Spot Checks to Verify That Commercial Vehicle Drivers, Particularly Foreigners, Hold Valid Driving Licences

Question:

Mr Yip Hon Weng: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how frequently does the Traffic Police conduct spot checks at work sites or workplaces to verify that drivers of commercial vehicles, particularly foreigners, hold valid driving licences; and (b) how many of such drivers have been found to be working without a valid driving licence in the past five years.

Answer:

Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development:

1. The Traffic Police (TP) does not conduct spot checks at work sites or workplaces to verify drivers’ licences. Instead, checks on commercial vehicle drivers, including foreign drivers, are conducted on public roads during patrol operations.

2. In the past five years, an average of 270 foreign motorists per year were found to have been driving a commercial vehicle without a valid driving licence. In 2024, there was a spike in the number of cases by 47%, to 292 cases. TP is concerned about this trend, and has been stepping up its enforcement and public education efforts.