New rules to minimise misuse of taxi "on-call" signs
-
SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority is imposing tighter licence requirements on operators to improve taxi services.
In particular, there will be new measures to ensure call booking services are more reliable and efficient.
Some commuters have complained that drivers use the "on-call" sign to refuse flag-down passengers, especially just before surcharges kick in.
To minimise abuse, within two years, the sign will be centrally-controlled, and switched on only when the driver accepts a call booking.
Measures have also been put in to improve booking reliability.
From October, operators have to meet higher standards, in terms of the answer rate for call bookings, the percentage of calls successfully matched with taxis, and the time taken for the cab to arrive.
And soon, all cabs will have to be equipped to handle call bookings, where previously this wasn't mandatory under current operator licence requirements.
And to ensure operators have the critical mass to provide adequate service, the Land Transport Authority has doubled the minimum fleet size, from 400 to 800.
Out of the seven existing operators, Prime and Smart cabs are the smallest, with 700 cabs each. They have to meet the minimum when they renew their operator's licence.
For Prime, that's 2017. But for Smart cabs, it's next year. Smart said ramping up the fleet size is not its main worry. Its concern is that fluctuating car premiums will make it harder to set monthly rents that are market-competitive.
Its managing Director, Johnny Harjanto said: "Suppose a car costs me S$40,000 and COE costs S$60,000 now. Based on the total of S$100,000, I set a monthly rent of say, S$100. What if a few months down the road, COEs drop and my competitor buys the car cheaper? They can set a lower rent, but when that happens what can I do?"
Smaller operators tend to perform badly in quality reviews.
For instance, in the December Quality of Service review published by LTA, Smart failed in three out of five service categories, including being unable to cater to 70 per cent of call bookings. It also failed in both safety requirements. Prime cabs also fared badly in terms of meeting call bookings.
Observers said they could consider integrating some of their operations.
"Not necessarily in terms of real business management, but to form a common call centre so they can share their taxi fleet between the different companies. Also from the passengers' point of view, they are given another, more practical choice," said Associate Professor Lee Der Horng, from the Department of Civil Engineering at NUS.
Authorities are also studying how to utilise taxis better.
In the last five years, the number of taxis grew by 20 per cent, but total distance travelled remained the same.
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew, said: "I have asked LTA to study the feasibility of regulating taxi companies to have a certain minimum availability for their fleets, particularly during peak hours when availability is crucial."
LTA is also studying how to increase the number of dual-shift cabs on the roads.
The study is expected to be completed later this year.
- CNA/cc -
knn, commuter can misuse call booking and not wanting to tackle the problem? only find fault wih tds.
LTA don't know more than 80% taxi got no control over " on call " anyhow say
really lta eat too much pig organ soup liao
-
i have experienced the on-call sign issue many times... it's too obvious, the moment you raise your hand, you expect the on-call sign to come on... so can only say the taxi driver "requested" for LTA to come in one...
-
It is so STUPID for LTA to say TD can manipulate the on call feature .It shows they(LTA) do not know their job well to regulate the taxi in Spore. For the record straight & for BENEFITS FOR ALL. On Call,Prime time surcharge(25% & 50%) can not cheat pax ,only location(pick up) point surcharge of $3 can cheat pax. Even Airport surcharge of $3 & $5 can not cheat pax.
-
Originally posted by uaskforit:
It is so STUPID for LTA to say TD can manipulate the on call feature .It shows they(LTA) do not know their job well to regulate the taxi in Spore.
For the record straight & for BENEFITS FOR ALL.
On Call,Prime time surcharge(25% & 50%) can not cheat pax ,only location(pick up) point surcharge of $3 can cheat pax.
Even Airport surcharge of $3 & $5 can not cheat pax.
honestly, i think it's LTA getting too many complains or feedback from public that's why they came in... i dun think LTA eat stomach full already no shit come out go and implement such things unless necessary... -
Solve the "BUSY" sign and "change shift CHINATOWN" sign la,
And also, pls implement heavy fine on TDs...
TAXI are not allow to interview on street, once stop must fetch,
no such thing as change shift, or all other nonsense...
-
Originally posted by DailyFreeGames.com:
honestly, i think it's LTA getting too many complains or feedback from public that's why they came in... i dun think LTA eat stomach full already no shit come out go and implement such things unless necessary...there's always both side of the story....good n bad.... got black sheep sure got good angels too....
-
Originally posted by Red5xx:
Solve the "BUSY" sign and "change shift CHINATOWN" sign la,
And also, pls implement heavy fine on TDs...
TAXI are not allow to interview on street, once stop must fetch,
no such thing as change shift, or all other nonsense...
if really changing shift how leh? not all OMO mah....
-
TAXI are not allow to interview on street, once stop must fetch, no such thing as change shift, or all other nonsense... these 2 statements are GROSSLY not fair to td. Taxi can not interview,when they stop,must tell pax FIRST they are rushing to which area,if along the way ,pick.if opp direction to his,sorry,can not make it on time . td may have urgent matters to attend as time is v tight for him ,need to rush or on v high tide need to relief big & small. td is also a human being like u & me ,pls do not be too harsh to them,u are just one of his many bosses in a day of driving,one boss more or less does not make him miserable,but controlling himself not to relieve by picking u will later cost him more on medical fees.
-
LTA is also studying how to increase the number of dual-shift cabs on the roads.
