Statute Details
- Title: Road Traffic (Exemption for Use of Vehicle on Specified Footway — Marina Bay) Order 2022
- Act Code: RTA1961-S382-2022
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Road Traffic Act 1961 (s 142)
- Related Authorising/Managing Authority: Urban Redevelopment Authority Act 1989 (definition of URA)
- Commencement / Period in force: 15 May 2022 to 15 November 2024 (both dates inclusive)
- Current version reference: “Current version as at 27 Mar 2026” (with amendments reflected)
- Key provisions: Sections 2–5; Schedule (Specified footways)
- Notable amendments (from timeline): Amended by S 885/2022 (w.e.f. 15/11/2022); Amended by S 740/2023 (w.e.f. 15/11/2023)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Road Traffic (Exemption for Use of Vehicle on Specified Footway — Marina Bay) Order 2022 (“the Order”) creates a tightly controlled legal pathway for certain vehicles to be driven or ridden on designated footways in the Marina Bay area. In general, Singapore’s road traffic framework restricts the use of footways by vehicles, primarily to protect pedestrians and other footway users. This Order carves out an exemption from the relevant Road Traffic Rules for specific operational scenarios.
In plain terms, the Order recognises that major events and event-related operations in Marina Bay may require the movement of vehicles and equipment on footways that are otherwise off-limits. It therefore allows authorised individuals to use specified motor vehicles (and certain work vehicles such as forklift, boom lift, scissor lift, and lorry crane) on mapped footways, but only when strict safety, licensing, insurance, speed, lighting, and “give way” requirements are met.
The scope is deliberately narrow: the exemption applies only to “specified footways” delineated on maps in the Schedule, and only in connection with a “specified event” conducted on land under the control or management of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). The Order also sets out different qualification and operational conditions depending on the type of vehicle.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Definitions and the geographic/operational trigger (Section 2). The Order defines a “specified footway” as a footway of a road delineated by black-coloured lines in the Schedule maps. This means the exemption is not a general permission to drive on any footway; it is confined to the precisely identified areas.
It also defines a “specified event” as any event or series of related activities taking place in Singapore, conducted on land under URA’s control or management. This is crucial for practitioners: the exemption is not available for ad hoc commercial use or unrelated operational needs. The vehicle use must be tied to an event that falls within URA’s management/control.
2. Exemption for driving and riding specified motor vehicles (Section 3). Section 3 provides that Rule 28(1) of the Road Traffic Rules (R 20) does not apply to an individual who drives or rides a “specified motor vehicle” on a “specified footway” if all conditions are satisfied.
The “specified motor vehicle” definition is itself a major filter. It excludes various categories (including motorised personal mobility devices, power-assisted bicycles, motorised wheelchairs, mobility scooters, certain autonomous/robotic machines, and self-driving vehicles) and explicitly includes the categories relevant to the exemption. The text also shows that the list was amended (for example, forklift/boom lift/scissor lift and lorry crane references were updated by S 740/2023). Practically, counsel should verify the vehicle’s classification against the definition as amended, because the exemption depends on whether the vehicle falls within the permitted category.
Section 3 then imposes a suite of conditions:
- URA authorisation for event purposes (s 3(a)). The individual must be authorised by URA to drive the specified motor vehicle for enumerated event-related purposes: transporting persons or things, selling food/beverages, carrying out maintenance works, or exhibiting/displaying the vehicle. The authorisation requirement is a gatekeeper—without it, the exemption does not apply.
- Use limited to the authorised purpose (s 3(b)). The vehicle must be driven only for the purpose listed in the URA authorisation.
- Lighting requirement at night (s 3(c)). The vehicle must be lit in a manner visible to other footway users from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Speed cap (s 3(d)). Maximum speed is 10 km/h.
- Pedestrian priority (s 3(e)). The driver must give way to other users of the specified footway.
- Driving licence requirement (s 3(f)). The driver must hold a valid driving licence under the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) Rules authorising the individual to drive the relevant class of specified motor vehicle.
- Insurance coverage (s 3(g)). There must be an in-force insurance policy covering death/bodily injury to persons other than the driver or passengers, and property damage to persons other than the driver or passengers, arising from use of the vehicle in connection with the specified event.
- Insurer eligibility (s 3(h)). The risk under the policy must be assumed by an insurer lawfully carrying on insurance business in Singapore.
