Letter of the week: Take steps to prevent PMAs from catching fire in trains
I refer to the reports “
- by autobot
- Aug. 15, 2024
- Source article
Publisher object (23)
I refer to the reports “ ” (Aug 9) and “ ” (Feb 21). In 2021, a man died after his personal mobility device burst into flames while he was in a lift. An inquiry found that the battery had been modified. The battery was not even being charged then, yet it exploded. We need stringent measures to prevent something like this from happening in our public transport system. In March, the Government accepted recommendations from the active mobility advisory panel on regulations for personal mobility aids (PMAs). The scope covered certification of users of mobility scooters, speed limits and dimension restrictions for PMAs on public paths. With mobility scooters getting more popular with the rapidly ageing population, there should be stricter rules and regulations governing their use – in particular, the fire and electrical safety standards of such devices. All motorised personal mobility devices used on public paths must be certified to the UL2272 standard. However, this does not apply to mobility scooters. If all mobility scooters are also required to have the UL2272 certification, with original batteries, this would discourage people from modifying the batteries. And if registration with number plates issued is also required, it would make it much easier for MRT staff to ascertain which scooters are safe to go on the trains. Besides safeguarding the public transport system, we would also be safeguarding malls, hawker centres and homes. We should not take any chances with safety.