Simple. Ban Taxi from buying season parking coupon.
-
It was done many yrs back,taxi must run X km a day,but then do not know how come this rule was dropped.
-
with so many commuter misuse the call system, what to do? who ask for it?
many book and put aeroplane, that's why you see the LED switch to on call, why because it is pax that make it, call even they were not at the location or call to play safe especially during hot hours. take away this call system , make pax pay when they go show after booking. than you will see less on call taxi.
The whole problem is the system, not tds, 99% tds won't play that especially when majority on call is by system and not human as you can always call CDG and check, their meter has got no way to press "on call"
So get your facts right first before pointing finger at tds
-
@Red5xx
This is by far a very thoughtless comment. Taxi drivers also need a break, you think everyday drive on the road many hours straight very fun is it. Whether 'busy' or 'change shift' sign, is not up to us to tell them not to. In other words, TDs are not here to wait on you. So, it's not a problem.
Then, you say implement heavy fines for conducting 'interview'. Come on la, put yourself in TD's shoes. If you driving around Sembawang area at 2:30pm, end shift at 3pm and have to handover vehicle to another driver at Woodlands, would you take a passenger who is heading to Pasir Ris? That's why cannot say 'once stop must fetch'. No logic.
I can say all this in TD defence because my dad is a full-time taxi driver (hirer) and he's clocking in 12 hours a day to earn money.
-
Originally posted by leicalove:
@Red5xx
This is by far a very thoughtless comment. Taxi drivers also need a break, you think everyday drive on the road many hours straight very fun is it. Whether 'busy' or 'change shift' sign, is not up to us to tell them not to. In other words, TDs are not here to wait on you. So, it's not a problem.
Then, you say implement heavy fines for conducting 'interview'. Come on la, put yourself in TD's shoes. If you driving around Sembawang area at 2:30pm, end shift at 3pm and have to handover vehicle to another driver at Woodlands, would you take a passenger who is heading to Pasir Ris? That's why cannot say 'once stop must fetch'. No logic.
I can say all this in TD defence because my dad is a full-time taxi driver (hirer) and he's clocking in 12 hours a day to earn money.
Red5xx is a TD lah...
his post is a toungue in cheek one...
-
sometimes simplicity is the best to solve funny problems created by technology..
call any of the taxi companies for cab... need wait 5 - 8 mins den u know got cab anot... den another 5 - 8 mins for the cab to come...
end up with some taxi company wat scheme A scheme B... tat is y those drivers see street pax onli need to quickly cut in and take pax.... once meter on... safe liao... no suspension...
-
if i got a.booking,i must put bs n interview; if not later my A.booking at tuas,pax stop my cab want go airport ,How?Booking reached the doorstep,still NO SHOW!HOW?Who pay for it?Taxi company?LTA?PAP?...only i lan lan wait for no show approve n go off...Time is our $!
-
Originally posted by Angwk7118:
with so many commuter misuse the call system, what to do? who ask for it?
many book and put aeroplane, that's why you see the LED switch to on call, why because it is pax that make it, call even they were not at the location or call to play safe especially during hot hours. take away this call system , make pax pay when they go show after booking. than you will see less on call taxi.
The whole problem is the system, not tds, 99% tds won't play that especially when majority on call is by system and not human as you can always call CDG and check, their meter has got no way to press "on call"
So get your facts right first before pointing finger at tds
Yes bro abosolutely for CDG. Others i not sure.
-
today i got 3 bookings cancelled just when iam gonna reach the destination!passengers anyhow place bookings and cancel without any consideration for us!booking fee only $2.30 who want to take the call!and also no guarantee passenger will show up!futhermore never take into consideration cause by delays fr traffic signals or jams!passengers expect us to reach there in 10 mins!and there r a few nuisance calls,reach there call passenger they just press to off phone! very annoying bastards happen to me twice today!
-
Originally posted by DailyFreeGames.com:
i have experienced the on-call sign issue many times... it's too obvious, the moment you raise your hand, you expect the on-call sign to come on... so can only say the taxi driver "requested" for LTA to come in one...
Must see what company lah. CDG MDT so power at hot hours after despatch pax clear the meter I want to press break go "shee shee" also no time PING call come in faster then I can react. No need even to press STC function.
-
Originally posted by QX179R:
LTA is also studying how to increase the number of dual-shift cabs on the roads.
A obvious hint that taxi rental will go up and force them to discard OMO-ness .
Mercedes are leading the way , $160 one day .
Can you make it ?
-
remember last week Finance Minister said the government will find alternatives to balance the spending and budgets ?
this is obviously one of the ways .
increase rental .
-
"doggie , shitting ?"
-
Originally posted by QX179R:
Some commuters have complained that drivers use the "on-call" sign to refuse flag-down passengers, especially just before surcharges kick in.
On Call ? Only CDG taxis can automatic , genuinely ON CALL mah .... our plastic signboard one .TransCab members , keep quiet on this . Trade secrets .
-
CDG's ON CALL is genuine one , if pax dun call , how to ON CALL ?
What is the best ?
Take out all MDT .
Like that no need worry so much .
-
Do you know ?
One Common Taxi Number
LTA, together with all the taxi companies, will launch a common taxi booking number, 6-DIAL CAB (6342 5222) on 21 July 2008. The aim of this common number is to make it easier and more convenient for taxi commuters, especially tourists, to call for a taxi in Singapore, as they need only remember one number .