Four main taxi operators score poor grades for safety
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Singapore's four main taxi operators have all scored an F for safety.
What is happening to Tibs Taxis? Once, they got an award for the safety standards and now...they scored worst?SOMETHING must be going wrong behind the scenes.
The fail mark is from the first report card on taxi service standards prepared by the Land Transport Authority.
The cabs were graded over a 7-month period from September last year to March.
Road accidents involving taxis have made the news time and again but none was more spectacular that the CityCab that ended up at the bottom of a condominium pool in January.
For taxi operators - all this adds up to a big F for safety.
All of Singapore's four big players - Comfort, CityCab, SMRT, Yellow-Top Cabs - have exceeded the allowed accident rate of 2 crashes per 10 million kilometres, set by the Land Transport Authority.
Getting cabs for callers was another area of the report card with plenty of red.
The worst performer was SMRT Taxis, formerly known as TIBS Taxis, which failed to meet the 90 percent target in 5 out of 7 months.
The penalties for failing to meet the service standards are high - a fine of up to $100,000 for each failure.
But the LTA has given the cab companies up to end-August to buck up.
Taxi drivers admit there may be some bad apples but they claim the high accident rate is because they are on the road much longer.
"On the average, drivers for taxis drive 10 hrs on the road - ordinary drivers just drive 1-2 hours a day drive to home and work that's all and they drive the same route everyday," said one taxi driver.
"Sometimes it's due to lack of sleep, tired, all these unnecessary things can lead to accidents," said another.
Despite the improvements, passengers had one main bugbear - and that was not getting a cab, despite booking, during rainy weather and at peak periods like weekends.
One commuter said: "Probably during rainy days it's a bit difficult, even if call you can't get one."
"Raining everyone rushing for cabs at the same time peak hours people working 8-9 all same time how to service them all?" said one taxi-driver.
"Rainy weather everyone wants to take a cab. I had an incident - once from here I took a lady she wanted to go to Revenue House across the road," said another.
Meanwhile, the three new kids on the block - Smart Automobile, Trans-Cab and Premier Taxis - are also being graded.
Their report card will be out later. - CNA
Also, what will happen if the taxis failed to meet the 90 percent target in 5 out of 7 months? -
I'm not suprised, with the way the taxi drivers drive. It's as if they are doing F1 racing at times!
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perhaps there is a need to look at the reasons for the rise in the number of accidents
one of the cab drivers said that they drive longer hours, eg: more than 10 hrs a day
why do they need to drive for such long hours? i'm sure no one wants to drive for such a long period of time, unless they really need to
is it becoz the cab drivers are being squeezed from all sides until they have no choice but to put in more hrs to make ends meet? if so, there is a need for the government to relook this aspect of the cab industry
it's not only abt inceasing competition to benefit the consumers by providing them with more choice. if safety standards and levels drop becoz of this, there is no point in inceasing choice -
That's the problem you see, they mend one thing and yet manage to open another different problem in the process.Originally posted by eutjin:perhaps there is a need to look at the reasons for the rise in the number of accidents
one of the cab drivers said that they drive longer hours, eg: more than 10 hrs a day
why do they need to drive for such long hours? i'm sure no one wants to drive for such a long period of time, unless they really need to
is it becoz the cab drivers are being squeezed from all sides until they have no choice but to put in more hrs to make ends meet? if so, there is a need for the government to relook this aspect of the cab industry
it's not only abt inceasing competition to benefit the consumers by providing them with more choice. if safety standards and levels drop becoz of this, there is no point in inceasing choice -
agreed, cause from the current statistics, a problem has been createdOriginally posted by SBS9818A:That's the problem you see, they mend one thing and yet manage to open another different problem in the process.
time for a relook on certain policies, it's not too late -
I'd hafta agree.Originally posted by SBS9818A:I'm not suprised, with the way the taxi drivers drive. It's as if they are doing F1 racing at times!
