Taxi Booking Fees

Mrs Lina Chiam asked the Minister for Transport whether he will consider encouraging taxi companies to do away with taxi booking fees in order to discourage taxi drivers from gaming the booking system and to encourage them to ply the roads more.

Taxi booking is an efficient way to allow customers who critically require a taxi, to be assured of getting one when and where they need it.

The taxi booking fee covers the opportunity cost of accepting a booking assignment. When a taxi driver commits to a booking assignment, he or she is not allowed to accept any other jobs until the booking assignment has been fulfilled or terminated.

To prevent the manipulation of the "On Call" display signs on taxi rooftops by taxi drivers, the Taxi Service Operator Licence conditions require taxi companies to ensure that these "On Call" signs are centrally-controlled. Currently, more than 80% of the total taxi fleet have been equipped with these signs and this will increase to 100% by 2015.

Under the Vocational Licence Points System, taxi drivers who refuse to pick up passengers without valid reasons will be fined $300 and given six demerit points, which automatically warrants a two-week suspension. Commuters who encounter such behaviour should report it to the taxi companies or LTA.

To ensure that there are sufficient taxis plying the roads, LTA introduced the Taxi Availability standards in 2012. By 2015, LTA will require taxi companies to ensure that 85% of their taxis are on the road during peak periods, as well as achieve a minimum daily mileage of 250 km.

I would like to assure the House that my Ministry and LTA will continue to work closely with the taxi companies to ensure high standards of service to commuters.

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