Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Average Waiting Time for an Applicant to Start Class 4 Driving Licence Lessons in the Past One Year

Question:

Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the average waiting time for an applicant to start lessons for a Class 4 driving licence in the past one year; (b) whether demand for these lessons has exceeded supply significantly; and (c) if so, how does the Ministry plan to resolve the backlog of applicants due to the shortage in driving lesson slots

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law:

1. Between October 2023 and September 2024, the average waiting time for an applicant to start their Class 4 driving lessons was about five months. The recent increase in waiting time is attributed to an increase in foreign workers applying for Class 4 driving licences, and a shortage of instructors in the driving schools.

2. Traffic Police (TP) will allow driving schools to employ foreign instructors, to supplement the local pool and alleviate the shortage of driving instructors. This will increase training capacity.

3. In addition, TP will prioritise applicants who require Class 4 driving licences for occupational purposes.

4. Singapore Safety Driving Centre is currently the only driving school that provides facilities for Class 4 training and testing. TP is prepared to license more centres that can meet the requirements for Class 4 training, which are set out in the Schedule of the Road Traffic (Driving Instructors and Driving Schools) (Exemption) Order 2011.