TAXI companies do not address the needs of customers. Instead they
are focused on meeting the demands of cabbies, who do not place
emphasis on customer service.
In the
past, when cabbies owned their vehicles instead of renting them
from taxi operators, they worked hard to pay off their
bills.
Due to high car prices now, some taxi divers use their
vehicles for private purposes after meeting the minimum service
requirements.
Also, there
is a need to raise the professionalism of cabbies, promote driving
a taxi as a worthwhile vocation, and open up the job market to
allow more competition.
If the Land
Transport Authority (LTA) is serious about limiting the growth of
the car population, then it needs to work out an alternative
transport system for the upper middle-class group, who would
otherwise continue to buy cars and push up prices
further.
The LTA
will need to regulate fares and raise service standards if it
considers taxis a form of public transport.
The taxi
operating system requires a total overhaul. The objective is to
make the service more customer-centric and part of the public
transport system.
Self-employment
incentives for drivers could be considered, instead of the present
system of having cabbies rent their vehicles. One way is to allow
privately own taxis.