Draft #2 Technical Report_Protecting the pedestrians in Singapore from reckless Personal Mobility Device(PMD) users

1. Introduction

1.1 Background information

This report has been developed in response to the Call for Proposal (CFP) made by Land Transport Authority (LTA) for creating solutions to reduce the rate of accidents caused by e-scooters and Personal Mobility Devices(PMDs) in Singapore.

PMD was first introduced in Singapore in 2013 as an alternative means of transport to help make public transport a more palatable option for commuters (Nim, 2015). However, PMDs and scooters have since then become devices used by many to serve their own needs such as to roam around Singapore, deliver food or even as a form of transport to work. According to Cheng (2019), big companies like McDonald’s and Foodpanda have started using PMDs in their daily operations of food deliveries and have been continuing to do so. Simek (2019) states that the use of electric scooters for deliveries has seen a cut on delivery time. The same author also states that Foodpanda has a fleet of e-scooters and the company decided to recruit workers to deliver orders using the scooters. This has seen a rise in the usage of e-scooters and PMDs in Singapore.

Due to the increasing trend of owning a PMD, many people started to modify their motorized devices. Kok (2019) states that modified motorized devices that are non-compliant to the prescribed specifications are illegal. According to Abdullah (2019), the number of offenses relating to the use of PMDs has increased even as a slew of initiatives were taken to minimize their errant use. The same author also mentioned that most of the detected offenses were due to riding unregistered motorized devices on roads. The increase in illegal motorized devices has led to an increase in PMD related accidents. According to Toh and Teh (2019), a 65-year-old cyclist was killed in a collision accident with a non-compliant e-scooter that was not registered under LTA and the scooter’s weight, width and speed limit all exceeded the prescribed specifications allowed for usage in public paths. Another article by Chia (2019) states that an elderly cyclist was killed by a 20-year-old e-scooter rider. She also mentioned that the e-scooter was illegally modified and that it could hit speeds of up to 80km/h which would be as fast as a car on an expressway.

In a recent news report, Cynthia Chew (2019) states that over the past three years, PMD related accidents surged up from 47 in 2017 to 87 in 2018 and 79 in the first nine months of 2019,  including six fatal accidents. Most of the fatal accidents were caused by illegally modified or non-compliant scooter. The increasing amount of accidents relating to motorized devices has aroused commotion regarding the safety of pedestrians on the streets in Singapore. Govindasamy (2019) states that he was afraid to use the footpath with his child in tow while on holiday here. According to Tan (2019), many people are now walking on the streets in fear and it is a psychological burden wrongfully imposed on pedestrians.

Addressing the issue of increasing incidents caused by illegal motorized devices is crucial as it affects pedestrians psychologically and physically. Therefore, actions should be taken by LTA to implement new regulations to help Singapore advance towards the ideal situation of having zero number of injuries and fatal accidents caused by PMDs so that pedestrians can walk confidently on the streets.

1.2 Problem statement

A safe country like Singapore should be free of any related motorized devices accidents and pedestrians must be able to walk confidently on the streets. However, reports have seen an increase in accidents relating to motorized vehicles causing deaths and injuries, causing fear to pedestrians while walking on the streets. Land Transport Authority (LTA) should introduce more preventive measures on top of the existing regulations to ensure safe usage of motorized vehicles so that accidents relating to motorized vehicles will decrease.

1.3 Purpose statement

The aim of this proposal is to convince LTA to implement more preventive measures to resolve the increasing rate of accidents caused by motorized devices in Singapore.

2. Proposed solutions

2.1 Introducing unmodifiable PMDs

A possible solution would be to have the manufacturers build the PMDs in a way that would cause the users a difficult time dismantling. Firstly, they could introduce tamper-resistant screws to the PMD. These screws can be installed with regular tools but would require special tools to be removed which only LTA authorized retailers will have. Currently, tamper-resistant screws can replace any existing screws and there are many areas in which these tamper-resistant screws are being used such as restroom partitions, vending-machine and access-control keypads (Reeder, 2010). The tamper-resistant screws can be used on parts of the PMD that when modified, will render the PMD illegal and not suitable to be used.

2.2 Constructing a new pathway

Regulations on motorized devices were implemented by LTA to minimize discourteous act. However, pedestrians still feel insecure and threatened when motorized devices cross their comfort zone. Since certain areas lack designated paths for motorized devices, riders are forced to use pathways that were meant for pedestrians instead of motorized vehicles. This frustrates riders due to the limited pathways that are available for their use (Su, 2019). Therefore, another possible solution would require the involvement of LTA, which is creating new pathways that are designated for PMDs’ use.

