Statute Details
- Title: Road Traffic (Exemption for Use of Vehicle on Specified Footway — Marina Bay) Order 2022
- Act/Instrument Code: RTA1961-S382-2022
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Road Traffic Act 1961 (specifically powers under section 142)
- Related Authorising/Managing Authority: Urban Redevelopment Authority Act 1989 (definition of URA)
- Enacting Formula (maker): Minister for Home Affairs
- Commencement / Period in force: In force from 15 May 2022 to 15 November 2024 (both dates inclusive)
- Current version status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026 (with amendments reflected in the consolidated text)
- Key Provisions: Sections 2–5; Schedule (specified footways delineated by black-coloured lines)
- Most relevant rules being modified: Road Traffic Rules, Rule 28(1)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Road Traffic (Exemption for Use of Vehicle on Specified Footway — Marina Bay) Order 2022 is a targeted regulatory instrument that temporarily relaxes certain road-traffic restrictions in a defined area of Singapore—Marina Bay—so that authorised event-related operations can take place on specified footways.
In ordinary circumstances, the Road Traffic Rules restrict the driving or riding of vehicles on footways. This Order creates a controlled exemption from Rule 28(1) for particular categories of motor vehicles and certain specialised work vehicles (forklifts, boom lifts, scissor lifts, and lorry cranes) when used for specified purposes connected to a “specified event”.
The exemption is not open-ended. It is tightly conditioned: it applies only on footways identified in the Schedule; only for activities connected to events conducted on land under the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s control or management; only when the operator meets licensing, training, speed, lighting, and insurance requirements; and only for the limited period the Order is in force.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Definitions and the geographic/operational trigger (Section 2)
Section 2 sets the framework for when the exemption can be used. Two definitions are central:
- “Specified footway” means a footway delineated by black-coloured lines in the maps in the Schedule. This makes the exemption geographically precise: practitioners should verify the relevant map boundaries before advising on applicability.
- “Specified event” means any event or series of related activities taking place in Singapore, conducted on land under the control or management of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).
Section 2 also defines “specified motor vehicle” by excluding certain vehicle types from the general category. Notably, it excludes motorised personal mobility devices, power-assisted bicycles, motorised wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and various autonomous/robotic vehicles, as well as forklifts, boom lifts, scissor lifts, and lorry cranes. Those excluded categories are dealt with separately in Sections 4 and 5.
2. Exemption for driving and riding specified motor vehicles (Section 3)
Section 3 provides that Rule 28(1) of the Road Traffic Rules does not apply to an individual who drives or rides a specified motor vehicle on a specified footway, but only if all conditions are satisfied.
The conditions operate like a checklist:
- URA authorisation for event purposes: The individual must be authorised by URA to drive the specified motor vehicle for defined event-related purposes, including transporting persons or things, selling food or beverages, carrying out maintenance works, and exhibiting or displaying the vehicle.
- Purpose limitation: The vehicle must be driven only for one of the authorised purposes.
- Night visibility: The vehicle must be lit so it is visible to other footway users from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Speed cap: Maximum speed is 10 km/h.
- Right-of-way: The driver must give way to other users of the specified footway.
- Driving licence: The individual must hold a valid driving licence under the Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) Rules authorising them to drive the relevant class of specified motor vehicle.
- Insurance: There must be an in-force policy of insurance covering death/bodily injury and property damage to persons other than the driver or passengers, arising from the use of the vehicle.
- Insurer eligibility: The insurance risk must be assumed by an insurer lawfully carrying on insurance business in Singapore.
Practical point: Because Section 3 requires both URA authorisation and compliance with licensing, insurance, and operational safety conditions, it is not enough that an event is happening in Marina Bay. The operator must be able to evidence each condition if enforcement action arises.
3. Exemption for forklifts, boom lifts, and scissor lifts (Section 4)
Section 4 extends the exemption to work vehicles that are excluded from the “specified motor vehicle” definition. Again, the exemption is from Rule 28(1), but only for driving these vehicles on a specified footway and only when the enumerated conditions are met.
The structure differs by vehicle type:
- Forklift: The driver must be URA-authorised to use the forklift to transport anything in connection with a specified event, and must have attended and passed the WSQ — Operate Forklift course.
- Boom lift: The driver must be URA-authorised to use the boom lift for transporting anything in connection with a specified event, and must have attended and passed WSQ — Operate Boom Lift.
- Scissor lift: The driver must be URA-authorised to use the scissor lift for transporting anything in connection with a specified event, and must have attended and passed WSQ — Operate Scissor Lift.
