Expressway and tunnel driving rules

OneMotoring states that there are 14 expressways and tunnels in Singapore, some of which include expressway tunnels. Pedestrians are not allowed on all expressways and in tunnels. Personal mobility devices (PMDs) are not allowed on all roads, and therefore cannot travel on expressways and in tunnels (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels).

If an incident occurs, the Expressway Monitoring Advisory System (EMAS) recovery crew and LTA traffic marshals are activated to help clear the incident (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels).

This article records that OneMotoring page. It does not invent per-road speed figures from the Restriction of Speed on Roads Notification schedules.

Named expressways and tunnels

OneMotoring lists (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels):

Excluded vehicles on expressways

Generally you cannot drive excluded vehicles on expressways, including expressway tunnels. OneMotoring’s list includes bicycles, power-assisted bicycles, tricycles, trishaws, motorcycles with side cars attached, motorcycles whose designed maximum speed is less than 50 km/h, invalid carriages, three-wheeled vans, low trailers, road rollers, ready-mix concrete trucks, mobile cranes, forklifts, excavators, road pavers, tractors, dumpers, wheel loaders, bulldozers, graders, mobile concrete pumps, hydrant dispensers, motor vehicles with any wheel fitted with neither a pneumatic tyre nor a solid rubber tyre, and any other motor vehicle whose maximum speed under the Road Traffic (Regulation of Speed) Rules is less than 50 km/h (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels).

A permit is required if you need to drive an expressway-excluded vehicle on an expressway because of route constraints or because there is no alternate route without using expressways. Processing may take about 14 working days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays). The approval letter must be available in the vehicle for LTA checks (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels).

Prohibited vehicles in tunnels

These vehicles are not allowed to drive in all tunnels, including expressway tunnels (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels):

• bicycles, tricycles or trishaws;
• tankers carrying diesel fuel;
• trailers hauling standard containers;
• vehicles higher than 4.5 m;
• vehicles wider than 3 m;
• vehicles longer than 13 m;
• vehicles transporting dangerous goods such as explosives and flammable or radioactive substances.

In addition, these are not allowed in the Sentosa Gateway Tunnel: all buses and goods vehicles, and vehicles higher than 3.5 m (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels).

For vehicles wider than 3 m, you can apply for an oversized vehicle movement (OVM) permit. OneMotoring notes that the list is not exhaustive and points to the Road Traffic (Expressway Traffic) Rules for more detail (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels).

Safe driving on expressways

When driving on expressways, be sure to: plan your route; follow traffic signs; stay in lane; insert a stored-value card into the IU or OBU in advance; ensure the vehicle has enough fuel; secure all goods safely; keep left if you are driving a heavy vehicle; keep to the speed limit (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels).

When on an expressway, do not: tailgate; stop unless in an emergency; reverse; drive on the road shoulder; drop off passengers or alight from the vehicle; attempt to refuel (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels).

The official Basic Theory of Driving handbook adds: do not drive, move or stop on the road shoulder or verge unless in the event of a breakdown, accident or emergency; vehicles which have a speed limit of 60 km/h and below shall be driven along the left-hand lane of the expressway; cycling, skating and walking are prohibited on expressways (SPF, Basic Theory of Driving).

DIPS points for selected expressway offences (driving on the shoulder: 6; stopping on the shoulder or verge: 4; stopping or remaining at rest on the carriageway: 4; reversing unnecessarily: 6) are in the DIPS Rules Schedule (SSO, Road Traffic (Driver Improvement Points System) Rules Schedule).

Safe driving in tunnels

When driving in road tunnels, OneMotoring’s at-a-glance list is: follow overhead lane-use signs and traffic message signboards; switch on vehicle headlights; tune in to a local radio station (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels).

The fuller “be sure to” list also includes: plan your route; turn on headlights; follow traffic signs; stay in lane; insert a stored-value card into the IU or OBU in advance; ensure enough fuel; secure goods; keep left if driving a heavy vehicle; keep to the speed limit; stow cranes on heavy vehicles before entering tunnels (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels).

When in a tunnel, do not: overtake or tailgate; stop unless it is an emergency; reverse; drive on the road shoulder; drop off passengers or alight; repair the vehicle or change tyres; attempt to refuel (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels).

Fire service cabinets are located every 50 m in tunnels, next to the left-most lane. Emergency SOS phones are found every 100 m, in alternate fire service cabinets (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels).

If you break down or need help

For assistance on expressways and in road tunnels, call LTA at 1800-2255-582. Provide location and direction of travel, using nearby kilometre markers, lamppost numbers, or slip roads (and, in a tunnel, emergency-exit labels). OneMotoring notes that charges apply for mobile calls to “1800” service lines and only calls from regular land lines are free (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels).

If the vehicle breaks down: stop at the road shoulder if possible, switch on hazard lights, and call that number. Do not attempt to repair the vehicle on the expressway or in the tunnel. Stay downstream from the vehicle and behind the vehicle impact guardrail if possible; in a tunnel, move to the raised platform on the road shoulder where possible (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels).

If there is an injury, dial 995 or 999. If there is no injury to attend to, drive out of the expressway or tunnel if you can (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels).

In a tunnel emergency, follow lane-use signs: avoid lanes with a red “X”; a green arrow marks a passable lane; if all lanes show a red “X”, do not proceed. If instructed to evacuate and unable to drive further, turn off the engine, leave the vehicle, and proceed on foot to the nearest emergency exit. Do not reverse (LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels).

Coverage debt

• Named-road speed figures in the First to Sixth Schedules of the Restriction of Speed on Roads Notification are not listed here.
• The full Road Traffic (Expressway Traffic) Rules are not restated beyond what OneMotoring quotes.

Sources

• LTA OneMotoring, Driving on Expressways & in Tunnels
• SPF, Basic Theory of Driving (official handbook, last updated 2 January 2026)
• Road Traffic (Driver Improvement Points System) Rules Schedule