SINGAPORE : Singapore's four main taxi operators have failed in
safety yet again.
Even the new taxi companies are performing below expectations for
the third quarter of last year, from July to September.
This was revealed in the Land Transport Authority's third report
card on taxis' service standards.
Accidents affect the standard ratings for the taxi
companies..
And it seems the accident rate is getting worse for all of
Singapore's big players.
While the allowed accident rate allowed is two accidents per 10
million kilometres, it was 2.69 accidents from June to September
last year - up from 2.45 in the previous quarter!
The new kids on the block fared a little better, though not by
much.
Trans-Cab services and Premier Taxis got an 'F' for safety for one
out of three months, and Smart Automobile, two out of the three
months.
The grace period that the Land transport Authority gave was till
the end of August last year to reduce the accident rate, but it did
not seem to work.
Six out of the seven taxi companies failed to meet the accident
rate standard in September. Only Trans-Cab met the
requirements.
The LTA has promised to get tough - and should any of the six
companies fail to meet the accident rate requirement in October
2004, it will proceed to impose penalties of up to $100,000.
The new cab companies also did not meet other service standards set
for them.
Premier Taxis did not meet the first inspection passing rate for
July, while Transcab and Premier taxis were unable to comply with
the offence rate for the same month. - CNA