Taxi operators have been fined a total of more than $100,000 for
failing to meet service standards between January and August.
Being unable to match at least 90 per cent of call bookings with
taxis was their main shortfall; smaller taxi operators - with fewer
than 1,000 taxis - must meet a target of at least 70 per cent.
Smart Taxis, which has a fleet of 714 light green taxis, was hit
with the highest penalty for the period - a fine of $46,643 for not
meeting service standards on 49 occasions.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) also disclosed to The Straits
Times the fines dealt to four other taxi operators: ComfortDelGro
($20,465), CityCab ($6,948), Prime Taxi ($21,462) and SMRT
($7,851).
The two taxi operators that stayed free of fines were Premier
Taxi, which has silver taxis, and TransCab, which has red ones.
The LTA, which does a monthly service audit of the seven taxi
operators, assesses them in three areas:
Minimum service levels have been set for each of these areas.
Fines are imposed when the taxi operator falls short in any one of
these areas for two months in a row.
The recent move by the largest taxi company ComfortDelGro to
revise its fares from Monday, inviting speculation that the other
taxi operators would follow suit, has thrown the spotlight on taxi
service standards.
Commuters have complained that while fares are going up, the
quality of service has not improved.
Mr Chong Kian Wee, who wrote in to The Straits Times Forum Page,
complained that it is almost impossible to flag down taxis in the
Shenton Way area: 'Without the threat of regulatory penalties, the
taxi operators are not motivated to correct this service failure,
since it does not translate to revenue or profit.'
Operators investigate complaints and discipline drivers
themselves, but errant taxi drivers also have to face the LTA,
which metes out its own penalties.
Under the Vocational Licence Points System, a taxi driver's
licence can be revoked if he accumulates 21 or more demerit points
in two years. If he chalks up six or more points, he can be
suspended for up to eight weeks.
An LTA spokesman said: 'We will not hesitate to take stern
action against any errant taxi driver.'
From January to the end of last month, commuters filed 432
complaints against taxi drivers. Of this number, the LTA found 158
taxi drivers guilty of the offences mentioned by complainants.
Last year, 540 complaints were filed, with 163 taxi drivers
found guilty of offences such as failing to stop for commuters
without good reason.
As a result of investigations and the racking up of multiple
offences, 113 taxi drivers were suspended for various periods over
the last two years.
Smart Taxis, which received the biggest fine, could not be
reached for comment, but ComfortDelgro said it was 'disappointed'
with the showing by its Comfort and CityCab taxis for the year up
to August.
'Since then, we have made continuous investments in our
taxi-booking system. We will continue to work with the LTA and work
at improving our overall service delivery to our commuters,' it
said.
Passengers with complaints about taxi drivers may call the LTA
on 1800-225-5582. They should provide details such as the taxi's
registration number and the date and time of the offence.
-- ST
