LTA Warns Public After App That Provides Carpool Between SG & JB Is Announced

If you’ve lived on this planet for a considerable amount of time, you’d know that life sometimes likes to dangle happiness in front of us only to take it away soon after.

Like when you just start enjoying a new TV show on Netflix and find out the next day that it’s been cancelled.

Or when your crush texts you saying “I was wondering if you’d go out with me?” and before you respond with enthusiasm they send a second message saying “Sorry, I meant to text the other John”.

This time, however, life has called upon the services of LTA to ruin our day.

Sameride

In case you don’t know, various news outlets recently reported that Sameride, an app that provides carpool services between Singapore and Johor Bahru will launch on 30 December this year.

The app intends to focus on Singapore-Johor drivers and riders who are commuters themselves. So, commuters are able to offer or request rides from other commuters.

Users also have the flexibility to either be a driver or a rider.

Sameride estimates that app users who commute between Johor and Singapore will be able to reduce the cost of their commute by up to half as compared to taxi services.

That’s why almost 300 Singapore-Johor commuters have pre-registered in the app over the past two weeks.

Reader: Wow, this sounds amazing! Now I can make some money when I drive to JB. I’m going to sign up immedi-

Uh… remember what I said about life?

LTA Warns Of “Strong Enforcement Action” Against Unlicensed Vehicles

In response, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) warned on Saturday (28 December) that drivers caught providing hire-and-reward carpool services between Singapore and Johor without a valid public service vehicle licence (PSVL) could be jailed and fined.

Me: *coughs*

Authorities: DID YOU KNOW YOU COULD BE JAILED AND FINED FOR COUGHING

According to CNA, LTA said it took a “serious view” towards foreign-registered vehicles illegally providing hire-and-reward services.

They added that it would take “strong enforcement action” against such illegal activities.

According to the authority, foreign-registered vehicles are not allowed to provide cross-border passenger transport services for hire or reward in Singapore without a PSVL.

But why? Why take this away from us?

Insurance

LTA strongly urged people against using services provided by drivers of unlicensed vehicles because the vehicles might not be sufficiently insured against third party liabilities.

“Passengers who ride in such vehicles may not be entitled to insurance recourse if they are involved in a traffic accident while travelling in such vehicles,” an LTA spokesperson said.

Daring Reader: OK, but it’s going to be hard to track these vehicles, isn’t it? What’s the worst that could happen to me anyway?

Well, if you’re caught providing hire and reward services, including cross-border carpooling services without a valid PSVL, you can be fined up to S$3,000, imprisoned for up to six months, or both.

The vehicle used may also be forfeited.

Daring Reader: Damn, that’s cold. 

So, you know what this means. You’ll have to either get in a sweaty group hug with 50 other strangers on a bus to JB, or go back in time and book a train 2 years in advance.

Reader: But wait, they only said drivers will be jailed. So, I could technically still use the app as a rider, then?

Yes, you could, as long as you’re okay with sitting in an unlicensed vehicle that might not be properly insured. Plus, how many drivers are going to sign up after this warning?