I've seen 2 times PERSONALLY of situations whereby the taxis would cut across more than 2 lanes. And all happened within a month! And Comfort somemore! Wah lao....one nearly collided with my 5T...'cuz it was cutting across from left (blind spot for any driver) to right of the driver.
All dun wan life liao le...
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If SMRT Taxis are to continue the poor safety measures, They will fine a lot and will gradually go into financial difficulties.
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Hmm Taxis?Just look at SBST bus depots when they enter for refuelling or washing,They can even argue with each others and blocked the exit causing inconvienances particullarly to buses,It is understood that most of them had to drive longer hours to make end meets,But still that's not the reason for them to drive dangerously on the road,Mind you some bus captains drive 10 hrs too!
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10hrs? I thought bus drivers do 8hr shifts?Originally posted by carbikebus:Hmm Taxis?Just look at SBST bus depots when they enter for refuelling or washing,They can even argue with each others and blocked the exit causing inconvienances particullarly to buses,It is understood that most of them had to drive longer hours to make end meets,But still that's not the reason for them to drive dangerously on the road,Mind you some bus captains drive 10 hrs too! -
Don't forget that most are willingly to OT,Sometimes they covered another 8 hrs provided tommorow is their day off.Originally posted by leeJZ:10hrs? I thought bus drivers do 8hr shifts? -
Wah, if bus drivers did 8 hour shifts they'd be in bliss I tell you. They drive at least 9-10 hours a day.Originally posted by leeJZ:10hrs? I thought bus drivers do 8hr shifts? -
That's right,For newbies 8 hrs is normal,But as they get seasoned to the service it is compulsary for them to work OT.Originally posted by SBS9818A:Wah, if bus drivers did 8 hour shifts they'd be in bliss I tell you. They drive at least 9-10 hours a day. -
my problem:
Nowadays from 10pm onwards, very hard to find cab. But if i call for cab, the cab will pop out from somewhere not long after. Anyway the taxi drivers told me before. Sometimes it depends on where you board the taxi also. From town to neighbourhood, at 10+pm, alot of people also waiting for cab so take longer time for flag for one.
Sometimes raining days or what, want to call for cab also quite hard, being put on hold for very long..worse network busy. -
TIBS Taxi is such a disapointment to me after hearing the news.Originally posted by cck_190:What is happening to Tibs Taxis? Once, they got an award for the safety standards and now...they scored worst?SOMETHING must be going wrong behind the scenes.
OFF TOPIC: Did you notice their fare debate 'jump' faster than other companies? -
A question?(OFFTopic)
Can i book a cab from singapore to go to JB? -
You have to take the cab from Queen St. It's a Malaysian-regged cab.Originally posted by bus911:A question?(OFFTopic)
Can i book a cab from singapore to go to JB? -
ahh, but I have seen many Singapore registered taxis (with desto as S'pore-JB) at the causeway/custom whenever I am in a car.Originally posted by SBS9818A:You have to take the cab from Queen St. It's a Malaysian-regged cab. -
Got meh? I'm not too sure, haven't been up north much lately.Originally posted by bus911:ahh, but I have seen many Singapore registered taxis (with desto as S'pore-JB) at the causeway/custom whenever I am in a car. -
not all taxi drivers lah.
a few rotten apples spoilt the whole lot.Originally posted by SBS9818A:I'm not suprised, with the way the taxi drivers drive. It's as if they are doing F1 racing at times! -
Yes, there is. The Queen Street-JB taxi services, operated by both Malaysian and Singapore taxi operators (Comfort Taxis) have been operating for a long time already.Originally posted by SBS9818A:Got meh? I'm not too sure, haven't been up north much lately. -
Under the bridge @ Johore customs?Originally posted by bus911:ahh, but I have seen many Singapore registered taxis (with desto as S'pore-JB) at the causeway/custom whenever I am in a car. -
I know about the Malaysian taxi operators, but for Comfort to be operating this route is indeed new to me. Thanks for the head-up!Originally posted by Superbus:Yes, there is. The Queen Street-JB taxi services, operated by both Malaysian and Singapore taxi operators (Comfort Taxis) have been operating for a long time already.