BOARDING AND ALIGHTING TAXIS (Accidents and measures)

Column No : 2119

BOARDING AND ALIGHTING TAXIS

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(Accidents and measures ): **

2.

Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim asked the Minister for Transport (a) what are the numbers of accidents caused by the sudden stopping of taxis along the roads to pick up or drop off passengers from the year 2002 to present; and (b) how many of these accidents have resulted in injuries and fatalities.

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3.

Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim asked the Minister for Transport whether his Ministry will (i) introduce a system of defining specific locations for taxis to pick up or drop off passengers as well as for passengers to wave down taxis; and (ii) penalise taxis for suddenly stopping to pick up or drop off passengers at any location they wish.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Taxis provide the convenience of a door-to-door service akin to private cars. Hence, taxis are allowed to stop to pick up passengers as long as it is safe to do so, and the traffic rules permit this. If street hails were restricted to specific locations, this would adversely affect the service provided by taxis and result in inconvenience to passengers, especially the elderly, persons with disabilities and those carrying luggage.

Nonetheless, the LTA recognises that in certain areas where demand for taxis and traffic volumes are high, some measure of control over the stopping of taxis is necessary to prevent traffic obstruction. Hence, along certain roads in the CBD, taxis are not allowed to pick up or drop off passengers over the entire day or during certain time periods, except at specific taxi stops. This helps ensure that taxi boarding and alighting are carried out in a safe and orderly manner.

According to Traffic Police records, there were 1,061 accidents involving taxis which resulted in injuries or fatalities in the first 10 months of last year. The Traffic Police does not track the number of accidents caused by the sudden stopping of taxis along the roads to pick up or drop off passengers.

Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim suggested that taxi drivers should be penalised for stopping abruptly to pick up or drop off passengers at any location they wish. Like all other motorists, taxi drivers are required to comply with all traffic rules, and should not stop indiscriminately or cause danger to other road users. Taxis which breach traffic rules will be subject to the relevant penalties.