a defined period in May 2013. Such authorisations are typically used where a vehicle must be used for a particular purpose (for example, operational needs, events, or transitional arrangements), but full compliance with specified regulatory requirements is not met.
Because the Notification is issued under section 5(2) of the Road Traffic Act, it reflects the statutory framework that allows the LTA to authorise departures from certain regulatory requirements, but only on terms and conditions that protect road safety and third-party risk. The Notification therefore balances operational flexibility with risk controls—most notably insurance and police escort requirements.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation (Section 1)
Section 1 provides the short title: the “Road Traffic (Authorisation of Use) Notification 2013”. This is standard legislative drafting and assists practitioners in identifying and citing the instrument.
2. Authorised use of a specific vehicle (Section 2(1))
The core operative provision is section 2. Under section 2(1), the vehicle bearing registration number BKU6672—and which does not comply with two sets of rules—is authorised for use on any road in Singapore for a limited period: from 23 May 2013 to 30 May 2013 (inclusive).
The non-compliance is expressly tied to two regulatory instruments:
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules (R 9)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Lighting) Rules (R 10)
In practice, this means the Notification does not create a general exemption for all vehicles or all non-compliances. It is vehicle-specific and rule-specific. A practitioner should therefore treat the authorisation as narrow: it covers only the identified vehicle and only the specified non-compliance categories referenced in the Notification.
3. Conditions attached to the authorisation (Section 2(2))
Even though the vehicle is authorised despite non-compliance, the Notification imposes two mandatory conditions that must be satisfied “at all times” when the vehicle is used on Singapore roads.
(a) Insurance requirement (Section 2(2)(a))
There must be in force at all times a policy of insurance in relation to the vehicle. The insurance must insure against liability in respect of:
- damage to any property; and
- the death of, or bodily injury sustained by, any person
caused by or arising out of the use of the vehicle.
This condition is significant for liability management. It ensures that third parties injured by the authorised vehicle are protected by insurance coverage, even though the vehicle does not meet certain technical rules. For lawyers advising vehicle owners, insurers, or operators, this condition is a compliance “gatekeeper”: if insurance is not in force (or does not meet the required scope), the authorisation may not be relied upon.
(b) Escort requirement (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 safety and control measure. It effectively requires an operational arrangement: the vehicle cannot simply be driven by the owner or operator without the specified escort. Practically, this condition may affect scheduling, route planning, and compliance documentation. It also creates a clear standard for enforcement: if the vehicle is driven without the auxiliary police escort, the condition is breached.
4. Formal making and signatory
The Notification states it was made on 20 May 2013 by the Chairman of the Land Transport Authority of Singapore, Michael Lim Choo San. The presence of an LTA signatory and the citation of internal reference numbers indicates the instrument’s administrative basis and traceability.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Notification is structured in a conventional, minimal format typical of subsidiary legislation that grants a specific authorisation. Based on the extract, it contains:
- Section 1 (Citation): the short title.
- Section 2 (Authorised use of vehicle): the substantive authorisation, including the time window, the vehicle identification, the referenced non-compliance rules, and the conditions (insurance and auxiliary police escort).
There are no “Parts” or complex schedules in the extract. The instrument’s legal effect is therefore concentrated in section 2. For practitioners, this means the analysis and compliance work should focus almost entirely on section 2(1) and section 2(2).
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Notification applies to the vehicle bearing registration number BKU6672 and to persons who cause or permit that vehicle to be used on Singapore roads during the authorisation period (23 to 30 May 2013). While the Notification is directed at the vehicle’s authorisation status, the practical obligations fall on the vehicle owner, operator/driver, and any party arranging the vehicle’s deployment.
Because the conditions are framed as requirements “at all times” (insurance in force; auxiliary police escort when driven), the Notification effectively governs the conduct of those responsible for driving and insuring the vehicle during the relevant dates. It also has implications for insurers: the insurance policy must be in force and must cover the specified categories of liability arising from use.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Notification is brief, it is legally important because it creates a controlled exception to the general regulatory regime for motor vehicles. In Singapore, compliance with the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules and the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Lighting) Rules is part of the baseline framework for roadworthiness and safety. By authorising a non-compliant vehicle for a limited period, the Notification demonstrates how the law can accommodate operational realities while still imposing safeguards.
From an enforcement and risk perspective, the Notification’s conditions are the key. The insurance requirement ensures that third-party claims for property damage and personal injury/death are covered. The auxiliary police escort requirement provides an additional layer of oversight and control during the authorised driving period. Together, these conditions reduce the likelihood that the authorisation will be used to expose the public to unmitigated risk.
For practitioners, the Notification also illustrates how to interpret authorisations in subsidiary legislation: it is not enough that a vehicle is identified; the authorisation is time-bound and condition-dependent. If the vehicle is used outside the specified dates, or if either condition is not met, the authorisation may not protect the driver or operator from regulatory consequences arising from the underlying non-compliance.
Related Legislation
- Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276) (in particular, section 5(2), the authorising provision)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules (referenced: Rule 9)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Lighting) Rules (referenced: Rule 10)
- Legislation Timeline / Road Traffic Act timeline (for version control and cross-referencing, as indicated by the portal)
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.