Statute Details
- Title: Road Traffic (Car‑Free Weekend — Exemption of Trishaws and Trishaw Riders) Order 2016
- Act Code: RTA1961-S601-2016
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Road Traffic Act (Cap. 276), section 142
- Commencement: 27 November 2016
- Current Version Status: Current version as at 27 March 2026
- Key Provisions: Section 1 (Citation and commencement); Section 2 (Exemption)
- Amendment Noted in Extract: Amended by S 213/2024 with effect from 16/03/2024
- Instrument Number: SL 601/2016
- Made By: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport (Pang Kin Keong)
- Related Legislation (as provided): Health Promotion Board Act 2001; National Arts Council Act 1991; National Parks Act; National Parks Board Act 1996; Road Traffic Act
What Is This Legislation About?
The Road Traffic (Car‑Free Weekend — Exemption of Trishaws and Trishaw Riders) Order 2016 is a targeted legal instrument that temporarily relaxes certain road traffic regulatory requirements for trishaws and trishaw riders during “Car‑Free Weekend” events. In practical terms, it allows trishaws to operate on roads that are otherwise closed to traffic for these events, without being automatically caught by specific provisions of the Road Traffic Act and related subsidiary rules that would normally restrict or regulate trishaw use.
Car‑Free Weekend arrangements in Singapore are typically implemented through separate orders made under section 143 of the Road Traffic Act, which authorise road closures for the event. This 2016 Order then addresses a common operational and policy question: when roads are closed to general traffic, should trishaws be treated the same as other vehicles, or can they be exempted to support mobility, accessibility, and event-related transport?
The Order’s scope is deliberately narrow. It does not create a general “trishaw exemption” for all times and places. Instead, it ties the exemption to (i) the specific roads that are closed to traffic under a section 143 order, and (ii) events that qualify as “Car‑Free Weekend” under the Order’s definition. It also distinguishes between trishaws that are registered under the trishaw registration rules and those that are not, and it provides exemptions for both the vehicle and the individual rider.
What Are the Key Provisions?
Section 1 (Citation and commencement) is straightforward. It provides the short title and states that the Order comes into operation on 27 November 2016. The extract also notes that the Order was amended by S 213/2024 with effect from 16 March 2024. For practitioners, this matters because the operative wording of the exemption provisions (particularly the definition of “Car‑Free Weekend” and the scope of exemptions) may have been updated in 2024.
Section 2 (Exemption) is the core of the instrument. It sets out a series of exemptions from specified sections of the Road Traffic Act and from specified rules under the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Rules and other subsidiary rules. The exemptions apply only when a trishaw is used on a road that is closed to traffic under an order made under section 143 of the Act, and only for the purposes of Car‑Free Weekend.
Section 2(1): Exemption for registered trishaws on closed roads. This paragraph provides that sections 106, 107, 110 and 120(3) of the Road Traffic Act and rule 63(1)(c) of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Rules do not apply to a trishaw registered under rule 2 of the Road Traffic (Registration of Trishaws) Rules while it is used on any road closed to traffic under a section 143 order, in connection with Car‑Free Weekend.
Although the extract does not reproduce the content of those Act sections and the rule, the legal effect is clear: certain statutory and regulatory requirements that would otherwise apply to trishaws (or to their operation in the relevant regulatory category) are suspended for the event period and location. The practitioner should read the referenced provisions in the Road Traffic Act and the Public Service Vehicles Rules to understand exactly what is being disapplied—typically this would involve licensing/operational constraints and restrictions that are not intended to hinder event-related transport.
Section 2(2): Exemption for unregistered trishaws on event roads (for certain purposes). This paragraph extends the exemption framework to trishaws that are not registered under rule 2 of the Road Traffic (Registration of Trishaws) Rules. It states that sections 10, 11(1)(b), 12(1), 15, 26, 29(2), 101, 106, 107 and 110 of the Act do not apply to such a trishaw while it is used on the relevant road for the purposes of Car‑Free Weekend.
This is a significant policy and compliance point. In many regulatory regimes, registration is a gatekeeping requirement. Here, the Order provides that even if a trishaw is not registered, certain statutory provisions will not apply during the event and on the closed roads. Practitioners should therefore treat the exemption as a temporary legal “shield” against enforcement of those specific provisions, but only within the defined conditions. Outside those conditions, the general regulatory requirements would resume.
Section 2(3): Exemption for the individual rider. The Order also addresses the conduct of the rider. It provides that section 110(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Act and rules 31, 33 and 39 of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Vocational Licences and Conduct of Drivers, Conductors, Trishaw Riders and Passengers) Rules do not apply to an individual riding a trishaw on the relevant road for the purposes of Car‑Free Weekend.
