[新明日报] Public complained: Our Taxi fare system super CHAOS!

• j007

  3 Nov 13, 15:58

  Confusing taxi prices

   

  Published on Nov 03, 2013

  
  

  Commuters are so baffled by the profusion of flag-down fares, metered fares, surcharges and phone booking charges that many can't keep up with the changes. One might ask if the public would prefer a freewheeling, lightly regulated taxi system with a variety of services and fares, or a planned, orderly and competitive model instead. But consumers are not wedded to a system and would be happy with anything that ensures affordable fares, safe rides, a reasonable quality of service, and sufficient taxis especially during busy periods, rain or shine.

  Taxi fares were deregulated in 1998. The Government liberalised the sector in 2002, which saw several new players entering the fray. There are now some 30 types of cabs here, across seven different brands. There is no question that taxi operations are profitable; for example, taxis form the single biggest income generator for ComfortDelGro Corporation. So, are taxi drivers working as hard as they do in, say, Hong Kong and providing value for money? Hong Kong's 18,000 cabs cater to 1.1 million trips per day. Here, the 28,000 cabs do under 1 million trips per day. Fares in the two countries are comparable.

  Some argue that taxis companies and fares should be regulated like for buses and trains. But would this represent a backward step? In the debate over overcrowded buses and trains, calls for greater state intervention have gone as far as nationalisation of the entire systems. It's clear that private enterprise is a better bet to ensure higher efficiency and consistent standards, providing it operates within an acceptable regulatory framework. But when public discontent rises, there will be pressure for more regulation. So, if taxi operators wish to retain flexibility, it is in their interest to review the current confusing state of play. They should seek more consumer feedback, put forth practical suggestions and work with the authorities and consumer groups to iron out the kinks in the system, so no one need feel being taken for a ride.

   
• Keepthechange666

  3 Nov 13, 20:27

  Usually those who trying their luck not to park at proper place type is not those "rich" people hor....

  Mostly are those half past six type 1 hor....

  Still an offence if driver moves off before parking ticket is issued

  Director, Media Relations, Land Transport Authority
  
  We refer to Mr Bala S Rajaratnam’s letter, “Parking tickets should be issued with evidence” (Oct 23, online). Based on our records, he was booked for illegal parking along Burnfoot Terrace, where a yellow zigzag line was drawn.
  
  It is an offence to park or wait along a single yellow zigzag line, except for picking up or alighting passengers, irrespective of whether the vehicle’s hazard lights are switched on, if there is someone in the vehicle or if the engine is running.
  
  There can be circumstances where a Notice of Parking Offence (NOPO) is not issued, for example, if the motorist drives off while the officer is issuing the NOPO, or if the driver refuses to accept the NOPO.
  
  In such instances, the enforcement officer may note the details of the offence and lodge a summon report. Thereafter, an official Notice of Traffic Offence will be served to the registered owner of the vehicle. We thank Mr Rajaratnam for the opportunity to clarify.
  
  -- TODAY

• j007

  6 Nov 13, 22:12

  Taxi issues not so easily resolved

   

   

  SOME of Mr Toh Cheng Seong's suggestions ("How taxis can be viable alternative to private cars"; Forum Online, last Saturday) may not work in Singapore.

   

  Exempting taxis from the certificate of entitlement (COE) and Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) systems defeats the Government's objective of managing road usage.

   

  Although taxis are considered public transport, each carries only up to four passengers, while a bus carries about 40.

  Passing the COE and ERP cost savings to taxi commuters may lead people to shun other forms of public transport in favour of cabs.

   

  And if the timing for changing shifts is adjusted, it would affect how taxi hirers and their relief drivers split rental costs. Also, there may be limited take-up for taxi pooling as some people may not like sharing a cab with strangers.

   

  Paying fixed salaries to cabbies might decrease productivity. After all, why should a cabby work harder if he is a salaried worker? Even with the current rental system, the Land Transport Authority had to set service standards requiring 70 per cent of each operator's fleet to clock at least 250km a day because some cabbies refuse to drive for long hours.

   

   

  Francis Cheng

  
  
• Samsun

  7 Nov 13, 00:29

  fixed salary drivers do call bookings only lor.maybe can engage some part timers for wkdays morning and evening peak..... if no calls, then despatch them to taxi stands to clear crowd lor....

• bowah

  7 Nov 13, 18:01

  Originally posted by j007:

  Taxi issues not so easily resolved

   

   

  SOME of Mr Toh Cheng Seong's suggestions ("How taxis can be viable alternative to private cars"; Forum Online, last Saturday) may not work in Singapore.

   

  Exempting taxis from the certificate of entitlement (COE) and Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) systems defeats the Government's objective of managing road usage.

   

  Although taxis are considered public transport, each carries only up to four passengers, while a bus carries about 40.

  Passing the COE and ERP cost savings to taxi commuters may lead people to shun other forms of public transport in favour of cabs.

   

  And if the timing for changing shifts is adjusted, it would affect how taxi hirers and their relief drivers split rental costs. Also, there may be limited take-up for taxi pooling as some people may not like sharing a cab with strangers.

   

  Paying fixed salaries to cabbies might decrease productivity. After all, why should a cabby work harder if he is a salaried worker? Even with the current rental system, the Land Transport Authority had to set service standards requiring 70 per cent of each operator's fleet to clock at least 250km a day because some cabbies refuse to drive for long hours.

   

   

  Francis Cheng

  
  

  Dear,

  Is ah toh and ah francis  taxi drivers?

  Outsiders, especially paxs will alway have a strong said on Taxi driving, because at the end of the day, they are not plying the road, they are not the hirer and they certainly not the one meeting up with problem in regard to taxi driving, be it paxs or road or LTA summons and so on. Of course, talking is easy lah, same like eating, but shitting can be quite difficult at times.

  So, cut the bull about COE and ERP stuff, because, hirer are already paying for it, to cut it, what will happen, alots of us will feel shortchanged. Our govt is not stupid, they are very good, especially in chopping its people.

  And as far as taxi drivers is concern, is there an issue? except for higher rental, what is the issue that need to be resolve, just drive and if tire, rest, happy pick, not happy, let them rot.

   

   

• TU0610

  12 Nov 13, 19:36

  ***BREAKING NEWS***

  Just heard over the radio. The garbment is stepping in to simplify the fare structure of taxi fares. Stay tune

• Keepthechange666

  12 Nov 13, 20:56

  Originally posted by TU0610:

  ***BREAKING NEWS***

  Just heard over the radio. The garbment is stepping in to simplify the fare structure of taxi fares. Stay tune

  Yes, once bring up to our Palia-ment....

  Confirm wu dai ji happen 1.....

• j007

  12 Nov 13, 23:27

  THE Government will relook the taxi fare structure to make it simpler and easier to compare across cab operators, said Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo.
  
  Admitting that today's taxi fare structure is "complex and confusing for commuters", Mrs Teo said on Tuesday that the Land Transport Authority will work with the Public Transport Council and cab companies to look into retooling the fare structure.
  
  This will take into account "the impact on taxi drivers, ultimately to have a taxi fare structure that best serves commuters' interests", Mrs Teo told Parliament.
  
  Responding to Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland- Bukit Timah GRC), Mrs Teo said taxi fares were deregulated in September 1998 to allow cab operators to set their own fares to be "more responsive to market conditions".
  
  On whether fare structures now ensure enough taxis ply on the roads, Mrs Teo said the different surcharges have been imposed to better match taxi supply with demand by giving incentives to cabbies to serve locations and time periods where demand is high.
  
  Taxi companies are required to publicise fare revisions at least one week in advance in the media and on their websites.

• DriverDriver

  13 Nov 13, 00:13

  i recall long time back got someone say this, one day sg will be like some other countries, all surcharges clear, left only booking.

  so i imagine, either pax flag cab on roadside, or have to pay extra to call, even in cbd. and how much extra depends which cab he or she calls.

  like ambulance service, there will be only one hotline for booking. and again like ambulance service, each company will rotate take call according to fleet size as well as performance standards. for example, those company with bigger fleet will get 2 calls per 10 calls. those smaller get 1 call per 10 calls.

  if performance standards above 80% get 1 more extra call. if under 70%, deduct 1 call per 10, meaning only 1 every 20 calls. if performance standards is 70%-80%, no change.

  then how to check performance? very easy. mystery passengers and tally daily targets lor.

  but then someone might ask, then some places like airport how? very simple, put into performance standards, each company must assure how many trips must start from airport every day. meaning maybe duty roster rotation. each driver must fulfill how many airport trips every week. morning, afternoon, night. depending shifts. if hit target get bonus. no hit means. sacked.

   

• wsy1234

  13 Nov 13, 16:50

  Blame it on LTA and it COEs