MOT seeks comments on proposed legislative framework for safe deployment of autonomous vehicles on roads

25 May 2026

On 4 May 2026, the Ministry of Transport (“MOT”) published a consultation paper to gather feedback on the proposed legal and regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles (“AVs”) in Singapore. MOT seeks to engage industry players, the insurance and legal sectors, unions, and the public to seek views on the proposed legislation. This initiative is part of MOT’s efforts to develop legislation that will govern AVs deployed on roads in Singapore more holistically, building on lessons learnt from the existing AV regulatory sandbox for AV trials under the Road Traffic Act 1961 and international best practices. The consultation closes on 30 June 2026.

Singapore is committed to ensuring the safety of AVs deployed on roads, while supporting industry development and innovation with new technology in the transport sector. The current traffic regulations, insurance practices, and enforcement regime in Singapore are centred on the role of a human driver. In contrast, AVs, by definition, do not require human drivers. The MOT is thus seeking to establish a separate and robust regulatory regime to ensure the safe operation of AVs on Singapore roads. 

The consultation paper outlines the key issues in four critical areas that will form the foundation of the AV legislative framework: 

  • Responsibility and accountability of key players involved in AV deployments: A clear delineation of roles and responsibilities among various AV actors will form the basis for accountability and liability attribution when they fail to adequately fulfil their functions. The proposed framework identifies four key players in the AV ecosystem, each with conceptually distinct functions: (i) the entities in charge of AV technology; (ii) fleet operators; (iii) onboard safety operators, and (iv) remote operators. The consultation seeks views on the identified key players, their roles and responsibilities, and the means to hold them accountable for safety, during both testing and full commercial deployment phases. 
  • Compensation and insurance: Recognising the importance of timely compensation to victims in AV accidents, the consultation seeks views on the role of AV insurance in supporting deployments. Key considerations include how AV insurance will interact with the existing fault-based motor insurance regime, the affordability of premiums, the speed of compensation especially if civil liability for accidents is disputed, and the type of risks insured (e.g. cyber-attacks on vehicles). 
  • Data and cybersecurity management: Given that AVs collect, use and generate substantial amounts of data, the proposed framework will address data and cybersecurity management frameworks to maintain oversight of AVs’ operations and protect personal data, commercial interests and national security considerations. The consultation seeks to gather feedback on calibrating the applicable requirements on AV players to achieve these objectives while minimising the compliance burden. 
  • Advanced driver assistance systems and conditional automation: As the introduction of advanced driver assistance systems continues to blur the distinction between conventional vehicles and AVs, the consultation seeks to gather views on issues of liability in relation to accidents that occur during the transition of vehicular control. 

Reference materials 

The following materials are available on the MOT website www.mot.gov.sg: