LTA hopes they will but some have doubts if the stick will work

Leong Wee Keat
weekeat@mediacorp.com.sg

FROM Monday, taxi drivers who solicit for, overcharge or refuse to pick up
passengers will face higher fines, more demerit points and immediate
suspensions of their vocational driving licence of two to four weeks.

Wielding a big stick, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said it expects
the combination of stiffer penalties and stepped up enforcement to put an
end to these errant practices, which have earned the ire of the public.

Passengers are hoping these measures will reduce the long wait at Clarke
Quay, Boat Quay, Sentosa and Orchard Towers, where many often despair of
ever getting a taxi, especially during the evening peak hours.

The LTA noted that at such entertainment “hotspots” errant taxi drivers
have been known to take advantage of the high demand to openly tout for
business and overcharge their passengers, especially tourists.

The authorities are currently investigating about 80 taxi drivers for such
offences since last month. Some are repeat offenders. There are about
23,000 taxis plying Singapore’s roads.

Taxi operators and the LTA appeared confident in the new measures.

However, taxi passengers whom Today spoke to had mixed feelings.

They agreed that the LTA was moving in the right direction, but were
sceptical the new measures would solve the prennial problem of
“disappearing cabbies” at peak hours and before late night surcharges kick
in.

An LTA spokesperson told Today: “We expect many of the errant drivers to
cease the malpractices, including that of rejecting passengers who are
unwilling to accept their demand for exorbitant fares.”

ComfortDelGro’s chief executive officer of taxi operations, Mr Yang Ban
Seng, said the measure would “serve as a strong deterrent”.

The chairman of Premier Taxi Operators’ Association, Mr Foo Chi Yong, said
the “tougher penalties are necessary to restore the public’s confidence in
the taxi industry”.

The taxi chiefs also took pains to paint a picture of a few bad apples,
spoiling the image of the majority.

Under the new penalties, taxi drivers who refuse to pick up passengers
could be fined $300, given six demerit points and an immediate two-week
suspension. This is a sharp increase from the current $100 fine and three
demerit points.

Repeat offenders, found guilty of soliciting or overcharging within a
period of two years, will have their vocational licence revoked.

But what of the other bugbear of “queue jumping” where passengers walk
ahead of one another to flag down taxis along the road?

Well, the LTA also announced that it will be adding 15 more taxi stands in
the Central Business District (CBD) by the end of the year – up from the
current 80. This is so that there will be a taxi stand within 300 metres
or a five-minute walk from buildings in the area.

So from March next year, hailing taxis along the roads within the CBD will
no longer be allowed.

Taxis will only be allowed to pick up or drop off passengers at taxi
stands and along private driveways, even on telephone bookings.

The LTA expects this will increase the number of taxis calling at the
stands and hence help shorten the waiting time. More importantly, it will
alleviate some of the difficulties now faced in getting a cab during the
evening peak hours.

The LTA added that this measure would also reduce the incidents of taxis
cutting into bus lanes to pick up passengers or indiscriminately stopping
and contributing to traffic congestion.

This, however, did not go down too well with some taxi commuters.

“Doesn’t having to walk to the nearest taxi stand defeat the purpose of
taking taxis, and being able to just stick out your hand, and hope to hop
into a taxi?” asked primary school teacher Sonya Lin.

Similarly, marketing executive Serene Fong asked if such changes would
work at some downtown spots, such as Plaza Singapura.

There, taxi queues tend to form along Orchard Road rather than at the
designated taxi stand.

Freelance writer Wong Zijia wondered what pushed drivers to overcharge.
“Are there too many taxis and too little business to go around? Are taxi
rentals too high?”

There was also no shortage of suggestions from passengers.

Sales consultant Bryan Lim noted that most taxi drivers head out of the
city when changing shifts in the afternoon. So, a change in shift timing
might be a better solution.

From January, taxi companies will also have to meet the full criteria of
quality service standards.

Currently, operators need to meet 80 per cent of the standards.

The LTA will also release results of its mystery audit of taxi services
next January. Started last month, the mystery audit is part of the LTA’s
on-going efforts to improve taxi services and is conducted on a quarterly
basis. The audit assesses taxi drivers on service, conduct, driving skills
and familiarity with routes.