So many news articles on taxi trade in today's papers

last SG · 2013-11-25T21:09:52+00:00

Mend for small size slim driver lah

j007 SG

I AGREE with Mr Liew Chin Wen ("Govt should steer taxi industry more"; last Friday) that the Government should take a more hands-on approach in managing taxi companies.

Fare structures should be simplified and rentals made more affordable.

In Hong Kong, there are 2.6 taxis for every 1,000 people, compared with 5.2 in Singapore. Despite this, passengers here still cannot get taxis when they need them most.

Also, Hong Kong's cab fares are government-regulated, unlike in Singapore, where taxi firms are free to set their own charges.

Commuters here are confused by 30 types of cabs, seven brands, 10 different flagdown fares, more than 10 types of surcharges and three metered fare structures.

The industry needs simple operating efficiency, not competition, and the Government needs to ensure smooth taxi services.

Trade-offs and political will are required to achieve a win-win situation.

The Government should view taxis as an integral part of the public transport system, and exempt them from certificates of entitlement, and levy only a fixed Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rate. ERP charges could even be waived for taxis cruising for passengers.

While taxi operators should maintain high service standards, they need reasonable returns. Cabbies also need to comply with professional obligations to improve service quality.

Ultimately, collective efforts with trade-offs should be the basis of any industry revamp.

Paul Chan Poh Hoi

j007 SG

THE re-sentencing of a man who murdered a taxi driver ("Man spared death penalty for murder of taxi driver"; Nov 14) serves as a timely reminder of the dangers faced by cabbies in the course of their work.

Taxi drivers have told of cases of unpaid fares after their passengers fled, and of verbal and physical abuse. In many cases, these incidents go unreported as it is too much of a hassle to report them to the police.

Aside from reiterating the zero tolerance of cabby abuse in notices pasted in the vehicle, the Government and taxi firms should do more to protect the drivers.

Measures include the installation of in-vehicle closed-circuit TV cameras and identification of passengers through identity card scans before the trip.

The Land Transport Authority should seriously consider such measures when awarding or renewing the licences of taxi firms.

On the legislative front, passengers who have displayed anti-social behaviour should be blacklisted and banned from taking taxis as part of the punishment.

While we debate the pricing and availability of taxis, let us not forget that cabbies deserve to be treated with respect in a safe working environment.

Liew Kai Khiun

j007 SG

BEFORE the deregulation of the taxi industry to create competition, there was only one flagdown fare, and charges were based on distance travelled and the time of travel.

Today, we see many different flagdown fares and a confusing host of surcharges, making it difficult to estimate how much one has to pay.

Also, taxi drivers do not want to drive into Orchard Road because they have to pay Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges even before they pick up a fare.

And they get caught in jams while making their way to the designated pickup points. This happens because of poor traffic planning and building layouts.

The Land Transport Authority has passed laws to control taxi operations but left management and control to the different cab companies and the National Taxi Association (NTA), which has no legal powers.

Only the LTA has the muscle to solve the current taxi problems.

It can, in consultation with the NTA and taxi companies, come up with a standard flagdown fare and base charges solely on distance and time.

To encourage cabbies to drive into the Central Business District (CBD) and Orchard Road, ERP charges should be waived for taxis.

Only two surcharges should be allowed - one for the CBD and the other for the airport and cruise centre.

It will be up to the taxi operators to work around this formula in the management of their fleet and drivers.

Ronnie Lim Ah Bee

j007 SG

I AGREE that the Land Transport Authority and Transport Ministry should be more involved in managing cab companies and solving our perennial taxi problems ("Govt should steer taxi industry more" by Mr Liew Chin Wen; last Friday).

Since the deregulation of the industry, taxi companies have resorted to fare increases as a means to offset any rise in their operating costs or to curb demand to boost taxi availability.

Also, various surcharges have been introduced or increased to dampen time- and location-based demand.

Unfortunately, the measures do not seem to have worked or improved services.

More significantly, many drivers have not benefited from the fare increases ("Cab rental structure needs review" by the National Taxi Association; last Friday).

We see a recurring cycle of events after every round of fare increase.

Demand would drop initially but pick up before long since commuters do not have any real alternative to taxi services. Taxi availability and standard of service would slowly but surely revert to the status quo - until the next fare increase.

The relevant authorities and related stakeholders should study our taxi problems holistically and with an open mind, and break the cycle once and for all.

The existing system and operating model should undergo a comprehensive review, from the strategic level down to the operational management level.

We may want to adopt the best practices of other cities, if necessary.

Ng Chee Kheon

j007 SG

SEVERAL letters have highlighted the complicated structure of taxi fares in Singapore, and the Government has decided to play a more active role to sort out the confusion ("Govt to explore simpler cab fare structure"; Nov 13).

I have some suggestions on the restructuring of fares and improving the service.

First, all taxis should follow a standard fare structure mandated by the Land Transport Authority. This can include standard surcharges for pickups at certain locations and operating hours.

Second, taxi companies can charge their own fares for cabs that are booked through their booking systems. The fares should be expressed as a percentage of the standard fare, or be a flat surcharge.

The surcharges should be communicated to passengers through the taxi operators' website and other channels.

Passengers will then have the choice of taking a taxi based on the standard rates, or booking one and paying the appropriate surcharges.

Tan Kin Lian

j007 SG

TAXIS are an important and essential part of the public transport system because there are many instances when they cannot be replaced by other means of transport.

For example, a disabled person will find it hard to travel by bus or MRT. The growing number of elderly people also need taxis.

The Government must make an effort to standardise the fare structure of taxis, just like for buses and trains. This cannot be left to free market forces, which have made the structure complicated.