3. Exemption for forklift, boom lift and scissor lift (Section 4). Section 4 similarly disapplies Rule 28(1) for driving these work vehicles on specified footways, but with additional competency and training requirements.
For each vehicle type, the driver must be:
- Authorised by URA to use the vehicle to transport anything in connection with a specified event (s 4(a)(i), s 4(b)(i), s 4(ba)(i)); and
- Trained and certified under WSQ for the relevant operation course: Operate Forklift, Operate Boom Lift, or Operate Scissor Lift (s 4(a)(ii), s 4(b)(ii), s 4(ba)(ii)).
Operational limits mirror those in Section 3: use is restricted to the authorised transport purpose (s 4(c)), the vehicle must be lit from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (s 4(d)), speed must not exceed 10 km/h (s 4(e)), and the driver must give way to other footway users (s 4(f)).
Insurance is also required (s 4(h)), with coverage for death/bodily injury and property damage to persons other than the driver/passengers, and insurer eligibility (s 4(i)). Notably, the insurance and lighting/speed/give-way conditions apply to these work vehicles as well, reflecting the legislature’s focus on pedestrian safety and risk management.
4. Exemption for driving a lorry crane (Section 5). Section 5 extends the exemption to lorry crane operation on specified footways. The conditions include URA authorisation to use the lorry crane to transport any individual or thing in connection with a specified event (s 5(a)), and completion of the relevant WSQ course (Operate Lorry Crane) (s 5(b)).
As with Sections 3 and 4, the Order requires that the lorry crane is used only for the authorised purpose (s 5(c)), is lit from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (s 5(d)), is driven at no more than 10 km/h (s 5(e)), and the driver must give way to other footway users (s 5(f)). The excerpt indicates that the licensing and insurance conditions follow the same pattern as the earlier sections, and practitioners should confirm the full text of Section 5(g) and related insurance/driver licence provisions in the consolidated version.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is structured in a conventional subsidiary legislation format:
- Enacting formula and citation (Section 1): identifies the Order and states the period in force (15 May 2022 to 15 November 2024, inclusive).
- Definitions (Section 2): defines “specified event”, “specified footway”, “specified motor vehicle”, and the URA.
- Core exemptions (Sections 3–5): each section disapplies Rule 28(1) of the Road Traffic Rules for particular vehicle categories, subject to enumerated conditions.
- Schedule: lists the “specified footways” by reference to maps delineating the black-coloured lines.
From a practitioner’s perspective, the Schedule is as important as the operative sections because it determines the physical scope of the exemption. Even if all other conditions are met, use outside the delineated footways would fall outside the exemption.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Order applies to individuals who drive or ride the relevant vehicles on the specified footways in Marina Bay, but only when the vehicle use is connected to a specified event and the individual/vehicle use is authorised by URA for the relevant purpose.
In practice, the Order is aimed at event organisers, contractors, and operational teams working on URA-managed land during specified events. It also affects vehicle operators because it imposes licensing and training requirements (including WSQ course completion for certain work vehicles) and requires insurance coverage for third-party risks arising from use on footways.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Order is important because it balances two competing needs: (1) maintaining pedestrian safety and traffic discipline on footways, and (2) enabling practical event operations in a dense urban environment. By disapplying Rule 28(1) only within a defined geographic area and for defined event-related purposes, the Order reduces uncertainty for authorised operators while preserving enforcement boundaries.
For lawyers advising event organisers or contractors, the Order provides a checklist of compliance conditions that must be satisfied concurrently: URA authorisation, correct vehicle classification, speed and lighting limits, pedestrian priority (“give way”), driver competence (licence or WSQ training), and insurance coverage with specified exclusions (driver/passengers) and insurer eligibility.
From an enforcement and risk perspective, the insurance provisions are particularly significant. They ensure that third-party injury and property damage risks arising from vehicle use on footways are contractually and financially covered, and they require the policy to be assumed by an insurer lawfully operating in Singapore. This reduces the likelihood of uninsured exposure for organisers and operators.
Related Legislation
- Road Traffic Act 1961 (authorising power: s 142)
- Road Traffic Rules (R 20), including Rule 28(1) (the general prohibition/disapplication addressed by this Order)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) Rules (R 27) (driving licence requirement for the relevant class of vehicle)
- Urban Redevelopment Authority Act 1989 (establishment of URA; definition used in the Order)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Road Traffic (Exemption for Use of Vehicle on Specified Footway — Marina Bay) Order 2022 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.