Statute Details
- Title: Road Traffic (Authorisation of Use) Notification 2018
- Act Code: RTA1961-S611-2018
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276)
- Enacting power: Section 5(2) of the Road Traffic Act
- Enactment date: Made on 21 September 2018
- Commencement / effective period (authorised use): 15 October 2018 to 30 November 2018 (inclusive)
- Vehicle (registration number): TRD5397M
- Key provision: Section 2 (Authorised use of vehicle) and the Schedule (Specified areas)
- 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); Section 28A(3) of the Act
What Is This Legislation About?
The Road Traffic (Authorisation of Use) Notification 2018 is a targeted legal instrument issued by the Land Transport Authority of Singapore (LTA) under the Road Traffic Act. In plain terms, it creates a temporary permission for a specific vehicle—identified by its registration number—to be used in Singapore within defined geographical areas, even though the 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.
This Notification is not a general rule for all vehicles. It is a bespoke authorisation: it applies only to the vehicle TRD5397M, only for a limited period (from 15 October 2018 to 30 November 2018), and only within the “specified areas” listed in the Schedule. The legal mechanism is important for practitioners because it demonstrates how Singapore law can permit controlled deviations from technical compliance requirements, while still imposing safety and liability safeguards.
From a regulatory perspective, the Notification balances two competing interests. On one hand, road traffic legislation typically requires vehicles to meet prescribed construction and lighting standards. On the other hand, there are circumstances where a vehicle may be used temporarily for operational or transitional reasons, provided that risk controls are in place—particularly insurance coverage and the holding of the relevant special purpose licence.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation and scope of the Notification. The Notification is formally cited as the “Road Traffic (Authorisation of Use) Notification 2018”. Its operative effect is contained in section 2, supported by the Schedule. The authorisation is therefore structured as a legal permission that is both time-bound and geographically limited.
2. Authorised use of a non-compliant vehicle (section 2(1)). Section 2(1) provides the core authorisation. It states that, subject to section 2(2), the vehicle bearing registration number TRD5397M is authorised for use within the areas specified in the Schedule from 15 October 2018 to 30 November 2018 (both dates inclusive). The authorisation applies specifically because the vehicle does not comply with two sets of rules:
- the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules (R 9); and
- the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Lighting) Rules (R 10).
Practically, this means the Notification is a legal “override” or “authorisation” that allows the vehicle to be used notwithstanding non-compliance with those technical standards. For lawyers, the key point is that the authorisation is not a blanket exemption from all traffic rules; it is narrowly tied to the identified non-compliance with R 9 and R 10, and it is constrained by time, location, and conditions.
3. Conditions attached to the authorisation (section 2(2)). Section 2(2) is crucial because it makes the authorisation conditional. The authorisation is valid only if both conditions are satisfied “at all times”:
- Insurance requirement (section 2(2)(a)). There must be in force at all times a policy of insurance, insuring against liability in respect of damage to property or the death of, or bodily injury sustained by, any person caused by or arising out of the use of the vehicle.
- Special purpose licence requirement (section 2(2)(b)). There must be, at all times, a valid special purpose licence issued under section 28A(3) of the Road Traffic Act in respect of the vehicle.
These conditions are designed to ensure that even where technical compliance is temporarily relaxed, the vehicle remains covered by financial responsibility mechanisms and is operated under a licensing framework that presumably accounts for the vehicle’s special status and intended use. The “at all times” language is legally significant: if insurance lapses or the special purpose licence is not valid continuously, the authorisation may cease to apply, exposing the operator to potential regulatory and enforcement consequences.
4. The Schedule: specified areas. The Notification refers to “areas specified in the Schedule”. While the extract provided does not reproduce the Schedule’s detailed list of locations, the legal structure makes clear that the authorisation is geographically bounded. For practitioners, this means any assessment of compliance must include a location analysis: even if the vehicle is within the authorised time window and holds valid insurance and a special purpose licence, use outside the Schedule’s areas would fall outside the Notification’s permission.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Notification is structured in a compact, two-part format typical of targeted subsidiary legislation:
- Section 1 (Citation): identifies the instrument as the “Road Traffic (Authorisation of Use) Notification 2018”.
- Section 2 (Authorised use of vehicle): sets out the authorisation for the specified vehicle, the time period, the relevant non-compliance (R 9 and R 10), and the conditions (insurance and special purpose licence).
- The Schedule (Specified areas): lists the geographical areas within which the authorisation applies.
There are no “Parts” in the extract because the instrument is short and focused. The legal effect is therefore concentrated: the operative permission is in section 2, while the geographic limitation is in the Schedule.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This Notification applies to the use of the specific vehicle TRD5397M within Singapore. It is not directed at a class of vehicles (e.g., all motorcycles) or at a class of persons (e.g., all employers). Instead, it is vehicle-specific and operationally conditional.
In practice, the Notification will be relevant to: (i) the vehicle owner and operator, (ii) any person responsible for ensuring the vehicle is used within the authorised areas and time window, and (iii) insurers and compliance stakeholders who must confirm that the required insurance is “in force at all times”. It also presupposes the existence of a special purpose licence under section 28A(3) of the Road Traffic Act, meaning that the operator must coordinate licensing compliance with the Notification’s conditions.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Notification is narrow in scope, it is legally significant because it illustrates how Singapore’s road traffic regulatory framework can accommodate exceptional circumstances without abandoning core risk controls. Technical standards under R 9 and R 10 exist to promote road safety and uniformity. By authorising use despite non-compliance, the Notification provides a controlled pathway for temporary operation—likely for a specific project, event, or transitional operational need.
For lawyers advising clients, the most important practical implications are the conditions and the boundaries of the authorisation. The “at all times” insurance and special purpose licence requirements mean that compliance is not merely a one-off check at the start of the authorisation period. Instead, it requires ongoing verification. Similarly, the Schedule’s “specified areas” requirement means that route planning and operational deployment must be aligned with the authorised geography.
From an enforcement perspective, if a vehicle is used outside the permitted areas, outside the permitted dates, or without continuous insurance and a valid special purpose licence, the operator may lose the protection of the authorisation. That could expose the operator to regulatory action for breach of the underlying rules that the Notification temporarily relaxes. Therefore, the Notification should be treated as a strict permission with strict compliance requirements, rather than as a general exemption.
Related Legislation
- Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276) (including section 5(2) authorising the Notification and section 28A(3) relating to special purpose licences)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules (R 9)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Lighting) Rules (R 10)
- Road Traffic Act – Timeline / Legislation history (for confirming the correct version and amendments, if any)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Road Traffic (Authorisation of Use) Notification 2018 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.