Speech by Senior Minister of State for Transport and National Development Ms Sun Xueling at the Public Transport Safety and Security Awards Day 2026

1.           I am delighted to join you again at the Public Transport Safety and Security Awards. Government representatives, transport operators, union representatives, and transport workers are gathered here today to celebrate the achievements of those who have helped us to maintain a stellar record of safety and security, for all commuters.

2.           Safety and security are not merely operational requirements. They are commitments we make to the millions of commuters who place their trust in our public transport network. Often, the work that you do goes behind the scenes, but the OneTransport team continues to persevere and deliver strong outcomes.

3.           Today, we have over 500 awardees across 6 different categories. I am delighted that many of you are here with your family members because it is only with the support of your family members that you are able to do your work well.

4.           On transport safety, the Bus Safety Tripartite Taskforce completed its review in 2025. The tripartite partners have been working closely together to ensure that we roll out the taskforce recommendations.

5.           I am pleased to share that we have made good progress.

a.           As of July 2026, 99% of bus captains have completed the Bus Captain Drive Safe Refresher Programme. We are on track to reach 100% by October 2026. This reflects the strong commitment of our operators and bus captains towards continuous learning and professional development.

b.           To reduce fatigue from continuous driving and improve safety, we have also shortened driving time for bus captains on 10 routes with runtimes that exceed two hours. This includes adjusting the route or introducing a driver swap in the middle of the route to let our bus captains take a break.

6.           Today, we are presenting the Bus Captain Safe Driving Award for those who have consistently demonstrated exemplary driving performance. Over 5,000 of our bus captains with an accident-free record of at least one year are eligible to receive the award. This was also a recommendation from the Taskforce, with strong support from our bus operators and NTWU to reinforce the critical role played by our bus captains to keep bus commuters and our roads safe.

7.           I would like to highlight that 838 bus captains have achieved the highest 10-year tier of this award. Earlier, I met with some of our bus captains who have maintained this long safe driving record. Their achievement reflects not only skill and professionalism, but also an unwavering commitment to ensuring that every journey is a safe one for commuters and other road users.

8.           I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our partners from the Singapore Police Force, the Singapore Road Safety Council and the Singapore Civil Defence Force for joining us in our shared efforts to keep our roads and public transport journeys safe. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and we can all play a part by adopting safer behaviours that protect our bus captains, passengers and fellow road users. I also encourage everyone to visit the 2nd Bus Safety Roadshow on Level 1 to learn more.

9.           Safety is also important across other transport modes.

a.           Our MRT and LRT systems handle an average of 3.7 million rides per day, but there are numerous public transport staff working behind the scenes to ensure that the systems run smoothly. I wish to highlight the example of Mr Edwin Gerald Lourdes S/O L Manickam from SMRT Trains, who prevented a potential fire incident at Tai Seng Station due to his swift response to an electrical fault warning. His actions helped to avert an incident that could have endangered others and caused a major disruption affecting many more commuters.

b.           Safety also extends to the precious few engineering hours that we have to make sure that the system operates reliably every day. Ensuring that our maintenance staff are able to carry out their tasks safely is what gives them the confidence to give their best. One of our Star Award winners this year, the team from SMRT Trains led by Mr Kuek Jia Jun, created a new web-based platform to help maintenance staff more easily identify the circuit breakers to be isolated before maintenance works begin. This is a reflection of the value we place on innovations to enhance staff safety and improve efficiency.

c.           Point-to-point transport is also where the safety mindset of each driver is critical, protecting the passengers in each ride. One exemplary driver is Mr Lee Kim Cheng, who drives a taxi with CityCab. When his passenger lost consciousness on the way to the hospital, Mr Lee was able to remain calm and monitor her condition closely. Upon arrival, he took time to make sure that she was admitted safely. He also provided doctors with critical medical information. His actions went well beyond the call of duty, reminding us that transport is about the people we serve.

10.        I would now like to share our efforts to use technology to enhance public transport safety.

11.        For example, technology solutions can play an important role in relieving bus captains of manual duties and unlocking the next bound of how we assess risks to safety.

a.           LTA will be progressively rolling out an AI-powered system that analyses in-bus camera footage to detect traffic violations such as other vehicles encroaching into the bus lane. We will start this from the fourth quarter of 2026. Reducing these encroachments into bus lanes will help to avoid situations where bus captains have to brake suddenly to avoid collisions with vehicles in the bus lane. This will help protect both themselves and their passengers.

b.           LTA has also been piloting audio safety announcements on 11 bus services since August 2025. This helps remind passengers to hold onto hand grips and grab poles before the bus moves off. This feature has been well received, and LTA will start to deploy an automated safety announcement feature from 2027.

12.        We must also remain vigilant against ever-evolving security threats.

13.        There is growing importance in safeguarding our systems against emerging cybersecurity risks. I would like to highlight the efforts of a team of four from SBS Transit Rail, led by Ms Karen Seah. The team achieved 99.9% availability and zero cybersecurity breaches in 2025, serving as an example of what cybersecurity excellence can look like in the transport sector.

14.        Individual vigilance is equally crucial in mitigating security threats on our public transport network. Following a report of an armed individual near Yishun Interchange in July last year, Mr Faisal Zakaria of Tower Transit Singapore remained calm. He followed established security procedures, and supported the coordinated response by helping to verify information and alert the Police promptly. His actions demonstrate how vigilance, professionalism and sound judgement enable transport workers to respond effectively when faced with potential security threats.

15.        These examples remind us that security is everyone's responsibility. Whether it is identifying suspicious behaviour, reporting potential vulnerabilities, or implementing innovative solutions to strengthen our defences, every contribution matters.

16.        As we celebrate today's award recipients, let us remember that every safe journey completed, every incident prevented, and every improvement implemented is the result of the collective efforts of many individuals working together.

17.        To all our transport workers, thank you for your professionalism, dedication and commitment to keeping Singapore moving safely and securely.

18.        To our operators, union leaders and industry partners, thank you for your continued partnership and your unwavering support for our workers.

19.        And to our award recipients, congratulations once again. Your achievements are an inspiration to all of us.

20.        Let us continue to work closely together to strengthen our culture of safety and security, and to ensure that Singapore's public transport system remains one that all commuters can rely on with confidence.

21.        Thank you.