New AV Act will define safety, liability, insurance and data rules for autonomous vehicles by 2027.
The Singapore Government has launched a public consultation on new laws for autonomous vehicles, seeking views on safety, liability, insurance and data rules that will govern how driverless cars are tested and deployed on local roads.
Defining A New AV Legal Framework
Singapore’s Ministry of Transport launched a public consultation on May 4 to shape a new Autonomous Vehicles Act targeted for Parliament in 2027, aiming to give clear rules on safety, liability, insurance and enforcement so that businesses can operate driverless fleets with certainty and the public can be assured that AVs are deployed responsibly on local roads.
Corporate And Individual Responsibility
The paper proposes shifting responsibility from individual drivers to corporate players as systems move toward fully driverless operation, with separate rules for AVs under testing and those in commercial service. Technology providers would be licensed and held to technical and corporate requirements, fleet operators must manage safe operations and maintenance, while safety and remote operators could require vocational licences and be liable if they ignore handover prompts or fail to intervene in time.
Compensation, Insurance And Fairness
MOT is seeking views on compensation models that provide timely payouts and keep premiums affordable while covering new risks such as cyberattacks on AVs. It warns that insurance rules must avoid perverse incentives, where AV operators are less careful or other road users target AVs, and suggests options such as a victim first approach where AV insurers pay injured parties up front and recover costs later, acknowledging this could raise premiums if recoveries are difficult.
Data, Cybersecurity And Privacy
Because AVs capture large volumes of data, including video and precise location, the consultation outlines a proposed three year retention period and invites feedback on what datasets should be collected, how they are protected and who can access them after incidents. Cybersecurity standards are a key focus, with regulators looking to ensure that remote connectivity and software updates do not become points of failure that could compromise safety or personal information.
Handover Liability And Real World Incidents
MOT is also asking how liability should be shared when control passes between humans and systems, referencing overseas practice where Level 3 AVs must give a set transition time before the law treats the human as fully in charge. A recent ComfortDelGro AV incident in Punggol, where a safety operator took over during mapping but struck a road divider, highlights these grey zones as Grab and ComfortDelGro continue free public shuttle trials in Punggol before full paid services begin from mid 2026.
The AV consultation shows Singapore is moving early to align technology, safety and accountability before driverless vehicles become common on its roads. Indonesians and Singaporeans have a shared interest in clear, trusted rules for autonomous transport that protect passengers and other road users while allowing innovation and cross border cooperation in smart mobility to flourish.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , CNA (2026)
Keywords: AV Act Singapore, Accident Liability, Insurance Framework, Data Management, Safety Operators
