Measures to Protect and Ensure Safety of Taxi Drivers

Mr Ang Hin Kee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many taxi drivers have been robbed over the last two years; (b) what are the safety measures put in place to protect and help ensure the safety of the drivers; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider new measures such as making it mandatory for all taxi operators to install an in-car camera which faces inwards and comes with voice-recording capability in each taxi as a deterrent measure.

There were 18 reported robbery committed against taxi-drivers in taxis in the last two years (2012 and 2013). This is lower than the number of such incidents reported in the previous two years.

Police work closely with taxi operators and the National Taxi Association by providing regular updates on crimes targeting taxi drivers and advising them to be alert and adopt basic crime prevention measures during their duty shifts.

In April 2013, the National Crime Prevention Council and the Singapore Road Safety Council published and distributed 50,000 copies of the Taxi Driver's Handbook to educate taxi drivers on crime prevention and road safety.

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Police also encourage taxi operators to take greater ownership in protecting their drivers against crime, such as installing GPS tracking systems and distress buttons within all their taxis. Currently, all taxis are installed with distress buttons and most of them have installed GPS systems. In December 2013, ComfortDelGro announced that it would be installing in-vehicle cameras in all its taxis as an added safety and security measure, with features that take into consideration the privacy concerns expressed by passengers. MHA welcomes such initiatives by taxi operators. We will monitor the outcomes and may consider recommending additional measures when appropriate.