Amy Khor on safety of ferrying workers on lorries

The Government’s measures have helped to enhance safety and reduce the risks of ferrying workers on lorries, said Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor. The average number of fatalities from road traffic accidents involving persons on board lorries has halved from around six per year from 2013 to 2017 to around three per year from 2018 to 2022. The average number of injured persons on board lorries has fallen by about a third. Replying to MPs’ questions in Parliament on Wednesday (Aug 2), Dr Khor said the Government will continue to roll out measures that address a multitude of factors behind accidents, such as driving behaviour and vehicle speed. Dr Khor said the Government recognises that it is not ideal for workers to be transported on lorries but it also understands the genuine concerns of employers. She said employers have stated that if the Government bans the use of lorries to transport workers, many companies will not be able to continue operating their business. This will have knock-on effects on society, she said. Dr Khor said the Government and agencies are actively working on additional safety measures, such as minimum rest time requirements for dual-role drivers and speed management devices for lorries. She stressed that they are committed to improving safety for all road users and working with stakeholders to develop practical solutions to protect workers and livelihoods.