Five migrant workers were taken to hospital after an accident involving a lorry and a car at the junction of Punggol East and Punggol Central on 1 March.
According to the Chinese-language newspaper Shin Min Daily News, the Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that they were alerted to the incident at about 6.40 pm.
According to the police, five male passengers in the lorry, aged between 25 and 45, were conscious when they were taken to the hospital. Two other individuals declined medical assistance.
The 41-year-old lorry driver was arrested for dangerous driving. Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Shin Min reported that those injured were migrant workers.
Photos obtained by the publication showed two workers lying in the back of the lorry. One was seen bleeding from his forehead, with blood splattered around him.
The lorry driver reportedly stated that there were three people in the front seat and three others in the back of the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Further details regarding the condition of the injured workers and the circumstances leading to the accident have not been disclosed.
Ongoing debate over lorry transport safety
Discussions on the safety of transporting workers in lorries—a practice that has long drawn criticism from rights groups and Members of Parliament (MPs)—have intensified in recent days.
Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor previously stated that banning lorries from ferrying workers is not a feasible solution, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Speaking in Parliament on 26 February, she explained that prohibiting the use of lorries would significantly impact businesses and projects reliant on such transport.
Dr Khor acknowledged safety concerns but emphasised that completely banning the practice would be impractical due to a shortage of bus drivers across the public transport, tour bus, and school bus sectors.
She noted that many contractors depend on lorries to transport workers and equipment to multiple sites daily. A ban could lead to increased costs, reduced efficiency, and potential job losses.
Instead of an outright ban, the government has been taking a multi-pronged approach to improving transport safety.
Authorities have encouraged firms to use buses where possible and have introduced measures such as ensuring dual-role drivers receive sufficient rest. The Traffic Police have also worked on installing speed limiters on lorries with a maximum laden weight between 3,501kg and 12,000kg.
Despite these efforts, advocacy groups have continued to push for change.
In 2023, over 50 community organisations signed a joint statement calling for a ban on transporting workers in lorries, arguing that such vehicles were never designed to carry human passengers.
The statement cited safety risks, including exposure to heat stress, heavy rain, and serious injuries in accidents.
Between 2011 and 2020, 58 workers lost their lives in lorry-related road accidents, while 4,765 others sustained injuries.
The statement also noted that in 2020, the government collected at least S$1.1 billion in foreign worker levies from industries that transport workers in lorries.
Advocates have argued that some of these funds should be used to help companies transition to safer transport options.
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