Less than 10% of required lorries have installed speed limiters
The Traffic Police have expressed concern over the number of lorries fitted with speed limiters thus far. Less than 10 per cent of the vehicles required to install the device by January next year have done so. Since January last year, eligible lorries are required to be installed with speed limiters. To get more vehicle owners to comply, the Traffic Police conducted a two-day blitz. Charlotte Lim with more.
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Independent Singapore
2 days ago
- Independent Singapore
Huge snake found coiled inside car engine at Ubi Avenue workshop
Photo: Stomp-Justin SINGAPORE: A routine car servicing took a wild turn on Monday afternoon (June 17) when a large snake was discovered coiled up inside a car engine at 53 Ubi Avenue 1. The reptile was spotted at around 3.15pm, according to Justin who told Stomp that his friend had brought the car to a nearby workshop for servicing. Mechanics were about to begin work when they made the surprising discovery under the bonnet. The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) was quickly called in to assist with the safe removal of the snake. A video shared by Justin with Stomp shows Acres officers calmly lifting the snake out from the engine compartment. 'Big one eh,' one of the men can be heard saying as the snake wriggled in protest, clearly unsettled by the sudden attention. Another officer said, 'Let it work itself out,' as they carefully handled the animal. After a few tense moments, the team managed to guide the snake into a cage. Asked if he had been frightened by the encounter, Justin said, 'Not me.' It is unclear how the snake ended up in the engine bay, but such incidents are not unheard of in Singapore, where reptiles may seek out warm or sheltered spaces. In response to such encounters, the National Parks Board (NParks) advises members of the public to remain calm and maintain a safe distance from wild snakes. According to NParks, snakes are generally not aggressive and will not attack unless provoked. Those who come across native wild animals in need of help or find abandoned exotic pets are encouraged to contact the ACRES Wildlife Rescue Hotline at +65 9783 7782 between 7am to 1am daily. For urgent cases involving snakes or wildlife that persist in an area, NParks' 24-hour animal response centre can be reached at 1800-476-1600.
CNA
3 days ago
- CNA
Shortage of skilled mechanics a challenge as workshops pivot to EV repair
SINGAPORE: A lack of skilled personnel and the high cost of overseas training are some challenges faced by Singapore's car workshops pivoting to electric vehicle (EV) repair. Most auto workshops and mechanics currently cater to vehicles powered by internal combustion engines that use gasoline or diesel fuel. But as Singapore drives EV adoption, workshops also need to accelerate to meet shifting demands as traditional automotives gradually phase out. However, industry players say the transition has been tricky. Hong Seh Workshop, for instance, faced a shortage of mechanics who could even understand the basics of EVs when the firm began to offer EV repair services seven years ago. The company sent its mechanics to the factories of various EV brands for training but it was costly – sending 10 staff for one overseas upskilling trip set the company back by around S$45,000 (US$35,000). The workshop's executive director Edward Tan said the industry requires a lot of factory support from the manufacturers as the internal parts of EVs – such as the electronic control units – are proprietary to each carmaker. This means mechanics need to be familiar with the unique systems of each brand before they can work on the cars. 'Our technicians and mechanics are taught by (each manufacturer) on how to service and repair, (on) safety protocols, how to link the vehicles back to the factories … for software updates and upgrades to the systems,' Mr Tan said. The training paid off and today, Hong Seh is an authorised maintenance workshop for EV brands such as Riddara, Farizon, SRM, DFSK, Seres and Joylong. LABOUR SHORTAGE Singapore's transition to EVs has been gradual, accounting for only 5 per cent of the total car population. But numbers are expected to jump, with all new car and taxi registrations to be of cleaner-energy models from 2030. Last year, 26,225 EV cars were registered, more than double that of 11,941 in 2023, according to the Land Transport Authority (LTA). Despite the spike in EV takeups, workshops are hesitant to send their staff for training due to an ongoing manpower crunch. Furthermore, as a majority of EVs are relatively new and still under warranty, most owners are likely to send their vehicles for repair in-house or at authorised workshops instead of third party ones, said Mr Joey Lim, president of the Singapore Motor Workshop Association (SMWA). He added that EVs are still not a common sight at the motor repair workshops that the association represents. Still, demand for technicians specialising in such vehicles is only set to rise as 2030 targets for the Singapore Green Plan approach. RESKILLING