The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has completed its review of the Mandatory Give-Way to Buses Scheme at three pilot locations and will be extending the scheme island-wide from now till 2011.

Since the pilot scheme began in December 2008 at 22 bus bays along Bukit Batok East Avenue 3, Toh Tuck Road and Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, LTA has closely monitored the three sites to evaluate the impact the scheme has on bus travel time and average speeds for main road traffic.

Results from the three pilot locations showed that the Give-Way to Buses Scheme has been effective in reducing the amount of time spent by buses trying to get out of bus bay, and in turn has improved overall bus speeds. Based on data from the three locations, buses are now able to exit the bus bay faster, with time reduction of up to 73% in some cases. Total journey time for bus services that ply the three locations have improved by up to 7% along the affected roads.

Besides improving bus speeds, the LTA also monitored the average vehicular speeds at the three roads and results show no significant changes to traffic speeds along roads at the three locations, indicating that the scheme has minimal impact on main road traffic speeds.

A straw poll conducted on more than 200 bus commuters who travel along the three pilot locations revealed that more than 96% surveyed noticed that buses are able to exit the bus bays significantly faster at the three pilot locations.

The Mandatory Give-Way to Buses Scheme is similar conceptually to a zebra crossing, except that it is meant for buses.

When nearing a bus stop under this scheme, motorists will first see triangular give way markings on the road. These markings indicate that motorists approaching these bus stops need to slow down and watch in case buses are pulling out of the bus bay. Motorists come to a complete stop before the give way line and give way to buses exiting the bus bay at the location. Motorists may continue their journey once the bus has successfully exited the bus bay and no other buses are pulling out from the bus bay.

It will be a traffic offence if motorists do not give way to buses exiting from bus bays where the new road markings are drawn or if they stay in the yellow box marked 'Give Way to Buses'. The penalty for each offence is a fine of $130 (no demerit points).

Given the positive results from the Mandatory Give-Way to Buses pilot, the LTA will expand this new scheme to an estimated 180 bus bays from June 2009. These new bus bays were identified, in consultation with the public transport operators, as locations where buses will benefit from having the Mandatory Give-Way to Buses Scheme. The LTA will only implement the scheme at locations where the safety of road users will not be compromised, as a result.

From 27 June 2009, the LTA has extended the Mandatory Give-Way to Buses Scheme at four bus bays in the Choa Chu Kang area. These bus bays are located along Choa Chu Kang Road (opposite the Phoenix LRT Station and opposite Blk 26) and along Choa Chu Kang Drive (opposite Blk 209 and near Blk 209).

Extension of Mandatory Give-Way to Buses Scheme to Choa Chu Kang

From 25 December 2009, the scheme has been extended progressively to 15 bus bays along Pasir Ris Drive 1, Canberra Road and Woodlands Avenue 5.

Extension of Mandatory Give-Way to Buses Scheme to Pasir Ris, Canberra Road and Woodlands.

From 5 March 2010, the scheme has been extended to 3 bus bays along Upper Thomson Road.

Extension of Mandatory Give-Way to Buses Scheme to Upper Thomson Road

LTA will announce the details of future batches in due course, and that motorists will be alerted early of each new implementation and be given sufficient time to prepare.

Similar to the Mandatory Give-Way to Buses scheme, LTA will put on trial a bus signal priority scheme in 2009, to give priority to buses at traffic light junctions.

All these bus priority measures will help work towards increasing bus speeds and to enhance their reliability for the commuters.

Last Updated: 5 March 2010