Statute Details
- Title: Road Traffic (Exemption No. 2) Order
- Act Code: RTA1961-OR12
- Legislative Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276), Section 142
- Primary Citation: G.N. No. S 420/1995
- Revised Edition: 1996 RevEd (15 May 1996)
- Commencement / Key Date Shown in Extract: [15 September 1995] (as indicated in the extract)
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Provisions: Section/Clause 1 (Citation); Clause 2 (Exemption)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Road Traffic (Exemption No. 2) Order is a short piece of Singapore subsidiary legislation made under the Road Traffic Act. Its function is to carve out a specific legal exemption from the general traffic rules for a particular class of vehicles—namely, vehicles of the Singapore Armed Forces.
In plain terms, the Order addresses a practical regulatory issue: certain road traffic rules that normally apply to vehicles under the Road Traffic Rules do not apply to Singapore Armed Forces vehicles. The exemption is narrow and targeted, rather than a broad suspension of all traffic regulation. This reflects a common legislative approach in traffic law—balancing public road safety and compliance with the operational needs of defence forces.
The Order specifically refers to “Rule 15” of the Road Traffic Rules. While the extract provided does not reproduce Rule 15 itself, the legal effect is clear: where Rule 15 would otherwise impose requirements or restrictions, those requirements do not apply to Singapore Armed Forces vehicles.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation (Clause 1)
Clause 1 provides the short title of the instrument. This is standard legislative drafting: it tells practitioners and enforcement agencies what to call the Order when citing it in correspondence, pleadings, or legal submissions.
2. The Exemption (Clause 2)
Clause 2 is the operative provision. It states that “Rule 15 of the Road Traffic Rules shall not apply to any vehicle of the Singapore Armed Forces.” The legal consequence is an express statutory disapplication: Rule 15 is treated as inapplicable to the specified category of vehicles.
Scope of the exemption
The exemption is framed by two key elements: (i) the rule being exempted (Rule 15 of the Road Traffic Rules) and (ii) the vehicle category (any vehicle of the Singapore Armed Forces). The phrase “any vehicle” suggests breadth within the armed forces category: it is not limited to a particular type of vehicle (for example, only military trucks or only armoured vehicles), at least on the face of the text. Instead, the determining factor is whether the vehicle is a vehicle of the Singapore Armed Forces.
Practical legal effect
From a practitioner’s perspective, the exemption matters most in enforcement and compliance contexts. If an alleged breach relates to conduct that would normally fall under Rule 15, the defence (or the prosecution’s inability to rely on Rule 15) will turn on whether the vehicle is a Singapore Armed Forces vehicle. If it is, Rule 15 cannot be invoked against it.
However, the exemption is not stated to apply to all road traffic rules. The Order disapplies only Rule 15. Therefore, other traffic rules (and any other applicable statutory duties) may still apply. This is important when advising clients or assessing liability: the existence of an exemption from one rule does not automatically create immunity from all traffic-related obligations.
Interplay with the Road Traffic Act and enforcement
Because the Order is made under the Road Traffic Act (s 142), it operates within the broader statutory framework. Typically, the Road Traffic Act establishes the general regulatory scheme and empowers the making of subsidiary legislation and exemptions. The Order is one such instrument. In practice, enforcement agencies will usually rely on the specific rule alleged to be breached; where the alleged breach is tied to Rule 15, the exemption becomes central.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Road Traffic (Exemption No. 2) Order is extremely concise. It contains:
(a) Clause 1 (Citation) — provides the short title.
(b) Clause 2 (Exemption) — provides the substantive legal effect by disapplying Rule 15 of the Road Traffic Rules to Singapore Armed Forces vehicles.
There are no additional parts, schedules, conditions, procedural requirements, or reporting obligations shown in the extract. The instrument therefore functions as a targeted legal override rather than a comprehensive regulatory regime.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The exemption applies to vehicles of the Singapore Armed Forces. The legal question in any dispute or enforcement action is whether the vehicle in question qualifies as such. The Order does not define “vehicle of the Singapore Armed Forces” in the extract, so practitioners would ordinarily look to the Road Traffic Rules, related definitions in the Road Traffic Act, or other subsidiary instruments for interpretive guidance. In practice, qualification may depend on factors such as ownership, operational control, registration status, or designation as a defence-force vehicle.
For other road users—such as private motorists, commercial drivers, or public transport operators—the Order does not create a direct exemption. It is not a general exemption for all drivers; it is a narrow disapplication for a specific vehicle class. Accordingly, the Order is most relevant to the Singapore Armed Forces themselves, their drivers/operators, and any legal proceedings involving alleged breaches of Rule 15 by such vehicles.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is short, it can be highly significant in real-world enforcement. Traffic offences and regulatory breaches often hinge on the precise rule that was allegedly contravened. By expressly disapplying Rule 15 for Singapore Armed Forces vehicles, the Order can determine whether a charge can be sustained, whether a prosecution should proceed, or whether a defence is available.
From a compliance and risk-management standpoint, the Order also affects how legal advisers should structure advice. If a matter involves a potential breach of Rule 15, counsel should immediately consider whether the vehicle is within the exempt category. Conversely, if the alleged conduct relates to other rules (not Rule 15), the exemption may not assist. This distinction is crucial to avoid overbroad assumptions of immunity.
Finally, the Order illustrates the legislative balance between road safety regulation and operational requirements. Defence forces may need to operate under circumstances that make strict compliance with certain traffic rules impractical or unsafe for operational reasons. By limiting the exemption to a specific rule, the legislature signals that exemptions should be precise and proportionate rather than sweeping.
Related Legislation
- Road Traffic Act (Chapter 276), Section 142 (authorising provision for subsidiary legislation/exemptions)
- Road Traffic Rules — specifically Rule 15 (the rule disapplied by this Order)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Road Traffic (Exemption No. 2) Order for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.