The parliamentary discussion on PMDs this week had two aspects: pedestrians’ safety and safety from fires. The latter threat is being addressed by bringing forward the deadline, requiring PMDs to be certified safe, by six months to July 1 next year. Although this is a welcome step, the destination is still almost a year away. Meanwhile, Singaporeans are worried that there were 49 PMD-related fires in the first half of this year. Clearly, the devices could be a potential fire hazard with severe consequences for a densely populated and high-rise urban environment. It is disconcerting that 90 per cent of the 90,000 e-scooters registered with LTA do not comply with the UL2272 standard of safety requirements. The other aspect is the safety of pedestrians. It is true that PMDs are here to stay and that only a small number of users are irresponsible. However, given the severity of accidents that have occurred, it is necessary for the authorities to continue to monitor the situation carefully and toughen penalties should existing laws prove to be insufficient.... Continue Reading