Avoid unlicensed carpooling services, says state coroner after man, 21, dies in PIE accident

Unlicensed carpooling services should be avoided, said Singapore's State Coroner following an accident involving a 21-year-old man along the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE).

PIE accident in 2023

The 21-year-old was killed in an accident involving a van and a lorry on Dec. 31, 2023. The 21-year-old was riding in the van, which overturned.

The 18-year-old driver is believed to have picked up the deceased through the carpool group, SGHitch, according to Shin Min Daily News.

He was subsequently arrested for careless driving without due care, The Straits Times reported.

What happened

According to the State Coroner's findings reported by CNA, this was what likely happened:

The van was approaching the lorry's rear and travelling at a faster speed than the lorry.

The van driver either tried to filter to the right to overtake the lorry, or to avoid a collision.

The van driver ended up driving into the right side of the lorry's rear, launching the van into the air.

Avoid unlicensed carpooling operators

The 18-year-old van driver did not have a driving license at that time and had not been authorised by the van's registered owner to use the vehicle.

He had also been offering carpooling services via a Telegram chat.

The state coroner said that vans are not designated public service vehicles and cannot be used to ferry passengers unless they are employees of the company that the van belongs to, according to CNA.

He warned that drivers of such carpooling services could be inexperienced, and any injuries or death from an accident may not be covered by insurance.

Commuters should only book trips through licensed carpool operators.

Car-pooling matched through informal non-business mediums, such as Telegram, is not allowed in Singapore.

Anyone guilty of providing a car-pooling matching service will face a fine not exceeding S$10,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both.

The prohibition does not apply to social car-pooling among friends and colleagues.

Top photo via Singapore Road Accident and screenshot from Telegram group.