Singapore Plans Freeze on Car Volume for Its Roads

Singapore’s Land Transport Authority plans to freeze the number of cars allowed on its roads beginning next February.

BBC says the country had more than 600,000 private and rental cars registered last year. The transport agency says the freeze is driven by mounting congestion combined with improved public transport options and a lack of land to expand roadways.

Singapore already regulates car licensing through a “certificate of entitlement” system that enables would-be drivers to bid on the right to own and operate a vehicle in the country for a fixed number of years. BBC says the process multiplies the cost of a mid-range car to four times its price in the U.S.

Singapore has allowed the number of car registrations to grow only 0.25% per year since 2014. The scheme applies to privately owned cars and motorcycles but not delivery trucks and buses.