Cab firms must do more than up fares
Dr Kog Yue Choong
Taxi companies appear to have tackled the dilemma of either paying
its drivers more, or leaving them poorer due to rising costs, by
deciding to hike taxi fares and passing the problem on to
passengers.
.
Right now, it seems rather optimistic to think that the fare hikes
will solve the issues of touting, lack of taxis where they are
needed and the perennial problem of cabbies who are clueless even
about landmarks such as the Esplanade.
.
Frustrated passengers must be wondering why exactly they should be
paying more. They probably also expect better productivity and
knowledge on the part of drivers. But the taxi firms don't seem
willing or able to do anything besides charging booking fees
about the long queues at taxi stands at certain times of the
day.
.
It is also unclear if they have managed to adjust the
shift-changing periods so that there is no shortage of available
cabs at certain hours, as happens now.
.
And what about reining in wayward drivers who tout? It has been the
Land Transport Authority which has wielded the big stick. Even the
private sector, it seems, is developing a dependence on the
State.
.
Apart from those who do not know the locations of key destinations,
there are also drivers who take longer or "scenic" routes to
destinations instead of practising the good ethic of taking
passengers by the fastest and shortest route in the safest possible
way, although some cabbies do offer passengers a choice of
routes.
.
Hiking fares is not the only way to tackle even economic questions.
As taxi drivers worry about higher fuel prices, one wonders what
taxi companies have done to explore greater fuel efficiency or,
better still, alternative fuels.
.
Another question that remains unanswered is whether taxi firms are
using technology to help their drivers be where the action is
that is, where the passengers are.
.
There is usually no shortage of taxis at the airport, at any hour.
Indeed, on some evenings the airport taxi queue even extends to a
couple of kilometres along the ECP. It remains to be seen whether
the new surcharges will lead cabbies to be similarly organised
around the city centre during peak hours and weekends.
.
Taxi firms and their drivers may need to be briefed by the Urban
Redevelopment Authority on leisure and recreational places around
the city centre. Professionally speaking, cabbies should be where
their services are needed, and taxi firms should help get their
drivers to these places.
.
A cut in taxi rentals should be explored if the costs of the new
Hyundai or Kia taxis work out to be less than those for the
existing Toyota and Nissan taxis. One also wonders why taxi firms
do not consider rebates for drivers who exhibit qualities such as
professionalism, good service and safe driving, for example.
.
Drivers who make efforts to reach areas with more demand, in order
to reduce taxi queues, should be similarly rewarded. In short, taxi
firms should actively encourage passenger feedback and take it
seriously as well.
.
Hiking cab charges will do nothing to solve issues related to
inefficiency and just plain disregard of passengers' needs. Many
passengers now are likely to be well-heeled tourists who do not
mind spending the extra money to travel by taxi, particularly since
Singapore's rates are competitive when compared with those in the
West.
.
Taxi firms that opt for price hikes as a means of solving their
drivers' problems are only ensuring that Singapore's taxi fares and
transport system become less competitive.
.
What is also worrying is that more middle-income commuters may
consider buying cars if taking taxis is going to cost the same as
using a car.
.
Ultimately, the concern is whether taxis are going to become a
privileged form of transport affordable only to the well- heeled.
It will certainly add to the costs of those who need transport in
an urgent or emergency situation.
.
Similarly, higher fares will mean added costs for families visiting
relatives during festivals. Taxi firms should also realise that
between midnight and 5am on most days of the week, taxis are the
only form of public transport operating, and high fares discourage
many night- and late-shift workers from travelling home.
.
Lack of affordable transport renders these workers homeless until
public buses and trains start in the mornings.
.
Commuters who rely on public transport surely deserve more from
taxi companies and their drivers.
.
Dr Kog Yue Choong is an engineering consultant and also an adjunct
professor at the National University of Singapore. The views
expressed here are his own.