Oral Reply by Senior Minister of State for Transport Dr Amy Khor to Parliamentary Question on the Need to Use Licensed Carpooling Operators

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Transport 

a.     what are the distinctions between social carpooling and illegal carpooling as defined by the Ministry; and 

b.     what action will the Ministry take to stop the use of chat groups that facilitate illegal carpooling.

Reply by Senior Minister of State for Transport and Sustainability and the Environment Dr Amy Khor:

1.     A shared journey involving friends or colleagues, where typically no payment is required, is considered a social car-pooling trip.

2.     However, if the car-pooling is among strangers, i.e. the passenger does not know the driver, then, in the interest of both drivers and passengers, this must be done via licensed car-pooling operators, for example by booking GrabHitch or RydePool services; or through other smaller operators. In such cases, operators are required to verify drivers’ licences and enforce a maximum of two car-pool journeys a day at cost recovery. Details of booked trips are also recorded by operators, which can be used to aid investigations in the event of a dispute. Illegal car-pooling trips matched through other platforms such as Telegram chat groups do not have such safeguards. We would urge members of the public to book their journeys only with car-pooling operators.

3.     LTA has been taking enforcement action against drivers providing illegal car-pooling services under section 101(1) of the Road Traffic Act, and will continue to monitor and conduct enforcement checks. Commuters who encounter such drivers can also file a report with LTA.