Amy Khor: LTA to work on raising public awareness on allowed forms of carpooling

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will launch a public awareness campaign to educate commuters on the allowed forms of carpooling and the risks associated with informal carpooling arrangements, Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor announced on 6 March. Speaking in parliament, Dr Khor emphasised that commuters should use licensed business platforms, such as GrabHitch, when seeking carpooling services. These platforms provide safety assurances by verifying driver details and ensuring the validity of driving licences. She warned that using informal channels, such as Telegram chat groups, does not offer the same safeguards as licensed operators. "It is good to intensify our public education efforts, to raise awareness among the public that their safety is not protected if they actually go through these informal channels," Dr Khor said. Dr Khor was responding to queries from Member of Parliament Yeo Wan Ling, who questioned LTA's efforts to educate the public on the risks of unlicensed carpooling. Ms Yeo, an adviser to the National Private Hire Vehicles Association, also raised concerns about the ease with which commuters can find unlicensed carpooling services online. A search for "SG Hitch" on Telegram, she noted, revealed at least five active chat groups facilitating driver-passenger connections, with membership ranging from 3,000 to over 49,000 users. She asked whether LTA would consider banning paid carpooling among strangers due to the potential safety risks. However, Dr Khor stated that a complete ban on carpooling services may not be effective in eliminating the problem. "Totally banning carpooling services will not necessarily remove the problem. In fact, it may exacerbate the problem. If you look at the informal channels, as the member has already pointed out, there is demand. So when there’s demand, there is supply," she explained. She also highlighted the benefits of regulated carpooling services, such as optimising vehicle road capacity and reducing carbon emissions. LTA currently enforces regulations against unlicensed carpooling operators and drivers. Individuals found guilty of providing illegal carpooling services without the necessary licences can face penalties of up to S$3,000 in fines, imprisonment of up to six months, or both. Those who facilitate illegal carpooling arrangements—such as running online platforms that match drivers with passengers without proper authorisation—face stricter penalties, including fines of up to S$10,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both. As part of its awareness campaign, LTA will collaborate with taxi and private-hire vehicle driver associations to educate the public about the risks of informal carpooling and promote the use of licensed services.