This rider-focused exemption is important for enforcement and compliance. It suggests that even if the regulatory framework imposes obligations on trishaw riders (for example, conduct requirements or licensing-related conditions), those obligations are not intended to apply in the same way during Car‑Free Weekend operations on closed roads. For legal practitioners, this affects how liability and regulatory breaches would be assessed during the event.
Section 2(4): Definitions—“Car‑Free Weekend” and “trishaw”. The Order defines “Car‑Free Weekend” as any event known as Car‑Free Sunday or Car‑Free Weekend for which a permit has been granted under section 143 of the Act. The event must be organised by or on behalf of specified public bodies, including:
- the Authority;
- the Health Promotion Board;
- the National Arts Council;
- the National Parks Board;
- the Singapore Sports Council;
- the Urban Redevelopment Authority.
The definition is therefore both event-name based (Car‑Free Sunday/Weekend) and permit based (section 143 permit granted), and it is further limited by the identity of the organising body. This reduces the risk of the exemption being invoked for unrelated road closures.
Finally, “trishaw” is defined by reference to the meaning in rule 2 of the Road Traffic (Bicycles, Three‑wheeled Pedal Cycles, Trishaws and Recumbent Devices — Construction and Use) Rules 2024 (G.N. No. S 157/2024). This cross-reference is legally significant: it means the technical definition of “trishaw” may evolve as the 2024 construction and use rules are amended. Practitioners should confirm that the definition aligns with the current regulatory taxonomy for three-wheeled pedal cycles and related devices.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This Order is structured in a compact, two-part format:
(1) Section 1 sets out the citation and commencement date.
(2) Section 2 contains the exemption provisions, subdivided into paragraphs (1) through (4). Paragraphs (1)–(3) create exemptions for (a) registered trishaws, (b) unregistered trishaws, and (c) trishaw riders, respectively. Paragraph (4) provides the operative definitions needed to determine when and what the exemptions apply to.
There are no additional parts in the extract, reflecting the Order’s purpose as a narrow regulatory adjustment rather than a comprehensive traffic code.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to trishaws and individuals riding trishaws when those trishaws are used on roads that are closed to traffic under a section 143 order, and when the use is in connection with a qualifying Car‑Free Weekend event. The exemption is therefore operationally relevant to trishaw operators, riders, event organisers, and enforcement agencies dealing with road closures and event transport arrangements.
It does not apply universally to all trishaw activity. The exemption is conditional on the existence of a section 143 permit and on the event being organised by or on behalf of the specified public bodies. It also depends on whether the trishaw is registered under the trishaw registration rules, because the scope of disapplied provisions differs between registered and unregistered trishaws.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Order is important because it demonstrates how Singapore’s road traffic regulatory framework can be adapted for special events without permanently changing the baseline law. Car‑Free Weekend events involve road closures that would otherwise trigger strict compliance requirements for vehicles and riders. By carving out specific exemptions, the law supports event logistics and mobility while maintaining regulatory control outside the event context.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the key value lies in the precision of the exemptions. The Order does not simply say “trishaws are allowed.” Instead, it identifies particular sections of the Road Traffic Act and specific rules that are disapplied, and it ties the exemption to defined conditions. This makes the Order highly relevant in disputes about enforcement actions, alleged regulatory breaches, or questions of whether a rider or vehicle was lawfully operating during the event.
Additionally, the 2024 amendment (S 213/2024 effective 16/03/2024) signals that the legal framework for trishaws and public service vehicle conduct may be periodically updated. Practitioners should therefore verify the current version when advising on compliance, especially because the definition of “trishaw” is anchored to the 2024 construction and use rules.
Related Legislation
- Road Traffic Act (Cap. 276) — particularly sections 142 (power to make the Order) and 143 (permits for road closures), and the disapplied provisions referenced in section 2.
- Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Rules (R 14) — including rule 63(1)(c) as referenced.
- Road Traffic (Registration of Trishaws) Rules (R 40) — including rule 2 (registration reference point).
- Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Vocational Licences and Conduct of Drivers, Conductors, Trishaw Riders and Passengers) Rules (R 8) — including rules 31, 33 and 39 and section 110(1)(a) as referenced.
- Road Traffic (Bicycles, Three‑wheeled Pedal Cycles, Trishaws and Recumbent Devices — Construction and Use) Rules 2024 (G.N. No. S 157/2024) — including rule 2 (definition of “trishaw”).
- Health Promotion Board Act 2001
- National Arts Council Act 1991
- National Parks Board Act 1996 (and the repealed National Parks Act reference)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Road Traffic (Car‑Free Weekend — Exemption of Trishaws and Trishaw Riders) Order 2016 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.