SINGAPORE : Ever spent more than the usual amount of money and time on the road because a cabbie did not know his way about town?
Well, that might soon be a thing of the past. CityCab has spent $23 million to equip its taxis with an online digital map.
With the new Mobile Data Terminal system, passengers will never be lost on the roads again.
The driver just needs to enter a destination into the system and a red line will appear within a few seconds directing him to the precise drop-off point.
The system is also able to automatically mark a passenger's pick-up and drop-off locations each time a call booking job is accepted, making it easier for the driver to plan his route.
The result is a shorter waiting time for the commuter and a fuss-free journey.
Mr Quek Pat Fatt, CityCab Taxi Driver, said: "With the new system, we can find our destination in five to seven minutes whereas the old system took us 15 to 20 minutes. The time-saving allows us to ferry another customer."
New cabbies are also more confident on the road with the handy map system.
Mr Bernard Fong, CityCab Taxi Driver, said: "I have been driving a cab for only three months and I am still unfamiliar with the roads. This new system gives me more confidence to ferry passengers."
All CityCab drivers will have to go through a four-hour training session to familiarise themselves with the new system.
Currently, 2,200 cabs have this digital guide and CityCab plans to install the system in all 5,200 of its cabs by March next year. - CNA