Written Answer · 2026-10-06 · Parliament 15
Licensing Regime and Road Traffic Regulations for Autonomous Vehicles Operating as Ride-hailing Vehicles from 2028
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Transport about the licensing regime and road traffic regulations for autonomous vehicles (AVs) operating as ride-hailing vehicles from 2028, how these would differ from rules for human-driven private hire vehicles, and whether the Ministry would revise legislation ahead of fully driverless ride-hailing. Mr Jeffrey Siow replied that AV deployment today is regulated under a sandbox set out in the Road Traffic (Autonomous Motor Vehicles) Rules 2017, and that a more holistic AV legislative framework is being developed, with the Bill likely tabled in the second half of 2027.
Why it matters
A full autonomous-vehicle law is expected to be tabled in the second half of 2027; until then, passenger services are approved case by case by LTA under the 2017 sandbox rules.
Key Points
- • AV deployment today is regulated under the sandbox set out in the Road Traffic (Autonomous Motor Vehicles) Rules 2017.
- • Applicants who wish to provide revenue passenger services must get LTA approval after safety and operational assessments.
- • The Ministry is developing a more holistic AV legislative framework to set out the licensing regime and safety regulations for AVs.
- • The new framework will draw on existing laws such as the Road Traffic Act and similar laws in other jurisdictions, such as the UK.
- • The Government expects to table the Bill and consequential amendments to other legislation likely in the second half of 2027.
The Government said current AV deployments are approved case-by-case under a regulatory sandbox, and it is developing a more holistic legislative framework, with the Bill likely tabled in the second half of 2027, but it did not specify how the new regulations will differ from current private-hire vehicle rules.
Mr Chua's concern was whether the licensing regime and road traffic rules would be ready, and how they would differ from current rules for human-driven private hire vehicles, ahead of fully driverless ride-hailing from 2028.
This signals the Government is moving from an ad hoc regulatory sandbox toward a formal legislative framework for autonomous vehicles, drawing on overseas models to prepare for driverless ride-hailing.
"We will table the Bill and consequential amendments to other legislations likely in second half of 2027."
Participants (2)
- Chua Kheng Wee Louis
- Mr Jeffrey Siow
Original Text (English)
SPRS Hansard · Fetched: 2026-10-21
54 Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Transport (a) what will be the licensing regime and road traffic regulations that will apply to autonomous vehicles that operate as ride-hailing vehicles from 2028; (b) how will such regulations differ from what currently applies to human-driven private hire vehicles; and (c) whether the Ministry will be revising the relevant road transport legislation ahead of the fully driverless ride-hailing service.
Mr Jeffrey Siow : The deployment of autonomous vehicles (AV) on roads today are regulated under the sandbox set out in Road Traffic (Autonomous Motor Vehicles) Rules 2017. Applicants who wish to provide revenue passenger services will need to obtain the Land Transport Authority's approval after their proposed deployments have undergone safety and operational assessments.
We are currently developing a more holistic AV legislative framework, which will outline the applicable licensing regime and safety regulations for AVs. We will take reference from existing laws, such as the Road Traffic Act, and also similar acts in other jurisdictions, like the United Kingdom. We will table the Bill and consequential amendments to other legislations likely in second half of 2027.