Cabbies can stay on the road till they reach 73

Gazelle SG

LTA's age limit hike to benefit 293 drivers this year

By JENNANI DURAI

TAXI drivers in Singapore will now be allowed to work until the age of 73 - provided they are deemed fit enough.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced yesterday that it was raising the age limit for taxi drivers from 70 years to 73 years. This will take effect from July 1, and is aimed at allowing older drivers who are still fit and healthy to continue working.

LTA said that it had increasingly received feedback from taxi drivers that they wanted to continue working beyond 70, and attributed this to the general improvement in the health of Singapore's population over the years.

As at May 2006, there were 84,746 taxi drivers. The change is expected to affect 293 of these drivers who are currently 69 years old.

In order to qualify for this extension, taxi drivers will be required to undergo a Therapy Assessment for Elderly Taxi Drivers.

This fitness assessment is in addition to a modified annual medical examination, which is based on the medical examination that all drivers above 65 are already required to undergo.

Drivers that pass both tests and are certified fit will have their vocational licences renewed for three years.

The Therapy Assessment, offered by the Occupational Therapy Clinic of Tan Tock Seng Hospital, consists of two components: an off-road test to assess cognitive abilities and reaction times, and an on-road test to assess the cabby's ability to drive safely.

The ComfortDelGro group, which has around 32,000 taxi drivers, welcomed the change.

Tammy Tan, group corporate communications officer for ComfortDelGro, said that the group had noted that older cabbies provided reliable service and knew the 'ins-and-outs' of Singapore roads, a skill valued by commuters.

ComfortDelGro expects over 130 of its cabbies to be able to choose not to retire on turning 70 this year.

One of them is Teo Chye Teong, who came under the ComfortDelGro umbrella in 1997. The clearly happy CityCab driver told BT that most of the other older drivers were similarly pleased. He said: 'It not only generates more income for us, but it also keeps us alert.'

Gazelle SG

As of now, I already feel that some of the taxi drivers are too old for the job. With this new age limit, i am sure we are going to see more accidents and traffic congestion.

Driving taxi in Singapore require long hours of driving and I dont think a 70+ year old can withstand sitting in the car for long hours.

BillyBong SG

I've seen a 100-year-old lady renew her driving license so it's really a subjective question over the age-limit of taxi drivers.

While we are all quick to dismiss cabbies as atrocious speedsters bordering on reckless, we should not forget the other group who are honest, safe and law-abiding.

The only thing necessary is to make sure they go through a series of vigourous tests to reaffirm the driver's alertness, reflexes and driving habits.

I won't mind sitting in a cab driven by an old man who drives safety as opposed to a young driver from hell. Mr. Green

Dogtor SG

It's probably ok .....

Driving is like riding a bike .... once you had done it ... you never forget.

So you can be the eyes when they drive. Rolling Eyes

FireIce SG

As at May 2006, there were 84,746 taxi drivers!!!

tamade......even with the shifts.....there are still many cabs on the road and why i always can't get one when i need one?! Mad

i certainly hope these uncles and aunties maintain a good attitude towards passengers.....not play punk like perpersly disappear or roam around to wait for calls

[email protected] SG

Shocked Shocked Shocked

who?! Shocked

Gazelle SG

Did the 100 year old lady renew her license so that she can drive 8 to 10 hours everyday, regardless of rain or shine?

Atobe SG

Over the last ten years, there have been at least two instances of cab drivers having a sudden heart attack, and the vehicle crashing into the side, or the driver found dead at the wheel.

These drivers were of the current allowed age - between 50 and 60 years.

How many more such incidences will happen, when the age limit is raised to 70 ?

Driving as a leisurely past time, and to earn a living - under pressure to make sufficient to cover the high daily rental and operating cost - will be a different ball game.

70 year olds are already known for their erratic temperament, what will happen if they have a lower tolerance level for the daily traffic grind ?

Will there be a higher level of road rage incidents - with the 70 year either as a victim or the agressor ?

In most countries, 70 year olds would have been a retiree, a doting grand-papa enjoying his favorite hobby.

ShutterBug SG

Well it's good, they allow people who can ONLY make a living driving a cab, make their means in their old age - since very few ORDINARY people can retire.

