Newspaper articles, forum letters, press and public
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Hi all, I hope no one will mind if I create a new thread for the above mentioned subject so that it'll look neater in this way.
Well, there's a half page article in the Home section in the ST on 22nd May 2006 titled "Cabbies on S'pore-JB route flout rules" whereby they pick & drop off passengers at non-designated spots as well as charging higher fares.
Anyone who has read the article might like to share their opinions, thoughts or comments. -
Cabbies on S'pore-JB Route flout rules
Singapore-JB taxi services
THE Singapore-Johor Taxi services is a bilateral arrangement between the Singapore and Malaysian transport authorities, allowing 200 Singapore and 200 malaysian taxi drivers to shuttle across the Causeway. The point-to-point service ''rule allows cabbies to ply between the Ban San Terminal (Also known as Queen St Ter) taxi stand in Singapore and Plaza Seni or Pasar Bakti in Johor Bahru. Following the Approval Routes.
The Singapore taxis made 114 trips a day. Cabbies cannot deviate from the approved routes and are not allow to pick up or drop off passenger at other location not even anywhere along the specified routes. Whether passengers board a Malaysian or Singapore taxi, they pay $8 each if they are travelling with three other passengers from Singapore, or RM10 ($4.40) each from JB. They can also charter the taxi for $32 from Singapore , or RM40 from JB.
taken from the ST under HOME section page H1 -
Dint know about such a rule before this.
Anyway, can request for receipts on this special SG -> JB Services? -
Originally posted by Volvo Olympian:
Interestingly, the SG-JB taxis are only used solely for the shuttle service, but the Singapore ones can do normal revenue service
[b]Cabbies on S'pore-JB Route flout rules
Singapore-JB taxi services
THE Singapore-Johor Taxi services is a bilateral arrangement between the Singapore and Malaysian transport authorities, allowing 200 Singapore and 200 malaysian taxi drivers to shuttle across the Causeway. The point-to-point service ''rule allows cabbies to ply between the Ban San Terminal (Also known as Queen St Ter) taxi stand in Singapore and Plaza Seni or Pasar Bakti in Johor Bahru. Following the Approval Routes.
The Singapore taxis made 114 trips a day. Cabbies cannot deviate from the approved routes and are not allow to pick up or drop off passenger at other location not even anywhere along the specified routes. Whether passengers board a Malaysian or Singapore taxi, they pay $8 each if they are travelling with three other passengers from Singapore, or RM10 ($4.40) each from JB. They can also charter the taxi for $32 from Singapore , or RM40 from JB.
taken from the ST under HOME section page H1[/b]
btw. Pasar Bakti is Kota Raya Terminal. -
Friday June 2, 8:17 PM
10,000 taxi drivers to be trained for Singapore 2006
SINGAPORE: 10,000 taxi drivers will be trained to deliver good service to delegates who will be in Singapore to attend the Annual Meetings of the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group.
Singapore 2006 will see over 16,000 delegates gathering in Singapore in September, and the Workforce Development Agency hopes to reach out to taxi drivers as it feels they play a role in shaping delegates' first impressions of Singapore.
The cabbies have been given pointers on how to leave a good impression and this includes smiling, helping passengers with their luggage and pointing out key landmarks in Singapore.
"We have an excellent taxi service in Singapore. We have a service that is reliable and honest and high standard. So I think the ingredients are there. The taxi drivers just need to be in a way informed about the people coming, the profile of the guests and what they can do to make the visit lot more comfortable and enjoyable and once they have that background training, they can really deliver a good experience to all the visitors," said Lim Hwee Hua, Minister of State for Transport. - CNA /dt -
Monday June 12, 10:17 PM
Age limit for taxi drivers raised to 73 from July 1
SINGAPORE: The age limit for taxi drivers will be raised from 70 years to 73 years from July 1.
The Land Transport Authority has said this will allow those who are still fit and healthy to continue working.
This follows feedback received from many taxi drivers wishing to continue working beyond 70 years of age.
To qualify for the age extension, they would have to undergo a therapy assessment as well as an medical examination.
Those who pass both tests and are certified fit will have their vocational licences renewed till the age of 73 years.
LTA has said the therapy assessment is tailored for older persons (aged 70 and above) applying for or renewing their Taxi Drivers Vocational Licence.
It will certify their fitness to continue to drive a taxi based on two components - an off-road test to assess the cognitive abilities and reaction times, and an on-road test to assess the abilities to drive safely.
