The Land Transport and Related Matters (No. 2) Bill (“Bill“), was presented for Second Reading in Parliament and passed on 7 October 2026. Having received the President’s assent on 29 October 2026, the Land Transport and Related Matters (No. 2) Act 2026 (“Act“) will take effect on a date appointed by the Minister.
Among other changes to Singapore’s land transport regulatory framework, the Act introduces measures to facilitate the safe deployment of autonomous vehicles (“AVs“) and streamline electric vehicle (“EV“) charging regulations.
Facilitating the Safe Deployment of AVs
To support the continued and safe deployment of AVs in Singapore, the Act extends the existing regulatory sandbox under the Road Traffic Act 1961 for AV trials and deployments on roads until 31 December 2028. The extension will allow ongoing AV deployments to continue uninterrupted pending the introduction of a more comprehensive legislative framework for AVs used on roads.
The Act also introduces a new regulatory sandbox under the Active Mobility Act 2017 to facilitate the deployment of autonomous vehicles on public paths. The sandbox will operate for an initial five-year period, ending on 30 September 2031, to enable such technologies to be tested and deployed in a controlled and regulated environment.
As explained in the Opening and Round-up Speeches by Minister of State for Transport and for Culture, Community and Youth Mr Baey Yam Keng at the Second Reading of the Bill, the Land Transport Authority (“LTA“) will adopt a risk-calibrated regulatory approach under the new sandbox, with different pathways for different types of deployments. These include testbeds managed by public authorities, a lighter-touch pathway for lower-risk deployments that fall within specified speed, weight and dimension limits, and a standard authorisation pathway for other deployments. All AV deployments must also have liability insurance coverage and a sound incident-management framework.
Streamlining EV Charging Regulations
The Act also streamlines EV charging regulations to reduce compliance burdens while maintaining safety standards. Key measures include:
- Removal of mandatory two-yearly inspections: Owners of EV chargers installed in landed homes will no longer be required to have their chargers inspected every two years. Such chargers generally pose lower public-safety risks because access is restricted and utilisation tends to be lower. Owners will remain responsible for maintaining their chargers, while LTA will retain the power to require ad hoc inspections where specific safety concerns arise.
- Presumption of use of an EV charger: To facilitate enforcement against unlawful EV charging activities, including the use of unregistered chargers or chargers at prohibited locations, the Act introduces a presumption that a person has used a charger to charge an EV where it is proven that the person connected the charger to the EV or its battery, unless the contrary is established. For example, the presumption may be rebutted by evidence that the charger was powered off or faulty.
These amendments seek to support the progressive deployment of emerging transport technologies while maintaining appropriate safety safeguards and reducing unnecessary regulatory requirements.
Click on the following links for more information (available on the Ministry of Transport (“MOT“) website at www.mot.gov.sg):
- Round-up Speech by Minister of State for Transport and for Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Baey Yam Keng at the Land Transport and Related Matters (No. 2) Bill Second Reading
- Opening Speech by Minister of State for Transport and for Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Baey Yam Keng, at the Land Transport and Related Matters (No. 2) Bill Second Reading
- Media Factsheet: First Reading of Land Transport and Related Matters (No. 2) Bill
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