THEY DESERVE BETTER

From TODAY, Voices
Wednesday August 6, 2008

Some ideas to enhance cabbie safety

Abusive passengers should know they face severe penalty

Letter from Liew Kai Khiun

I REFER to the article “More cabbies attacked” (Aug 4).

I told a taxi driver how vulnerable and exposed he was from my view as a passenger in the back seat when he opened his cash box to return me my change. While the crime rate may be low in Singapore, it does not mean that the personal safety of our cabbies should be ignored.

In Shanghai, the driver’s seat is “bubbled” up by a transparent plastic screen, with only a small opening for transactions. In London, a panel separates passengers from the cab driver.

However, aside from physical protection, public transport operators should assist taxi drivers in safekeeping their earnings on the road, perhaps with the installation of safeboxes as well as expanding the use of more cashless transactions such as ez-link or CashCard for payments.

Like the public bus system, passengers can be made to tap their ez-link cards upon boarding to have about $10 deducted from their account. Upon reaching the destination, the difference can be refunded by the cabbie if the cost of travel has not exceeded the initial deposit.

Our taxi drivers should have the right to reject passengers who are drunk or potentially aggressive. There should also be a sign displayed that renders a passenger financially responsible should he/she damage or dirty the taxi.

Another point of contention is the calculation of the surcharges which, until the end of the trip, are treated separately. Perhaps the taxi companies should consider displaying a single fare on the taxi meters to prevent unnecessary disputes.

There should also be notices in the taxis warning passengers of severe legal penalties for any physical and verbal abuse of taxi drivers.

Our taxi drivers have the right to work in a safe environment, and violence should not be seen as an acceptable occupational hazard for them.

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Signs that put taxi drivers in bad light

Letter from Cheong Tiong Hua

I REFER to the article “More cabbies attacked” (Aug 4).

There is a standard sign at taxi stands stating that “touting and over-charging” are not allowed. To warn against touting is fair, but as over-charging is tantamount to cheating, the use of that word creates an impression that cheating by taxi drivers is common in Singapore.

It portrays taxi drivers in a bad light, and it comes as no surprise then that there are passengers who feel that cabbies are out to cheat them.

With the upcoming Formula One event, there will be an influx of visitors to Singapore. What will their impressions be of our cabbies then?

Can those in charge replace the “overcharging” warning with reminders to cabbies to either switch on their meters or to ferry passengers safely to their destinations?

Besides, taxi drivers are by and large, an honest lot. Published letters in the newspapers are proof of that.

Passengers are feeling the pinch of recent fare hikes and increased electronic road pricing charges. We hope the authorities can do their bit to help drivers to put the passengers at ease.

The writer is a relief driver with ComfortDelGro.