SAFETY OF TAXI DRIVERS

Column: 2911

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SAFETY OF TAXI DRIVERS

49.

Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim asked the Minister for Transport, in light of the recent rise in robbery cases on taxi drivers, what measures are taken by his Ministry to enhance the safety of taxi drivers.

Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: The safety of taxi drivers is a key concern of the taxi companies and taxi drivers’ associations. To enhance the safety of taxi drivers, taxi companies have installed security systems in their taxis. One such system has distress alarms that are linked to their company’s vehicle location system which uses Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to track the location of their taxis. When a taxi driver triggers the distress alarm, his location can be immediately established and the Police will be notified to assist.

Hardware installations are only part of the answer. Very often, simple preventive measures like educating taxi drivers on the do's and don’ts and the appropriate responses to take when faced with potential threats, which the taxi companies have also undertaken, can be more effective. For example, taxi drivers have been advised not to keep valuables in their taxis and to keep their cash out of sight. When confronted with armed robbers, they are advised not to put up resistance in order to minimise the risk of bodily injury.

The taxi companies and their drivers have great interest in the issue of drivers’ safety, and they have been conscientious in addressing such concerns. The Land Transport Authority will work closely with the taxi companies, taxi drivers' associations and the Police to facilitate their efforts in enhancing taxi drivers’ safety and collectively deterring crime against taxi drivers.