Tough measures to boost flagging taxi service standards

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has come up with a slew of measures to improve taxi services. From March 2008, there would be ample taxi stands in the Central Business District (CBD).

The LTA will install an additional 15 taxi stands by the end of next month to the existing 80. This means there will be a taxi stand within 300 metres or a 5-minute walk from buildings within the CBD.

LTA is also stepping up enforcement action at hot spots like Clarke Quay, Orchard Towers and Sentosa where instances of touting and overcharging have been reported.

From next Monday, higher fines and demerit points will be imposed for such offences.

LTA raise the penalties imposed on taxi drivers who are found guilty of soliciting for passengers, overcharging or refusing to convey passengers without reasonable justification. Repeat offenders of soliciting and overcharging within 24 months will result in the revocation of the taxi driver's vocational licence.

With more taxi stands within the CBD, street hail of taxis on roads within the CBD will be disallowed from Mar 1. This also reduces the incidents of taxis infringing onto bus lanes to pick up passengers or indiscriminately stopping and contributing to traffic congestion.

LTA added that the Service Quality Standards, which were introduced progressively from 2003 to monitor cab companies' performances, will be fully applicable by January next year. The results of a mystery audit of taxi services, which started in October, will also be out in January next year.