Mandatory Speed Limiters on Lorries: Are New Regulations Enough?

From 1 January 2026, some lorries in Singapore (those registered before 2018, and which have a weight between 5001 and 12 000kg) have to be fitted with mandatory speed limiters. Lighter lorries have a deadline of 1 July 2026. 141 lorry owners which did not comply with the 1 Jan deadline will have enforcement action taken against them. 

The MHA has announced that they will implement stricter measures for lorry owners who fail to comply with the speed limiter requirements. The maximum penalty for non-compliance will be increased from $1000 to $10,000. From 1 Jan, companies whose lorry drivers are caught speeding will be issued a Remedial Order by TP for committing unsafe acts at work. 

These measures aim to improve transportation safety for workers who rely on lorries for their daily commute. However, no amount of preventive or punitive action can fully resolve the inherent dangers of using lorries for human transport. These efforts primarily focus on addressing individual behaviors, while the root issue is systemic and structural, demanding a more comprehensive solution.

A recent news report highlighted the case of an individual who was jailed for crashing into a lorry transporting migrant workers. He was reportedly driving at speeds of up to 160 km/h — double the legal speed limit. The crash left nine migrant workers with serious injuries, four of whom required surgery. This tragic incident underscores that speed limiters alone cannot address the multiple factors and actors contributing to the serious and often serious or fatal injuries sustained by workers on lorries — factors that extend far beyond the control of the drivers themselves.

We must do better than to knowingly expose migrant workers to both indignity and danger. Every injury and loss of life resulting from lorry transport is entirely preventable. This year, we urge the government to take decisive action and ban the use of lorries for transporting workers, as the right and necessary step toward ensuring their safety and dignity.