The assessment will be offered by the Occupational Therapy Clinic of Tan Tock Seng Hospital and will be be conducted by occupational therapists with specialised postgraduate training.
LTA will send letters to taxi drivers turning 70 years old over the next few months, to inform them about the assessment should they wish to renew their vocational licence upon reaching 70. - CNA /dt -
73 sounds a bit too "old" because driving on the road needs a great deal of concentration............................
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Thursday June 29, 8:17 PM
ComfortDelGro plans to revise taxi fares: Public Transport Council
SINGAPORE : Singapore's largest taxi company plans to revise its taxi fares and has informed the Public Transport Council (PTC) of this.
ComfortDelGro, which operates Comfort, CityCab and Yellow-Top taxis, has a fleet of more than 15,600 taxis.
The Transport Minister says if taxi fares are revised, service standards must also improve.
Families with children often take taxis for convenience.
But now, there is talk that the flag down rate of $2.40 and the peak hour surcharges may go up soon.
Some taxi drivers say that if the fare increase is minimal, it is unlikely that it'll affect their business.
But others say any fare increase is likely to send passengers running to the MRT and buses.
"The best thing is don't increase the taxi fare, just reduce the rental rate. That will be much better," said one cab driver.
Another cab driver said: "We need more passengers. Making the price go up is of no use."
"It's going to be a little extra burden for a lot of commuters," said a passenger.
Speaking to reporters at an international conference, Transport Minister Raymond Lim says any taxi fare revisions must correspond with an improvement in service standards.
"The taxi industry is deregulated, the market sets the fare. They think it commensurate with their competitive position. So it's basically something which taxi operators in Singapore will determine. It's not something which the Transport Ministry mandates or directs," said Transport Minister Raymond Lim.
"But from our point of view, whatever fare adjustments they make, we think there should be a commensurate improvement of maintenance of service standards," he added.
But commuters and taxi drivers generally feel service standards should be improved, regardless of a fare revision.
"Whether the taxi fare is going to be increased or not, the service has to improve. So cannot just because of money, you improve your service. That's bad," said one commuter.
"Even if they don't increase the fare, we have to supply and provide good service," agreed a cab driver.
Taxi fares have been deregulated since 1998, so no approval is needed from the PTC for any taxi fare revisions.
Aside from ComfortDelGro, no other operators have informed the PTC about plans to revise their fares.
In a written reply to Channel NewsAsia, the second largest taxi operator SMRT Taxis says it will "monitor and study the changes to the fare structure by any operator and make adjustments where applicable."
- CNA /ls -
ComfortDelgro raises taxi fares
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/216935/1/.html -
Motorcyclist dies after crashing into stationary taxi along PIE
SINGAPORE : A 23-year-old motorcyclist died in an accident along the Pan-island expressway on Monday afternoon.
Police say the motorcyclist crashed into the back of a stationary taxi which had stopped on the right-most lane of the PIE going towards Kranji.
The taxi had stopped along the expressway after being involved in a minor accident with another car earlier.
The motorcyclist, who suffered head injuries, died on the spot.
A pillion rider was seriously injured and was conveyed to the National University Hospital. - CNA/ms
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/216966/1/.html -
Wednesday July 5, 8:17 AM
SMRT Taxi, Premier Taxi plan to revise fares
A day after ComfortDelgro said it would increase taxi fares due to the spike in fuel prices, two other operators confirmed they would do the same.
SMRT Taxi and Premier Taxi announced this on Tuesday.
SMRT Taxi and Premier Taxi, which operates the Silver Cabs, are likely to revise their fares on July 17, two weeks after notifying the Public Transport Council of their plans.
But when contacted, both companies said details would only be revealed later.
Under the PTC ruling, a taxi operator has to inform the public of its fare adjustment a week before implementation.
ComfortDelgro, which operates 15,600 taxis, has said that from July 10, it will increase the flag-down fare for its Comfort, CityCab and Yellow-Top taxis by 10 cents.
For the Mercedes taxis, the flag-down fare will rise by 20 cents to $2.80.
ComfortDelgro will also double the peak hour surcharge from July 10.
It is also adjusting its distance-related fare structure, which means commuters will be clocking a shorter distance for every 10 cents metered.
So will SMRT, which owns 2,677 cabs, and Premier Taxis, which operates 1,295 cabs, do likewise?
