Guide to Personal Mobility Aid (PMA) Laws for Singapore Users

Last updated on December 20, 2024

Amidst a variety of personal mobility options available in Singapore, personal mobility aids (PMAs) have come into focus as a class of vehicles specially designed for people with genuine mobility needs. This article discusses existing PMA laws and explains how they differ from personal mobility devices (PMDs).

Additionally, we will look into proposed changes to current laws governing the use of PMAs. These were brought about by various factors, including:

A rise in off-road PMA accidents;
Increasing public concerns regarding the misuse of mobility scooters by seemingly able-bodied individuals (PMAs are meant to help people with walking difficulties, but are sometimes misused as scooter substitutes);
Speeding; and
The use of overly large PMA devices that may obstruct public paths or commuters on public transportation (e.g., trains), possibly even posing safety hazards by preventing smooth evacuations during emergencies,

all of which have pushed the government into considering new rules to restrict user eligibility, among other things.

In summary, this article will cover:

What is a Personal Mobility Aid (PMA)?

The term “PMA” covers two types of transport, separately defined in the Active Mobility Act (AMA):

A motorised wheelchair: A wheelchair that is designed to carry an individual who is unable to walk or has difficulty in walking, and is propelled by a motor that forms part of the wheelchair. A wheelchair, in turn, is defined as a chair mounted on 2 or more wheels that is built to transport a person who is unable to walk or has difficulty walking, but does not include a pram, stroller or trolley.
A mobility scooter – a vehicle that:
- Has 3 or more wheels and a footboard supported by the wheels;
- Is steered by handlebars;
- Has a seat;
- Is designed to carry an individual who is unable to walk or has difficulty walking; and
- Is propelled by a motor that forms part of the vehicle.

Who Can Use PMAs?

PMAs are designed to be used by people with genuine mobility issues due to medical conditions. However, there are currently no laws restricting who can use PMAs – not even in terms of their medical condition or ability to walk – thereby leading to concerns of misuse of PMAs by able-bodied persons.

That said, at the time of writing, the government is considering a certification regime for users of mobility scooters. The precise details of this certification have yet to be finalised, including whether a user needs to first approach a healthcare professional for certification. However, the government has pre-identified users whose mobility scooters were subsidised for them under the Assistive Technology Fund (ATF), or the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) as genuine users, while other certification/identification schemes are currently being worked on.

As for wheelchairs, motorised or not, certification requirements will not apply because public feedback on the misuse of PMAs among able-bodied users was largely linked to mobility scooters.

Therefore, while there may be more restrictions on the design and uses of some types of PMAs in 2025, there are currently no restrictions on user eligibility, nor licensing or registration requirements.

Differences between PMAs and PMDs

The personal mobility device (PMD) is another type of vehicle legally defined in the Active Mobility Act. It refers to a wheeled vehicle that is:

Built to transport people only (with or without carry‑on baggage); and
Propelled by an electric motor attached to the vehicle or by human power, or both.

Recognised types of PMD include skateboards, kick scooters, unicycles, hoverboards and devices like the Segway. However, PMDs do not include PMAs (wheelchairs – motorised or otherwise – and mobility scooters), bicycles, power‑assisted bicycles, motor cars, prams, strollers, trolleys, inline skates, roller‑skates, wheeled toys, or “e-trishaws”.

Do note that there is a device that resembles an electric version of the kick scooter. This is the e-scooter, which is also considered a PMD (unlike a mobility scooter which is a PMA). Users have to be at least 16 years old and pass a theory test. Under-aged users can ride under the supervision of an adult who has passed the same theory test. This, and the more regulatory aspects of e-scooters, are discussed in detail in our article on e-scooter and PMD laws.

PMA Restrictions – Speed, Dimensions, Modifications, Locations and Insurance

Speed Capabilities

Where a PMA is motorised, it is subject by law to a maximum speed of 10km/h. Any motorised PMA that is even capable of exceeding that speed is considered “non-compliant”.

However, the government intends to reduce this speed limit to 6km/h by 2025. For pre-existing users of motorised PMAs capable of reaching the current maximum speed limit of 10km/h, they will nevertheless be allowed to continue using these PMAs until the vehicles reach end-of-life.

Dimensions

PMAs face size and weight restrictions if brought onto public transportation such as buses or MRT trains (70cm width, 120cm length, 150cm height, and 300kg laden weight). While these restrictions do not apply to PMAs used on public paths, the government has announced plans to extend these restrictions to PMAs under both circumstances.

Modifications

Here, “modifying” refers to changing a PMA’s construction, weight, accessories or maximum speed (as mentioned above) so that it differs from what the AMA requires of them. This is not illegal per se. However, a PMA that is non-compliant as a result of modification is banned from pedestrian-only paths.

A PMA rider who, without reasonable excuse, drives a non-compliant PMA on a pedestrian‑only path commits an offence, and can face a fine of up to $10,000 or jail of up to 6 months or both – more if it is a repeat offence. Additionally, the display of non-compliant PMAs for sale by retailers is also prohibited – offenders can be fined up to $10,000, face a jail term of up to 12 months, or both.

Permitted locations for use of PMAs

While many other types of personal mobility devices face bans on paths of different types, PMAs are allowed on all paths – even pedestrian-only paths. They are only prohibited from being used on roads. However, whenever a PMA rider faces a choice between using a bicycle crossing or a pedestrian crossing, the PMA rider must choose the bicycle crossing.

