Knowledge base Vehicle operation Updated 19 Oct 2026 9 min read

Vehicle controls and dashboard indicators

What common vehicle controls, automatic transmission settings, meters, and warning indicators do, plus Singapore’s parking-brake, speedometer and hazard-warning equipment rules, speedometer and fuel-gauge maintenance duties, and anti-lock braking system requirements for newly registered cars and motorcycles.

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Primary source: https://www.police.gov.sg/-/media/SPF/Knowledge-Hub/Traffic/FT-ENG-2126-Revised.pdf

This guide summarizes the vehicle-control examples and explanations in the Singapore Traffic Police’s current Final Theory of Driving handbook. The handbook describes common controls and indicators; it does not identify every control fitted to every vehicle.

Basic controls

The handbook describes the steering wheel as controlling the direction of travel, the accelerator as regulating speed, and the footbrake as slowing or stopping the vehicle. In a manual-transmission vehicle, the clutch connects or disconnects engine power to the gearbox, while the gear lever selects gears. The handbrake, also called the parking brake, is for keeping a vehicle stationary; the handbook says not to use it to stop a moving vehicle except in an emergency, such as footbrake failure (SPF, Final Theory of Driving handbook, paras. 7 and 20–30). The construction-and-use rules require a motor vehicle to have a parking-brake system that can be set to prevent at least 2 wheels from revolving when the vehicle is not being driven or is left unattended; for a 3-wheeled vehicle, it must prevent one wheel from revolving. This requirement does not apply to a 2-wheeled motorcycle, with or without a sidecar (Singapore Statutes Online, current Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules, r. 13).

Automatic transmission

The handbook describes P as Park, R as Reverse, N as Neutral and D as Drive on most automatic transmissions. It says automatic transmissions generally select higher or lower gears according to road speed and engine load. Some vehicles have an L setting to select or hold a lower gear, and many have a kick-down function that selects a lower gear after firm accelerator input. The exact available settings differ by transmission type; the handbook advises drivers to understand the controls fitted to their own vehicle (SPF, Final Theory of Driving handbook, paras. 32–43).

Common switches

The handbook describes the direction-indicator lever as signalling the intended direction of travel. The windscreen-wiper control selects wiper operation, and the washer control sends cleaning fluid to the windscreen. The horn is for warning other road users of impending danger. The light switch controls vehicle lights; the handbook also describes high- and low-beam selection. A hazard-warning switch turns on all four direction indicators together, while the rear-window demister directs heat at the rear glass to clear condensation (SPF, Final Theory of Driving handbook, paras. 45–53). For motor vehicles registered on or after 1 September 1993, the Construction and Use Rules require a hazard-warning device, except on land implements, motorcycles with or without sidecars, tractors and works vehicles. Rule 2 defines the device as capable of operating simultaneously all indicators fitted to the vehicle or vehicle combination to warn others of a temporary obstruction on the road (Singapore Statutes Online, current Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules, r. 2). Rule 29A requires the device to use a single switch, have a flashing closed-circuit tell-tale, and function even when the engine start/stop switch is in a position that prevents the engine from being started (Singapore Statutes Online, current Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules, r. 29A). Rule 29A(2)(b) says the device must be capable of causing the indicators to “flash in sequence”, while rule 2 defines the device by simultaneous operation. This wording difference is unresolved; this guide does not infer how the provisions should be reconciled. For Singapore’s headlight timing and beam-use guidance, see headlights and lights while driving.

Meters and warning indicators

The handbook identifies the speedometer as showing current speed, the odometer as recording total distance travelled, and the trip odometer as recording distance for an individual trip. It describes the tachometer as showing engine revolutions per minute, the fuel gauge as showing fuel quantity, and the temperature gauge as indicating rising engine temperature; a reading beyond its normal range indicates overheating (SPF, Final Theory of Driving handbook, paras. 54–61). Singapore’s construction-and-use rules require any instrument, appliance, or combination fitted to a motor vehicle to measure or indicate the amount of motor fuel in each tank to be kept in good working order whenever the vehicle is used on a road. Using a vehicle on the road with that equipment out of order is an offence punishable on conviction by a fine of up to $500 (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules, r. 108).

The rules also require a motor vehicle to have a speedometer positioned so its driver can readily see the vehicle’s speed. This fitment requirement does not apply to a vehicle incapable by its construction of exceeding 20 kilometres per hour. When driven above 20 kilometres per hour, the speedometer must indicate speed within ±10% accuracy (Singapore Statutes Online, current Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules, r. 14).

The same rules require each speed-indicating instrument fitted to a motor vehicle under rule 14 to be kept in good working order and free of anything that could prevent it from being easily read while the vehicle is used on a road. A person charged with breaching this duty has a defence if the defect arose during the journey in which it was detected, or if steps had already been taken to remedy it with all reasonable expedition (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules, r. 107).

The handbook says the high-beam indicator lights when high beam is selected, and the door warning light indicates that a door is not properly shut. It describes the brake warning light as normally illuminating when the ignition is switched on and going off when the handbrake is released; if it remains on, the handbook associates it with brake fluid below the prescribed level. The oil-pressure warning light should go off after the engine starts; if it does not, the handbook associates it with engine lubricating oil below the prescribed level. The battery warning light should also go off after starting; if it remains lit, the handbook says the battery-charging system is faulty (SPF, Final Theory of Driving handbook, paras. 62–66).

Anti-lock braking systems

Singapore’s vehicle-construction rules define an anti-lock braking system (ABS) as part of a braking system that senses and controls the degree of wheel slip on one or more wheels during braking. Subject to listed vintage-vehicle exceptions, every motor car registered on or after 1 May 2026 must be equipped with ABS. Its system must comply with UN Regulation 13-H, Japanese Article 12, or another standard recognised by the Registrar or an authorised officer as equally or more stringent (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules, r. 12A).

The same rule sets a later requirement for every motorcycle, with or without an attached sidecar, registered on or after 1 April 2027. Its ABS must comply with UN Regulation 78, Japanese Article 12, EU Regulation 168/2013 as supplemented by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No. 3/2014 and amended by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No. 2016/1824, or another standard recognised as equally or more stringent. The rule’s listed exceptions cover vehicles registered or re-registered as classic vehicles, normal vintage vehicles, restricted vintage vehicles, or revised-use vintage vehicles (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules, r. 12A).

Coverage debt

This guide summarizes handbook examples and is not a complete inventory of the controls fitted to an individual vehicle. The handbook's automatic-transmission section tells drivers to understand the particular controls fitted to their car, but it does not list every transmission variant or give a response procedure for every warning indicator. The cited rules set fuel-equipment maintenance and ABS equipment and standards requirements; they do not describe how to operate an individual vehicle’s ABS or respond to an ABS warning indicator. Rule 2 defines the hazard-warning device by simultaneous operation, while rule 29A(2)(b) says “flash in sequence”; this article does not resolve that wording difference (Singapore Statutes Online, current Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Construction and Use) Rules, rr. 2 and 29A). Refer to the vehicle manufacturer’s instructions for those vehicle-specific details.