Dr Paul Barter, from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the NUS, said: "They'll probably more or less match. Where they may differ, and they may try to differentiate themselves, is on some of the other details, the timing of peak periods, especially when it comes to booking, because then people can make an active decision about which company they will choose."
Dr Barter added that in a competitive taxi industry, most of the cab companies are expected to be operating efficiently and they do not have many options when it comes to cost cutting.
So they turn to fare adjustments to defray operating cost.
There is one other way to keep cost down but that would require some policy changes.
Dr Paul Barter said: "There may be a public policy case that could be made - that taxis are a special type of car and they should not be necessarily lumped in with the Category A cars as they currently are for the purpose of taxes like additional registration fee or here in Singapore, we have the vehicle quota which means people have to buy an extra certificate of entitlement."
For SMART Cab, it says it will observe market reaction and consult its drivers.
But it is likely to follow suit.
The other player, Trans-Cab, did not respond to Channel NewsAsia's queries.
Trans-Cab operates 1,642 taxis while SMART Cab has 655 taxis. - CNA/ir -
The Straits Times reported that a malaysian-registered car skidded and crashed into a Citycab Toyota Crown taxi at Holland Village. The driver of the malaysian-registered car blamed the taxi driver for causing the accident and scolded him. He then went back into his vehicle, reversed and crashed into the taxi twice, causing the taxi to mount onto the kerb
A group of people who witnessed the accident got angry and surrounded the malaysian car. they bang the car's windows and try to force the driver to get out, but he managed to drive away, with the people chasing after him. He was caught by the police later -
Tuesday July 11, 10:17 AM
Cab fare hikes kick in, some commuters to turn to MRT or buses
New fares for ComfortDelgro taxis kicked in on Monday.
During peak hours in the morning, a taxi commuter can clock up charges of as much as $8 even before the cab moves away from the curb.
First, $4 for the morning rush-hour booking fee, which kicks off half an hour early now, at 7am.
And then, there is the peak period surcharge, which is now $2 instead of $1 previously.
Adding to the $6 is the flag-down fare of $2.50 - 10 cents more than the previous $2.40.
Tallying up, just getting into a taxi can set a commuter back by about $8.50.
On the road, every 10 cents now covers a shorter distance.
Compared to the old taxi fares, a commuter now has to pay about 20% more for a 10-kilometre ride.
For some commuters, this is enough for them to reconsider and switch to other forms of public transport.
"Try to wake up earlier and take a bus or MRT to work," said a middle-aged Chinese man.
Similarly, a young Chinese man said that he would switch to an MRT ride.
Same reactions for 36% of 4,056 commuters polled on who said they would now take buses or MRT trains.
More than half said they would only take a taxi if necessary, just like a middle-aged lady who said: "No choice, if it rains or I'm in a hurry, I'll still have to take a taxi."
However business on the first day of fare increase has brought Comfort taxi driver Jorge Chew about 10% more income, which helps him to cover increasing fuel cost.
He said: "Maybe because of the rain, maybe because of last night's World Cup, so everyone woke up late and they needed a cab to rush to work."
Jorge said that his passengers told him that the increase in the normal fares was alright but for the $1 hike in the peak-hour surcharge, "they smile at me and say 'I try to wake up early'".
Two other taxi companies, SMRT and Premier Taxis, have confirmed that their revised fares will follow those made by ComfortDelgro.
Trans-Cab Services has also notified the Public Transport Council that it intends to adjust its cab fares.
SMART Automobiles is the only taxi company which has yet to indicate if it will revise its fares.
Incidentally, SMART Automobiles said bookings for its taxis jumped 30% on Monday. - CNA/ir -
Tuesday July 11, 10:17 AM
SMRT Taxi's new fares same as ComfortDelgro's
SINGAPORE : SMRT has given details of its revised taxi fare structure, and it is the same as that announced earlier by ComfortDelgro.
The new rates will apply from July 17.
Another taxi operator, Premier Taxis, will also be increasing its fares on the same day.
Meantime, the Public Transport Council has confirmed a fourth company, TransCab Services, has indicated its intention to raise fares.
The last operator, Smart Automobile, responding to queries from Channel NewsAsia, says it will be talking to its drivers and making a decision in one or two weeks.
In a statement on Monday, SMRT quoted its president and CEO Saw Phaik Hwa as saying the fare adjustment was a positive move for both the taxi industry and for customers.
