Expressway Monitoring Advisory System (EMAS) is an intelligent incident management tool that manages traffic along our expressways. It detects accidents, vehicle breakdown and other incidents promptly, ensuring fast response to restore normal traffic flow. It also provides real-time information of travelling time from the entry point of expressway to selected exits.

The recovery crew will also tow the broken-down vehicle to the nearest designated carpark, free of charge. With effect from 18 January 2006, it is an offence if a vehicle owner refuses to allow his vehicle to be towed away by the recovery crew, even if the owner is waiting for his own tow truck service that has yet to arrive. This is to minimise the congestion and inconvenience caused to other motorists.

Working closely with the vehicle recovery service crew, a team of LTA Traffic Marshals (who are Auxiliary Police Officers) carry out On-Scene Management duties like traffic control and evidence preservation for accidents involving minor injuries. This is to improve on the accident clearance time, especially for minor accidents. The Traffic Police (TP) will continue to handle all accidents involving injuries and fatalities as well as enforce traffic offences.

Keeping other motorists informed

Motorists are informed of the traffic condition so that they can drive more carefully as they approach the incident site or choose another route. Electronic signboards along the expressways and adjacent major roads display messages on the traffic situation ahead. Traffic information is also sent to TrafficWatch (MediaCorp Radio) for broadcast.

EMAS monitoring capabilities will be extended to 10 major arterial roads in phases over the next few years to better inform motorists of the traffic condition along both expressways and major arterial roads.

From 23 May 2011, 26 new EMAS Arterial Variable Message Signs (AVMS) will be installed at key approaches along the Woodlands Road-Upper Bukit Timah Road-Jalan Anak Bukit - Bukit Timah Road-Dunearn Road corridor and the West Coast Highway corridor (between Keppel Road/Shenton Way and Pasir Panjang Road/ South Buona Vista Road).

These major arterial roads were selected because they are highly utilised by motorists and serve as alternate routes to the expressways they run parallel to. The new EMAS AVMS will bring about better traffic management by helping motorists make informed choices on their travelling routes.

A total of ten major arterial corridors will be fitted with the EMAS AVMS by 2013.

Last Updated: 5 March 2012