For a start, there should be just one central system for telephone bookings, regardless of the taxi operator.

There should also be a minimal number of surcharges, or ideally, none at all.

I urge the Government to take these suggestions into consideration when it acts to improve taxi services.

George Wong Seow Choon (Dr)

j007 SG

6 articles in a section!

This reflects how bad is the situation on the ground

Taxitemp12 SG

since when pubishing many articles solved any problems it is only indective of one thing flag down rates , taxi fare and taxi rantal all going up and up this is just a hogwash effort to create the reason for rental +fare up after all the directors of taxi companies and their major share holders are the news makers and law makers

getcarter SG

how come always compare with Hong Kong?

Wah spore got 30 types of cabs ah,i notice yellow tops also got many models

bowah SG

Do you guys know that there are more doctorate in Singapore than taxi drivers? so if given a chance, these Doctors is sure to put on a lenghty hypothesis of text, if not how to get famous and earn big buck? The anology is very simple, Taxi driving is a simple trade, the drivers are also simple men, therefore, the rules and regualations should be set as simple as possible for the good of all.

j007 SG

TAXIS are an important and essential part of the public transport system because there are many instances when they cannot be replaced by other means of transport.

For example, a disabled person will find it hard to travel by bus or MRT. The growing number of elderly people also need taxis.

The Government must make an effort to standardise the fare structure of taxis, just like for buses and trains. This cannot be left to free market forces, which have made the structure complicated.

For a start, there should be just one central system for telephone bookings, regardless of the taxi operator.

There should also be a minimal number of surcharges, or ideally, none at all.

I urge the Government to take these suggestions into consideration when it acts to improve taxi services.

George Wong Seow Choon (Dr)

I wonder if the Dr knows what he's saying

can we go see doc and specialist, both paying same price since it's about healing people?

j007 SG

how come always compare with Hong Kong?

Wah spore got 30 types of cabs ah,i notice yellow tops also got many models

I'm confused too.

some very new model, some very old.

btw, their licence is with individual driver for life right?

bowah SG

Confuse is good, that is what the govt want you to be, once you are confuse, they can easily conn you

Keepthechange666 SG

Aiyo, take taxi still want to see meter.....

Worst still, write in to newspaper.....

If pick up them also sway.....

j007 SG

Aiyo, take taxi still want to see meter.....

Worst still, write in to newspaper.....

If pick up them also sway.....

Yah, if so stressful, better don't take

j007 SG

TAXI drivers are known to change shifts during the evening peak hour of 5pm to 6pm and this probably contributes to the shortage of cabs and longer waiting time during this period ("Longer waits for cabs during peak hours in Orchard"; yesterday).

Cab drivers are known to change shifts at this time so that drivers of both shifts get to "enjoy" the fares which this peak period may generate.

The earlier driver would spend time looking for passengers whose destination is along or near his changing-shift point. By the time he hands over the taxi to the second driver, he would have lost out on fares which he may have earned had he not spent time looking for passengers who would go the same way as he was.

By the time the second driver takes over the cab and makes his way out, time would also have passed which could have been used to pick up passengers.

The Land Transport Authority may like to consider mandating that shift changes not take place during cab peak hours of between 5pm and 6pm and between 9pm and 10pm.

This may alleviate the problem of long waiting times at some areas like Orchard, and increase the number of trips made by the cab drivers.

Annie Ng (Ms)

bowah SG

Yah, if so stressful, better don't take

While the best is dun drive

bowah SG

Cab drivers are known to change shifts at this time so that drivers of both shifts get to "enjoy" the fares which this peak period may generate.

By the time the second driver takes over the cab and makes his way out, time would also have passed which could have been used to pick up passengers.

The Land Transport Authority may like to consider mandating that shift changes not take place during cab peak hours of between 5pm and 6pm and between 9pm and 10pm.

This may alleviate the problem of long waiting times at some areas like Orchard, and increase the number of trips made by the cab drivers.

Annie Ng (Ms)

Question... Is a taxi driver working for himself or working under pax? Taxi driver are considered as self employed peoples, a unique kind of sole proprietor with no advancement, they ply their trade/business within a framework of a governed rules and regulations set up by the company and also the land authority. The rigidity of the framework are well followed, from personal dressing to parking to non touting/interview and so on. Specific timming and rules of engagement are given with regards to peak periods, surcharges and handling of calls. Now if the extend of the framework is going to the extreme of governing a sole proprietor on how he should drive, when he should start, when he should stop, when he should change shift and when to pump fuel and wash cab...I think that is a very much personal attack on taxi drivers integrity and dignity. And if we brothers and sisters here are to agree to allow pax to abuse us around, then we might end up being told when to go toilet and pang sai, when to eat yr breakfast, dinner and so on. Paxs in Singapore should know that they are being serve by one of the best taxi in the world, they therefore should not be ignorant and act childishly with a thinking that alway taxi driver have to change to suit them, in reverse, I would say, it is you the PAX should change your timming and your place of boarding to suit yourself, Dun blame everything on taxi driver, we are mere people earning our living just like you.

Cash Lee SG

Nabei lah, whatever taxi drivers do, commuters always got something to suggest one lah.
Got once pax broad my cab after morning peak hours. Uncle, why this timing so difficult to get cab? Can see many taxi park at car park. Me: where got many,some only lah, they having break. If many i won’t be fetching you now. Uncle, than what time you take your break? Me: close to 12 noon. Uncle, if all like you good, than taking taxi will be much easier during 9plus to 11.00. Me, if all follow me, people will also complain. Pax: why? Me: if all taxi take their break at noon, all pte car owners will complain that we occupy the parking lots.

j007 SG

There's no end.

Thats why commuters trust the GOV will give them a good explanation