TO WIDEN LABOUR POOL Dr Kwan Kian Hoong, director of the Temasek SkillsFuture Academy at Temasek Polytechnic, noted that only around 10 per cent of mechanics in the nation have the skillsets to service EVs and hybrid vehicles. To address the gap, the polytechnic is offering three courses covering topics such as EV safety, energy storage as well as various engine management systems to adult learners. It has accepted more than 100 students since launching the first course last November, including mechanics, workshop owners and car owners. "(We want) to train more professionals so that … there will be a competent pool of workers in Singapore able to service, maintain and educate car owners to embrace green technology,' said Dr Kwan. The SMWA noted that while the current National EV Specialist Safety (NESS) certification programme, launched by the LTA to equip the workforce to handle EVs, provide a good foundation, they do not cover systems unique to each EV brand. The association added that it is working with the tertiary institution as well as Chinese EV giant BYD and German automotive tech firm Bosch for targeted training for their employees. BYD said it works with NTUC Learning Hub to conduct training courses like the NESS for technicians who maintain the Chinese manufacturer's commercial vehicles. Other carmakers like South Korean firm Hyundai said that Singapore's capable talent pool and upskilling efforts make the country well-prepared to deal with new EV technologies. The firm produces four EV models at its Jurong facility, where local employees make up nearly 80 per cent of its around 300 workforce, according to the company. Hyundai noted that Singapore is an attractive location for EV expansion due to its stable business landscape and commitment to sustainability. Looking ahead, Dr Kwan said Temasek Polytechnic will create more 'bite-sized' courses for repair professionals to study at their own pace. 'We hope (to) formally qualify them as a specialised professional (to) service … hybrid and electric vehicles,' he added.
Independent Singapore
4 days ago
- Independent Singapore
Official says solutions are needed as parking problems in JB ‘will only get worse' because of SG workers
SINGAPORE: The lack of parking spaces in Johor Bahru because of people working in Singapore is bound to 'only get worse,' said State housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor, on Wednesday (Jun 18). He told Malaysia's Star Metro that there is a need for win-win solutions for all parties concerned, which is why the local government is considering ways to address the issue, as vehicle owners seek to save money and choose not to leave their cars in pay-parking areas. Residents of Johor Bahru have highlighted the problem wherein individuals who are employed in Singapore end up hogging the city's parking bays. Mr Mohd Jafni said that more and more people, particularly business owners, have complained about the issue. Another report in The Star quoted a restaurant owner who pointed out, however, that while most of the vehicles belonged to people who work in Singapore, others have been left in parking spaces for several weeks or even longer. He sometimes resorts to placing chairs or water bottles in parking spaces to ensure that his customers have somewhere to park. 'It is not fair for us and our customers, especially since there is a proper parking area at the terminal with more than enough bays. They prefer parking here to avoid paying at the bus terminal, without caring about how it will affect others,' he told The Star. Another pointed out that the number of parking spots for JB residents living in the area isn't enough to begin with, and now they find themselves competing for these spots with those who work in Singapore. Since the parking space near her home is not fenced, she's had to park outside it during the times when all the other spaces were taken. 'It is frustrating not being able to park your car at the place you live in, because outsiders are taking up the bays,' she said/ See also Malaysia PM proposes common Asia trading currency Mr Mohd Jafni added, 'This issue was also raised during the recent state assembly sitting, and it seems to have gotten worse over time. We need to study this matter thoroughly before implementing any measures, so that we can come up with a win-win solution for all.' He added that the issue needs to be addressed sooner rather than later, as it will only worsen as more vehicles enter Johor and more residents own vehicles. 'I appeal to those involved to be more thoughtful. They could just pay a little extra to park at the many available parking areas throughout the city. They are affecting other people's livelihoods simply because they refuse to pay for parking,' he said, adding that if the government were to impose a two-hour parking limit, car owners would end up needing to pay more than if they chose to leave their car in pay-parking areas./TISG Read also: Johor Bahru eateries say they're losing customers as Singapore-bound workers fill the limited parking from 5am to 8pm See also First-Time Solo Trip to JB? We Gotchu Fam
