More than five times increase in PMA lookalike misuse cases in 2024: LTA
‹‹
1 of 2
The most frequent offences included riding non-compliant devices and riding a PMA lookalike or e-scooter on a footpath.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
2 of 2
The most frequent offences included riding non-compliant devices and riding a PMA lookalike or e-scooter on a footpath.PHOTO: ST FILE
››
Lok Jian Wen
Feb 21, 2025
SINGAPORE - Incidences where personal mobility aid (PMA) lookalikes were misused in 2024 increased by more than five times compared with a year ago, said the Land and Transport Authority (LTA), with new measures planned to address the problem, including the requirement of medical certification to be rolled out by end-2025.
In response to queries, an LTA spokesperson said on Feb 21 that there were 38 offences involving PMA lookalikes in 2024, up from just six cases of misuse a year ago.
The most frequent offences included riding non-compliant devices and riding a PMA lookalike or e-scooter on a footpath, said the spokesperson, without disclosing the exact numbers.
New measures to regulate PMA use will be implemented by end-2025, the LTA spokesperson said. These include allowing only users with relevant medical certification to use PMAs.
Persons with disabilities and seniors who respectively use subsidised mobility scooters under the Assistive Technology Fund as well as Mobility and Enabling Fund will be exempt from obtaining additional certification to continue using PMAs.
Another regulation to reduce the maximum speed of PMAs to 6kmh from the current 10kmh will also kick in by end-2025.
The recommendations made by a mobility advisory panel had earlier been accepted by the Ministry of Transport in March 2024.
Other instances of PMA misuse in 2024 included three riders caught speeding on a legal PMA or riding a non-compliant PMA with a maximum speed of 10kmh.
Cases of PMA users caught riding illegally on roads rose to 12 in 2024, from just four a year ago.
Under the Active Mobility Act, PMAs are typically wheelchairs, both motorised and non-motorised, and mobility scooters designed to carry an individual who is unable to walk or has walking difficulties.
They are allowed to share paths meant for pedestrians only as well as cycling paths, unlike lookalike devices, such as motorised personal mobility devices (PMD) that can only use designated shared and cycling paths.
Mobility scooters, a type of PMA, and some motorised PMDs look similar and can be confused with one another.
The most noticeable difference between PMAs and their lookalikes are the number of seats, with PMAs having just one seat for its mobility-challenged rider.
In comparison, lookalike devices typically have more than one seat for a pillion rider or two. Families of four have been spotted riding the same device.
Apart from e-scooters, PMDs also include hoverboards and motorised skateboards and cannot have a maximum speed higher than 25kmh, according to LTA regulations.
Only e-scooters that are certified to the UL2272 safety standard and registered with the LTA can be used in Singapore. Riders are also required to pass a mandatory theory test before they can use e-scooters on cycling paths.
LTA said the errant riders using devices not compliant with UL2272 safety standards and registered with LTA face a $10,000 fine or a six-month jail term.