Sent to Editor, Voices of Today paper on 12 March 2012
In the letter "driving behind a cab should be safe" (Today, 12 March 2012), Francesco Ferri said that it is dangerous for taxis to stop suddenly to pick up passengers on the side of the road.
I suggest that the Land Transport Authority make it mandatory for customers to telephone for a taxi or wait at a taxi stand, rather than stop a taxi along the road. If taxis do not ply the road to look for customers, there will be reduced petrol consumption of petrol and less congestion and accidents on the road, The taxi drivers should wait in a convenient place for a booking from the customer.
The regulator should mandate that the booking free should be incorporated in the starting fare of the taxi and should not be an additional charge.
Tan Kin Lian
4 comments:
Anyone ever try to look for a public phone, or borrow someone's mobile to make calls when one forgets to bring out his mobile, or the mobile battery is flat out.
A better suggestion would be to forbid taxis from stopping at road junctions at about 4 to metres away.
Guess the writer was concerned with taxis stopping abruptly to pick up passengers, then have signal lights on earlier.
Hope this is not considered negative thinking, just pragmatic thinking.
The daily life of a taxi driver is very tough. Some of them were retrenched professional like Dr. Can. They earn an honest living.
Their morning prayer is:
NO ACCIDENT TODAY.
Their evening prayer is:
NEVER SICK and WAKE-UP TOMORROW MORNING.
A taxi driver's wife suddenly had severe headace. She rush to GH and was hsopitalised at C ward for 13 days. The medical bill is S$37k. After Incomeshield, the patient has to pay neary $10k from her husband pocket. The taxi driver after 20 years service, he still can not afford the full payment. He cry for help from his relative. Now, the driver has only $200 left in posb account.
Any good idea to improve the taxi service is vital to the society.
@yuyuan, Most people call for a taxi before leaving home or the office. It should be easy to get a taxi. If they are shopping, there are taxi stops outside of shopping malls. If not, they can ask the shop to call a taxi on tbeir behalf. But most people should have a mobile phone with them - at least those who use taxis.
@Kooli
I agree with you that the life of a taxi driver is tough. I have met many of them when I take a taxi to the airport and back. To earn a decent income, they have to work long hours, and cannot afford to be sick.
The best party to help them to improve their working condition is the National Taxi Association.
I hope that the taxi drivers can join the Association and give feedback on how their working conditions can be improved.
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