Orders restricting vehicles on specified roads in Singapore
How Road Traffic Act section 113 allows vehicle-class, route, time and direction restrictions to be made by Gazette order, and what drivers must follow.
Primary source: https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/RTA1961?ProvIds=P16-
When a road-use order may be made
Under Road Traffic Act section 113, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, with the Minister’s concurrence, may make a Gazette order prohibiting or restricting vehicles, or a specified class or description of vehicles, from driving on a specified road in Singapore. This power applies when unrestricted use would endanger the safety of vehicles or people using the road, or when the road is unsuitable for use or unrestricted use by those vehicles (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 113(1)).
An order may specify routes, restrict a class of vehicle generally or during particular hours, require traffic to travel in one direction, or otherwise regulate traffic. It may also prohibit or regulate use of a road for displaying, hiring or selling a vehicle or animal. An order under subsection (2) must not prevent the access reasonably required for vehicles to reach premises on or next to the road (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 113(2)–(3)).
A temporary order may remain in force for no more than 3 months. A non-temporary order must be presented to Parliament as soon as possible after Gazette publication, and Parliament may annul or amend it. Using a vehicle, or causing or permitting a vehicle to be used, contrary to an order under section 113 is an offence. Because section 113 does not state a special penalty, the Act’s default penalty applies: for a first offence, a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to 3 months, or both; for a second or subsequent offence, a fine of up to $2,000, imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Act 1961, ss. 113(6) and 131(2)).
Coverage debt
- This article explains the order-making power but does not catalogue current Gazette orders or their route-level restrictions. Section 113 itself does not name the roads or vehicle classes covered by a particular order; check the applicable order for its current scope and exceptions.