Finally, unlike “ordinary” PMAs, a PMA that is autonomous is banned for use on all public paths generally. This occurs when the construction of the PMA enables it to operate without being controlled, and without needing to be monitored by an individual who is actually on the PMA.

As for riding them on buses and in MRT/LRT stations, the Land Transport Authority has an inclusivity policy whereby strollers, wheelchairs and other PMAs are welcomed on buses, MRT/LRT stations and trains.

Outside of public transport infrastructure, the places where PMAs can be used are not regulated by statute. Rather, it is a matter of civil law. For example, there is an ongoing debate about whether PMAs should be allowed in malls. This is a matter of whether the landlord allows them on their premises, and there are mall operators in Singapore that have openly stated that PMAs are permitted in their premises on the principle of inclusivity.

Insurance

As for insurance, employees who use their PMAs in the course of their work (e.g. delivery riders), must be insured against third-party liabilities for death or personal injury. The responsibility of ensuring that the rider is insured falls on the employer or the renter of the PMA.

Offences, Penalties and Enforcement in relation to PMAs

The enforcement of the AMA is the responsibility of the Land Transport Authority. This includes dealing with offences that are committed in relation to PMAs (discussed below).

Offences relating to PMAs and their penalties

Some PMA-relevant offences and their penalties under the AMA include:

Riding, on a specific path, a PMA that is banned from that path due to its physical characteristics. First-time offenders will be fined up to $5,000 or jailed for up to 6 months, or both.
Riding a non-compliant PMA on a public footpath or shared path. First-time offenders will be fined up to $10,000 or jailed for up to 6 months, or both.
Speeding on a path. First-time offenders will be fined up to $2,000 or jailed for up to 6 months, or both.
Displaying non-compliant PMAs for sale, advertising non-compliant PMAs, and selling PMAs to buyers who intend to ride them on public roads. First-time offenders will be fined up to $10,000 or jailed for up to 12 months, or both.
Illegally modifying a PMA to make it non-compliant. First-time offenders will be fined up to $20,000 or jailed for up to 24 months, or both.

Repeat offenders will face double the penalties for the offences above. This excludes the fine amount for the offence of speeding, where the maximum fine for repeat offenders is $5,000.

Enforcement Officers

The enforcement of offences under the AMA comes under LTA’s purview, and LTA primarily deploys enforcement officers as well as other public sector officers to carry out this role.

The police, while not directly responsible for enforcing AMA offences, may be called on in the event of an accident to record the names and addresses of the parties involved (including details of damaged property, if any), as well as to obtain information about a user.

Enforcement manpower is further boosted by the use of volunteers. Under the AMA, the Land Transport Authority can appoint volunteers meeting certain age and training criteria as ‘volunteer public path wardens’.

Enforcement measures under the AMA include a variety of “soft” options. For example, volunteer public path wardens have the power to issue advisories or carry out surveillance. Enforcement measures may also include inspecting premises, moving erroneously parked PMA vehicles, and seizing and forfeiting such vehicles.

The table below sets out which types of officers are responsible for the various enforcement actions arising from non-compliance with PMA-related laws.

Powers	Authorised Officer	Public Path Warden	Outsourced Enforcement Officer	Volunteer Public Path Warden	Police Officer

To dispose of forfeited PMA vehicles	Yes	No	No	No	No
To issue notice to attend court	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
To arrest persons	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
To receive names and addresses of parties involved in accident, and details of damaged property	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
To demand information about user	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
To seize PMA vehicles	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
To move PMA vehicles that are illegally parked or causing obstruction.	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
To ask an individual suspected of committing an offence relating to the use of public paths to state the individual’s name and residential address;	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
To advise the individual to stop engaging in conduct that is an offence relating to the use of public paths;	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
To photograph or film, or otherwise record the place where, or in respect of which, an offence relating to the use of public paths was committed or is reasonably suspected to have been committed, and any individual or PMA vehicle in that place;	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
To take statements — (i) from an individual suspected of an offence relating to the use of public paths (ii) from any complainant against such an individual and require such an individual to make and sign a declaration of the truth of the statement made by the individual;	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
To examine/weigh PMA vehicle, order user to produce identity documents, or to deliver PMA vehicle for inspection.	Yes	Yes, except for compliance inspections	Yes, except for compliance inspections	No	No

Do note that when exercising their enforcement powers, enforcement officers must produce their identification cards. This applies to authorised officers, public path wardens, volunteer public path wardens and outsourced enforcement officers.

Will I be Arrested For Committing a PMA-Related Offence?

Generally speaking, persons are not usually arrested for committing an offence (such as a PMA-related offence) under the AMA, unless they:

Refuse to provide their name and residential address after committing an AMA offence in the presence (or within the view) of an authorised officer or public path warden,
Provide suspected false identifying information, and
Fail to attend court after being ticketed, but such an arrest requires a warrant of court.

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Unlike most other types of personal mobility devices, PMAs appear somewhat unique in that they have the least restrictions to their use. This is largely due to their intended use by people with genuine mobility issues. However, as the intended user base has not been codified into law, the government is now looking into restricting mobility scooters to users with certified walking difficulties, and reducing the speed limit to 6km/h.

If you are a PMA user and have questions about whether you are permitted to use a PMA, or if you or a loved one has been charged with a PMA-related offence, you may seek further guidance or assistance from a criminal defence lawyer.