But then again, have they made our roads - safer? Or worse? Imagine the driver of the cab you took, suddenly passes out to a heart attack or failure, while driving you to the airport on the ECP at 90Kmh??

Actually, I think they should just do away with this illusive "Retirement Age" thing since many of us can't really retire.

pearlie27 SG

raising the age limit of cabbie reflects rather sadly on the state of affairs in Singapore

Driving taxi here is not an easy job and the income is low. i believe no one above the age of 60 would want to do if he could help it. By raising the age limit it means that Singaporeans do not have enough for their retirement and even at an advance age of 70 still have to take up lowly paid jobs to survive! sad... sad..... Sad Sad Sad

dragg SG

not in singapore.

Gazelle SG

I believe there might be political reason behind it, because Comfort is still a GLC company. once a cab driver told me that currently many taxi drivers quiting because they find it hard to cover the rental cost. And I believe those who would choose to continue are those who have no choice, and I have reason to believe they are likely to be those who are above 60s.

ShutterBug SG

Actually, this thread ENRAGES me.

Undeniably there are some people who are lowly educated and can't do anything else besides drive a cab. But what about those who have held managerial positions or even higher posts and have to drive a cab in their old age? The only vacancies I see for older people are clearing tables in foodcourts, order taking in fastfood outlets, and road-sweeping jobs. I mean, lets leave "choosiness" out of the picture, and lets talk about "sense of belonging", & "meaning of life" as a Singaporean.

I just feel that our government has neglected older Singaporeans. And allowing people to drive a taxi till they reach 73, is hardly a solution to the unemployed aged.

The future for senior citizens looks frightful...

dragg SG

something is seriously wrong.

one can continue to drive a taxi at 73 but many are reportedly asked to leave their job (non-taxi) when they reached old age (much younger than 73)

Gazelle SG

My recent encounter with a 60s something taxi driver was an unpleasant one. throughtout the entire journey, he was coughing and coughing and you can literally hear the flam in his lung and throat. And everytime he coughs, he has to spit his flam into a plastic bottle and honestly I felt disguested because we are enclosed in airconditioned cabin

Personally I have got nothing againts old taxi drivers, but what I feel is that driving taxi in Singapore is too tough for the elderly unless taxi companies are willing to subsidize their rental fee so that they can work shorter hours.

Atobe SG

If the Singapore Government is serious about their concern towards our elderly Singaporean retirees, the Government could consider organise the retired Professionals, semi-Professionals, and Tradesmen to form a Singapore Enterprise of Retirees.

These Singaporean Retirees have a wealth of unusual experiences, skills and knowlege - all of which can be put into good use either locally or exported to help those less fortunate then ourselves.

The Retirees can perform services similar to that of the US Peace Corp - by tapping on their training, experiences and skills to help our neighbors in Indonesia, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

This service to our neighbors will create challenging opportunities to keep our elderly Singaporean Retirees alert in mind and body, and provide new meaning to their lives.

Besides benefitting our Singaporean Retirees with new found self-respect, their useful services in the development of our neighbors will boost our Singapore image and improve diplomatic ties with our neighbors.

dragg SG

why do we need so many taxi companies and taxis in the first place?

many returned their taxis because they cant make ends meet.

what does this tell us?

Gazelle SG

taxi companies are desperately looking for taxi drivers fill up the empty seats.

BillyBong SG

Shutterbug: We mustn't confuse upping the age limit of taxi drivers to the overall unemployement of the elderly. This is a localised issue probably made public because of the large numbers of elderly who wanted to continue driving and earning a living through being a cabby. That doesn't inply that being a cabby is the only outlet for a job in your twilight years.

There are other opportunities for old people past their prime. Granted cleaning tables or serving customers at run-of-the-mill food outlets may be unglamouress; nevertheless, it's a job. It may not pay well, but it's a job. Take out choosiness in job-hunting, it's still a job.

Oh, just for everyone's interest, the 100-year-old lady who renewed her license is a 7th day adventist californian featured in National Geographic. They were doing a study on a select group of people: Okinawa locals, countryside Sardinians and 7th day Adventists in the sunshine state.

ShutterBug SG

I tell you what's seriously wrong:

HIGH costs of HEALTHCARE & MEDICAL COSTS.