SINGAPORE - From January 2013, taxi companies have to ensure that 70 per cent of their taxis ply through peak hour and reach a minimum daily mileage of 250 kilometres.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced these measures at a briefing earlier today. The standards are aimed at ensuring there are more taxis are on the road during peak period, so passengers will find it easier to get a cab.
These standards will be upped to 85 per cent in three years but will be phased in progressively to give taxi operators time to adjust, said LTA.
LTA also said taxi operators would need to attain at least 4 out of 6 'Passes' over six-month periods of every year to expand their fleet in the corresponding period of the following year.
This means that results for the January 2013 to June 2013 period will be used to determine if the taxi company can grow its taxi fleet in the period of January 2014 to June 2014.
The growth will be capped at 2 per cent per annum - which was earlier announced as being the unconditional growth rate allowed for the transition period from August 2012 to December 2013, a growth rate roughly in line with the historical taxi ridership growth rate.
Measures for taxi drivers to complement standards
From January 1, 2013, taxis will be allowed to pick up and drop off passengers along all roads within the CBD, except those with bus lanes during their operation hours, and specific roads which are dangerous for all vehicles to stop at any time such as Finlayson Green, High Street, Orchard Link and Esplanade Drive.
These adjustments will also make it more convenient for passengers entering and leaving the CBD to hail a cab or alight near their destination.
In addition, LTA will set up an online portal so that hirers and relief drivers can exchange information to facilitate matching.
"This will make it easier for taxi hirers to find relief drivers, and vice versa, and will also be used to disseminate information relevant to Taxi Driver's Vocational Licence (TDVL) holders," said a spokesperson.
Active drivers will get a 50 per cent discount on their TDVL renewal fee and waiver on certain modules of the mandatory refresher course (e.g. street directory module).
These incentives and the new portal will be implemented in the first half of 2013.
The performance of the taxi companies will be measured on a monthly basis.
During the first six months, from January to June 2013, no financial penalty will be imposed on the taxi operators if they fail to meet the standards.
LTA will review this in June 2013.
