Number of taxi licences surges to 100,000
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Number of taxi licences surges to 100,000
But observers say that doesn't mean there will be more cabs on the roads
Published on Feb 17, 2014
DRIVING a taxi here has become more of a draw, going by the surge in the number of taxi driving licences.
The number of taxi vocational licences issued by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) swelled from 95,800 in 2012 to 99,800 last year.
With about 400 new taxi driving licences issued a month, The Straits Times estimates that the 100,000 mark was probably crossed last month, although official figures are not yet available.
Although the number of licence holders dipped in 2008 and 2011, the overall trend is that of a steady rise from 74,800 in 2005, when the LTA first started publishing taxi industry data.
"Taxi driving is attractive to those who like the independence of being their own boss," said Mr Ang Hin Kee, executive secretary of the National Taxi Association (NTA), which represents more than 13,000 taxi drivers here. "Some of them also take the licence as a form of backup."
Newly minted cab drivers tell The Straits Times that they were drawn to the job for its promise of earnings and flexibility.
"It is a respectable job and earns a decent living," said former cosmetic sales employee Karin Chua, 30, who is single.
Former marine mechanic Norizal Mohamed Hassan, 37, said the flexible hours of driving allow him to spend more time with his wife and three-year-old child.
For veteran taxi drivers, the swelling ranks of new drivers is not a worry. "We have our regular passengers and we know the roads better," said Ms Mary Yap, 54, a cabby of 12 years.
But even if there are 100,000 taxi licence holders, that does not mean there will be more taxis on the roads, say observers.
There are far fewer taxis here - about 27,700 - than taxi licence holders. The annual increase in the number of taxis is capped at 2 per cent for cab firms that meet the LTA's operating standards.
Taxi companies declined to reveal how many of their hirers are new licence holders.
Also, not all who are licensed to drive taxis end up driving them, said the NTA's Mr Ang. Indeed, it has been estimated that as many as half of these taxi licence holders are not active drivers.
Several former cabbies told The Straits Times that they stopped driving because the job was physically and mentally demanding. "I found it hectic and stressful," said former taxi driver Lee Qian Yi, 52, who drove for four years but stopped in 2011 after an accident. The single mother is looking for part-time work.
But for every taxi driver who gives up, more are looking to take over. As former real estate agent K. Rani, 47, who switched to driving cabs last November as it provides a more regular income, said: "There are always people who want to take taxis, and I am limited only by how hard I want to work."
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Can never get a cab when you really need one.
True story.
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Than no prize for that 100,000 TDVL holder?....
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So the gov is proud abt the increase in the numbers isszit?
all locals drive cab n foreign trash enjoy our land n hv gd life with their entire village living here
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6.9 million.
100000 TDs.
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Originally posted by charlize:
6.9 million.
100000 TDs.
So sporeans suck dick??
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Everyone become TD, cake getting smaller.
its really small enough already
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Originally posted by Keepthechange666:
Than no prize for that 100,000 TDVL holder?....
wu lah ... tia gong ...that guy has a special gift. They offer him 5 years contract as hirer. -
They should make taxi licence with value and control the licence issued. Only limit those not driving to 3 years. And please charge those not driving more and take a test.
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Aiyo...100,000 is nothing special mah, like this also put as news?? There are more than that, some just take for raining day, some throw keys and become ex driver but still hold on to TVDL, a matter of just in case. LJ lah, if they implement holding TVDL without driving must paid licence fees of $100 per year, I think..many will cut their licence
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For veteran taxi drivers, the swelling ranks of new drivers is not a worry. "We have our regular passengers and we know the roads better," said Ms Mary Yap, 54, a cabby of 12 years.
TD will not know where they will ended unless they choose where to go.Got regular passengers so what. You will never know whether you will be available and at the regular passengers pick up locations. Also, know the roads better so wat. will a passenger ask TD the roads and decide whether to take the taxi?
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Originally posted by charlize:
Can never get a cab when you really need one.
True story.
There is always taxi available. U can't get the taxi because many other ppl also wanted to get a cab at the same time.
Taxi goes to where the passenger goes. When the passenger alight at their destination, the taxi is available but you are not there.
Since no passenger there, taxi need time to go places where they can find passengers or wait for passengers to be available.
It is also not uncommon that passengers hogging the taxi by going many locations and/or let the taxi wait. This make the taxi not available to other passengers.
In a taxi queue, passengers take their own time to board a taxi. Hence, taxi spend time waiting in the queue. This result more time is taken by a passenger. Again, this take away time for taxi to be available for other passengers.
During peak hours, it is common that available taxi stuck in a traffic jam, as such, taxi will take a much longer time to reach the desire place to be available for passengers.
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Rush hrs, smlj also difficult one lah, take MRT also jialat, take bus also jam, take private car also jam, take taxis also all taken up, with a sudden surge of 2 millions pax, how can 27,000 cope? then after 10am, left with 500 paxs against 27000 cabs..how? Same goes to evening time
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Originally posted by bowah:
Aiyo…100,000 is nothing special mah, like this also put as news??
There are more than that, some just take for raining day, some throw keys and become ex driver but still hold on to TVDL, a matter of just in case.
LJ lah, if they implement holding TVDL without driving must paid licence fees of $100 per year, I think..many will cut their licence
I agreed with you. Charged those not driving for 12 months abt $100 plus Gst 7 %. Double confirm many will cut their licences.
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Aiya, all these TDVL is also a job creation for those taxi lecturers mah, the cleaners, the staffs and room fees mah, if stop, many can get jobless, and more importantly, those lecturers cannot sian liao
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This is what our pap promised job created when import more ft....
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Originally posted by j007:
Newly minted cab drivers tell The Straits Times that they were drawn to the job for its promise of earnings and flexibility.
"It is a respectable job and earns a decent living," said former cosmetic sales employee Karin Chua, 30, who is single.
Former marine mechanic Norizal Mohamed Hassan, 37, said the flexible hours of driving allow him to spend more time with his wife and three-year-old child.
How wrong can they be...
Ppl always think that taxi drivers are very free, flexible and can do what they want..
Fark, when you have debts to pay, bills to pay, family to feed, rental and fuel to cover...you see whether you can be flexible anot...
And they haven't met the Brahmin ah nehs, ang mohs yet who treat TDs like slaves...
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Originally posted by bowah:
Rush hrs, smlj also difficult one lah, take MRT also jialat, take bus also jam, take private car also jam, take taxis also all taken up, with a sudden surge of 2 millions pax, how can 27,000 cope? then after 10am, left with 500 paxs against 27000 cabs..how?
Same goes to evening time
The million dollar solution is to get government subsidize ppl to take taxi at earlier hour. To make it more balance on supply and demand.This is the solution used in MRT.
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Originally posted by Taxilim88:
How wrong can they be...
Ppl always think that taxi drivers are very free, flexible and can do what they want..
Fark, when you have debts to pay, bills to pay, family to feed, rental and fuel to cover...you see whether you can be flexible anot...
And they haven't met the Brahmin ah nehs, ang mohs yet who treat TDs like slaves...
Only listen to the good things. -
Originally posted by getcarter:
So sporeans suck dick??
No.
6.9 million.
100000 TDs.
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Originally posted by decent02:
wu lah ... tia gong ...that guy has a special gift. They offer him 5 years contract as hirer.Plus refund of course fee....
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Aiyo, there's lot of licensing out there, people take and keep lor.....
The fun part is when you go attend refresher course, non TD more than actual TD....
And some push their namecard, nabey, title Managing Director hor....
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Originally posted by Redxx:
This is what our pap promised job created when import more ft....
Yes, that is true, job creation, but be mindful that they did not said job creation for Singaporean -
Originally posted by Keepthechange666:
Plus refund of course fee....
Yes, I also pushed my name cards, Professional Casket Director, 24hrs service, then later go back time, see on the floor, many of my namecard get stepped..phui -
Originally posted by getcarter:
So sporeans suck dick??
After suck, also must clean for them...