He said that with the adjustment, hirers could expect to increase their monthly income by an average of 10 percent.
Ultimately, commuters would get to enjoy better service as hirers are less hurried, and can better engage customers.
Like ComfortDelgro's, the flag-down fare for normal SMRT taxis will increase by 10 cents to S$2.50, and the fare for Mercedes and London limousine taxis will go up by 20 cents to S$2.80.
For trips up to 10 kilometres, the charge will be 10 cents for every 210 metres travelled, while for trips above 10 kilometres, it will be 10 cents for every 175 metres travelled.
The peak hour surcharge will be increased from S$1 to S$2 and the morning peak hours redefined as Monday to Friday, 7am to 9.30am. - CNA /ct -
The Straits Times Wednesday, July 12 2006
Late meter switch: 100 cabbies hit
A BUTTON has deprived 100 or so cabbies of higher earnings on the first day of ComfortDelGro's fare hike on Monday.
These taxis were among 4,800 cabs installed with high-tech meters that could be recalibrated wirelessly - a method the company calls "over the air".
For over-the-air adjustments to work, cabbies need to press a certain button on the meter that logs them off, said ComfortDelGro spokesman Tammy Tan. But instead, some of them pressed a different button that shuts the meter down.
Over-the-air recalibration started on June 26. On July 4, the company sent notification to 300 cabbies with meters that had failed to recalibrate, asking them to go to Turf City on July 7 for manual adjustment.
But 100 did not turn up. Among them was 57-year old Tony Pang.
"I found out only around 7.30am on Monday, after my first passenger," he said. During the morning peak period, he had five customers.
If the other 99 cabbies had the same number of peak-hour rides, their total lost income would have amounted to nearly $700 ($1 rise in peak-hour surcharge, 10-cent rise in flagdown fare and an average 25-cent rise in distance charges).
Althought not a large amount, Mr Pang was puzzled why it happened in the first place and why the company did not try harder to contact affected drivers.
ComfortDelGro said it called them on July 7, but the 100 drivers still did not respond.
Mr Pang said: "Do you think drivers will ignore something that affects their rice bowl?"
The affected drivers eventually had their meters fixed on Monday.
(Article can be found in the Home Section, Page H3 of today's Straits Times) -
Wednesday July 12, 8:17 PM
ComfortDelGro checks on taxi drivers who "disappear" before peak periods
SINGAPORE : Taxi operator ComfortDelGro is stepping up checks to ensure that its taxi drivers don't pick and choose their customers.
This is to ensure that drivers don't disappear just before the start of the peak period.
ComfortDelGro says its plain-clothes officers will focus their attention during the critical periods from 7am to 9.30am and 5pm to 8pm from Mondays to Saturdays.
In the last six months, enforcement teams have been conducting checks at popular locations like Suntec City.
About ten percent of the nearly 1,700 taxi drivers checked were caught and warned not to hold out for peak periods again.
And ComfortDelGro says it will not hesitate to take disciplinary action against errant drivers who could also get their contracts terminated.
- CNA /ls -
Over 10,000 Comfortdelgro Taxis And Buses Will Fly The State Flag To Celebrate National Day
http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/press/2006jul_26-2.aspx -
Wednesday August 16, 8:34 PM
Taxi drivers see 20% drop in business after fare adjustments
SINGAPORE : Taxi drivers have blamed the one-dollar increase in peak hour charges for keeping passengers away.
They say business has dropped by at least 20 percent since adjustments were made to cab fares last month.
But ComfortDelGro, the company with the largest fleet of taxis, says their drivers are actually earning 8 percent more despite making fewer trips.
This is because passengers are paying more for flag-down rates and clocking less mileage for every 10 cents paid.
Joseph Ho, President, SMART Cab Operators' Association, said: "Some drivers feedback to us regarding this peak hour that they couldn't get enough passengers. Maybe this month also Hungry Ghost month could have some effect. I don't think everybody is unhappy. I think probably about 20 percent of them are unhappy about it."
Phua Tie Mok, General-Secretary, Comfort Taxi Operators' Association, said: "As an association, we try to help them, tell them how to increase their earnings through proper training - this is the only way. Like for me myself I can't comment on other drivers. I'm actually a taxi tour guide but I also do coach bus tour so additional income comes from the tour side." - CNA/ch -
Thursday September 7, 10:17 PM
Two boys hit by taxi in Toa Payoh
A taxi knocked down two boys at a traffic junction in Toa Payoh.