Common conditions apply across all three categories:
- Purpose limitation: Each vehicle may be used only for the specific transport purpose tied to the URA authorisation.
- Night lighting: Must be lit for visibility from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Speed cap: Not exceeding 10 km/h.
- Give way: Must give way to other footway users.
- Insurance: Must have an in-force insurance policy covering death/bodily injury and property damage to persons other than the driver or passengers, arising from use of the vehicle.
- Insurer eligibility: The risk must be assumed by an insurer lawfully carrying on insurance business in Singapore.
Amendment note (for practitioners): The text reflects amendments effective 15 Nov 2022 and 15 Nov 2023, including changes to the definition and the insertion/adjustment of sub-paragraphs. When advising clients, ensure you rely on the consolidated “current version” and not an earlier PDF extract.
4. Exemption for driving a lorry crane (Section 5)
Section 5 provides a similar exemption for lorry cranes, again disapplying Rule 28(1) when used on a specified footway under specified conditions.
The key conditions include:
- URA authorisation: The driver must be authorised by URA to use the lorry crane to transport any individual or thing in connection with a specified event.
- Training: The driver must have attended and passed the WSQ — Operate Lorry Crane Course.
- Purpose limitation: The lorry crane may be used only for the purpose authorised by URA.
- Night lighting: Must be lit for visibility from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Speed cap: Not exceeding 10 km/h.
- Give way: Must give way to other footway users.
- Driving licence: The driver must hold a valid driving licence authorising them to drive the lorry crane class (the extract truncates mid-sentence, but the structure mirrors Section 3’s licence requirement).
- Insurance: The Order also requires in-force insurance covering death/bodily injury and property damage to persons other than the driver or passengers, arising from use of the lorry crane, with the insurer lawfully carrying on business in Singapore.
Practitioner takeaway: Section 5 is designed to permit heavy equipment movement on footways only when the operator is both authorised and competently trained (WSQ), and when the safety and risk-management conditions (speed, lighting, give-way, insurance) are satisfied.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is structured as follows:
- Section 1: Citation and period in force (15 May 2022 to 15 November 2024 inclusive).
- Section 2: Definitions of “specified event”, “specified footway”, “specified motor vehicle”, and “Urban Redevelopment Authority”.
- Section 3: Exemption for driving and riding specified motor vehicles on specified footways for authorised event purposes, subject to safety, licensing, and insurance conditions.
- Section 4: Exemption for driving forklifts, boom lifts, and scissor lifts on specified footways, subject to URA authorisation, WSQ training, operational limits, and insurance.
- Section 5: Exemption for driving lorry cranes on specified footways, subject to URA authorisation, WSQ training, operational limits, licensing, and insurance.
- The Schedule: Lists the “specified footways” by reference to maps delineated by black-coloured lines.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This Order applies to individuals who drive or ride the relevant vehicles on the specified footways in Marina Bay. In practice, it is aimed at event organisers, contractors, and equipment operators who need to move vehicles or work equipment across footway areas during URA-controlled events.
However, the exemption is conditional and therefore applies only when the driver/rider and the vehicle use meet every requirement: URA authorisation for the relevant event purpose, appropriate driving licence or WSQ training (depending on vehicle type), compliance with speed and give-way rules, night-time lighting, and insurance coverage by a Singapore-licensed insurer.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Order is important because it balances two competing policy objectives: (1) maintaining pedestrian safety and traffic discipline on footways, and (2) enabling practical logistics and operations for major events in a controlled urban environment.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the Order’s conditions are designed to be auditable. For example, the requirement for URA authorisation and for specific WSQ training for work equipment provides clear evidence standards. The insurance requirements further ensure that third-party risks arising from vehicle use on footways are contractually and financially managed.
For practitioners advising event stakeholders, the Order’s value lies in its specificity. It is not a general “permit to drive on footways”; it is a narrowly tailored exemption tied to (i) defined footway boundaries in the Schedule, (ii) URA-controlled land events, (iii) enumerated purposes, and (iv) strict operational and risk controls. Failure to satisfy any single condition could mean the exemption does not apply, exposing the operator to potential liability under the underlying Road Traffic Rules.
Related Legislation
- Road Traffic Act 1961 (authorising powers under section 142)
- Road Traffic Rules (R 20), in particular Rule 28(1)
- Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Driving Licences) Rules (R 27)
- Urban Redevelopment Authority Act 1989 (definition and establishment of URA)
- WSQ training framework for forklift, boom lift, scissor lift, and lorry crane operation (as referenced by 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.