3 personal mobility devices impounded in Yishun for flouting rules

SINGAPORE – A domestic helper and her employer’s child who were riding a personal mobility aid (PMA) had their device impounded for flouting the rules and breaking the speed limit.

Land Transport Authority (LTA) officers, in an enforcement check at Northpoint City mall on Aug 3, stopped the domestic helper because PMAs can carry only one person, who must possess a valid Certificate of Medical Need (CMN) or is exempted from one under the new rules, for instance, people aged 70 and older.

The device was also modified to seat two people, meaning it no longer met the requirements to be classified as a PMA.

The officers used a speed measuring device to clock the top speed of the device and found that the one the domestic helper used could go up to 39.69kmh, nearly four times the legal speed limit of 6kmh.

The two-hour operation at the Yishun shopping mall lasted from 8pm to 10pm and is part of efforts to ensure residents adhere to the latest PMA rules that kicked in on June 1. Among the changes are tighter limits on who can use PMAs as well as on the device’s speed and size.

At the last count on July 31, 2,267 people had a CMN, excluding beneficiaries of the Health Ministry disability schemes who are exempt from the requirement. Over the same period, 1,179 mobility scooters were registered with the LTA.

In the first two months since the new rules took effect, officers wrote up 29 offences.

They include three users riding without a valid CMN or exemption, five users caught speeding on PMAs, and 21 cases owning or using non-compliant e-scooters.

During the Yishun operation, two other mobility devices were also impounded – a motorised personal mobility device (PMD) and a power-assisted bicycle (PAB).

The PMD, which looked like a motorbike, clocked a top speed of almost 100kmh, exceeding the 25kmh limit. The PAB also appeared to be heavily modified and no longer within legal limits.

Officers also took the time to educate residents on the new rules, answer questions and encourage responsible use of mobility devices.

On Aug 3, more than 20 users were stopped for checks in Yishun. Their devices were inspected and they were asked if they had been issued the required documents.

Between June 1 and July 31, officers engaged more than 100 PMA users to share the new rules with them. LTA also embarked on a campaign to raise awareness, and worked device retailers, food delivery firms and transport operators to ensure a smooth transition.

Willy Soo, the deputy director of active mobility enforcement at LTA, said: “Our objective is not to penalise genuine users of PMAs, but to deter misuse and unsafe behaviour that puts other path users at risk.”