2.3 Banning PMDs

Due to the increasing amount of PMD’s related accidents, many are calling for a ban against it as they deem PMD as a public hazard. An online petition to ban PMDs and e-bikes was called forward after the death of a 65 years old lady and it has gained over 38000 signatures within a day (Tan, 2019). Senior Minister of State for Transport Janil Puthucheary is currently considering a call for a ban if the errant behavior continues. PMDs do not only cause harm to pedestrians, there has also been an increased amount of cases where fire breaks out in Housing Development Board(HDB) flats caused by PMD, A document from SCDF shows that in 2018 there are a total of 74 cases of PMD fire-related a whopping 51 percent increment from 2017 to 2018, and as of 2019, January to June, 54 additional cases were reported. When a fire breaks out, it destroys properties and can potentially be fatal.

3. Benefits of proposed solutions

3.1 Introducing unmodifiable PMDs

With the PMDs being harder to open apart, users are forced to visit an LTA approved retailer to do any modification. With such a troublesome method of modifying a PMD, people will be driven away from the idea of modifying their PMD. LTA will be able to charge for the modification work and check the parts that the user wants to replace to see if it is an illegal part or not.

3.2 Constructing a new pathway

By building new pathways designated for motorized vehicles, it separates the usage of the walkway between pedestrians and riders. This will see a potential decrease in accidents between riders and pedestrians, enabling pedestrians to have peace of mind while walking on the streets.

3.3 Banning PMDs

The withdrawal of motorized devices would expect a drop in accident rates on walkways which will indirectly reduce the number of protests and petitions to ban PMDs and e-bikes. This creates a harmonious society and ensures the safety of pedestrians on the walkway.

4. Limitations

4.1 Introducing unmodifiable PMDs

Tamper-resistant screws while relatively hard to remove without the proper tools, it is not impossible (Reeder, 2010).

4.2 Constructing a new pathway

According to Su (2019), authorities have identified that due to Singapore’s limited space, apart from the few park connectors and cycling paths, there is no room for new designated motorized vehicles. Thus, LTA is discouraged to build new pathways for motorized devices.

4.3 Banning PMDs

Many logistic sectors in Singapore relies heavily on riders with a mode of transportation. one example, PMD. A ban on the device will deeply impact logistic sector of Singapore which caused many riders to be jobless and there will be a surge of joblessness in the country and hence affecting the country’s image and the economy. Moreover, banning PMD will make public transport even more packed, as many users rely upon PMD as a mode of transport to travel from one place to another which saves them time and money. As the population of Singapore is increasing, the need for other modes of transport is much needed as it serves as an alternative to public transport.

References:

Abdullah, Z. (2019, September 6). Increase in number of PMD offences in August. Retrieved October 27, 2019, from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/increase-in-number-of-pmd-offences-in-august.

Cheng, K. (2016, May 20). Delivery, logistics firms testing out PMDs with mixed results. Retrieved October 27, 2019, from https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/delivery-logistics-firms-testing-out-pmds-mixed-results.

Chia, R. G. (2019, October 10). ‘I want to walk freely’: 69,000 people have signed an old petition against PMDs, after the Government hinted it might ban them. Retrieved October 27, 2019, from https://www.businessinsider.sg/i-want-to-walk-freely-69000-people-have-signed-an-old-petition-against-pmds-after-the-government-hinted-it-might-ban-them/.

Kok, Y. (2019, July 12). Modified e-scooter clocked at 150kmh on Singapore road. Retrieved October 31, 2019, from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/modified-e-scooter-clocked-at-150kmh-on-singapore-road.

Kok, Y. (2019, October 3). ‘Ban PMDs from footpaths so we can feel safe again’: Accident victims and pedestrians. Retrieved October 27, 2019, from https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/ban-pmds-footpaths-so-we-can-feel-safe-again-accident-victims-and-pedestrians.

Nim, A. (2018, August 26). Scooting with the times. Retrieved October 27, 2019, from https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/cars/scooting-with-the-times.

Reeder, J. (2010, March 3). Tampering with Tamper-Resistant Screws. Retrieved November 1, 2019, from https://www.locksmithledger.com/keys-tools/article/10228407/tampering-with-tamperresistant-screws.

Su, S. (2019, July 23). Build highways for personal mobility devices, bicycles. Retrieved November 1, 2019, from https://www.todayonline.com/voices/build-highways-personal-mobility-devices-bicycles.

Tan, A. (2019, September 26). PMD in fatal collision ‘non-compliant’: Family of Madam Ong Bee Eng calls for more regulations. Retrieved October 31, 2019, from https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/pmd-fatal-collision-non-compliant-family-madam-ong-bee-eng-calls-more-regulations.

Wei, T. T., & Teh, C. (2019, September 26). PMD in fatal crash exceeded weight, width limit: LTA. Retrieved October 27, 2019, from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/pmd-in-fatal-crash-exceeded-weight-width-limit-lta.