The driver was not injured but the two boys sustained bruises and cuts and were sent to KK Women's and Children's Hospital.
The boys were conscious when police officers arrived.
Police said the accident happened after 4pm Thursday near Toa Payoh Lorong 6.
Eyewitnesses saw the two boys playing along the side of the road before the accident.
Both boys are believed to be brothers in their early teens. - CNA/ir -
I've witnessed many times where Malaysian Vehicles are more daring in SG.Just because they work in SG doesn't mean they can bully we Singaporeans right?Originally posted by sexy girls:The Straits Times reported that a malaysian-registered car skidded and crashed into a Citycab Toyota Crown taxi at Holland Village. The driver of the malaysian-registered car blamed the taxi driver for causing the accident and scolded him. He then went back into his vehicle, reversed and crashed into the taxi twice, causing the taxi to mount onto the kerb
A group of people who witnessed the accident got angry and surrounded the malaysian car. they bang the car's windows and try to force the driver to get out, but he managed to drive away, with the people chasing after him. He was caught by the police later -
Sunday October 15, 8:17 PM
Taxi Operators' Association launches healthcare programme for cab drivers
From July this year, the driving age limit of taxi drivers was extended from 70 to 73 years, and to help drivers continue their career, a Taxi Care package was launched to help them maintain their health.
Under the package, the Taxi Operators' Association will work with NTUC Healthcare to provide outpatient consultation to its 8,000 taxi drivers and immediate family members at affordable rates.
Another plan is to allow cabbies to exercise - the Association is tying up with community clubs islandwide for them to enjoy gymnasium and exercise facilities.
A third aspect is a personal accident insurance offered by NTUC Income covering against accidents, terrorism, natural disasters and 14 infectious diseases, including dengue fever, bird flu and SARS.
Taxi drivers will be able to enjoy six months free coverage and need only pay less than 30 cents per day thereafter for this insurance benefit.
The announcements were made at a Taxi Driver's Fiesta attended by more than 5,000 cab drivers.
The Advisor to the Taxi Operators' Association, Mr Seng Han Thong says the four most common health problems that face taxi drivers are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and kidney diseases.
He says the Taxi Care package will help drivers tackle the preventive, protection and cure aspects of their health. - CNA/ch -
Friday November 3, 8:17 PM
LTA plans new measures to monitor taxi companies' performance
SINGAPORE: Feedback has shown the number of calls to taxi booking hotlines has recently increased significantly.
This has caused the Land Transport Authority to extend the hours of a scheme to monitor how well taxi companies respond to telephone bookings.
The LTA is monitoring how taxis cope with the increase in calls by tracking incoming calls, looking at how many calls are dealt with in a certain time, and how long the driver takes to reach you.
To do this the LTA is doubling the time of its monitoring scheme in January, from five to eleven in the evening.
Its plan to extend its monitoring service of taxi company's telephone booking services received a mixed reaction.
It has caught some taxi drivers off guard.
"If you don't tell me that, I don't know anything about it. For me, I just earn a living; I just follow the rules and regulations," said Bakar Bahim, Taxi Driver.
The monitoring extension is not the LTA's only plan to improve customer service. The Authority is publishing evening taxi waiting times on its website and is in talks to publish these times at taxi stands in the city area.
Recent LTA surveys showed that most commuters were able to get a taxi within 15 minutes in the evening in the city. - CNA /dt -
Friday, November 24, 2006
Five injured as taxi rams into coffeeshop
IN A bizarre accident along Serangoon Road yesterday evening, a Yellow-Top taxi crashed into a coffeeshop, injuring two helpers and a customer.
The taxi driver and his female passenger suffered wounds to their neck and abdomen respectively. Of the other three men who were injured, the coffeeshop customer was believed to have seriously injured his lower limbs. The two helpers suffered injuries to their upper bodies.
A Singapore Civil Defence Force spokesperson said that it received a call at 7.25pm and all five casualties — all of whom were conscious — were sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Their condition were not known at press time.
A police spokesperson told Today that the taxi had collided with a car and swerved into the coffeeshop.
Said eyewitness Mohammad Sharful, 31: "About one-third of the taxi ended up on the kerb. There was quite a bit of blood on the floor." — Loh Chee Kong
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/156592.asp
