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.
SOURCE
Can these new measures solve the problem of "lack of taxis" in Singapore? In actual fact, we have no lack of taxis; we have almost twice the amount of taxis as compared to Hong Kong, but we're always facing trouble when getting taxis during peak hours.
The problem stems from the lack of drive from taxi drivers generally. However with this 250km minimum mileage per day, this will force the lazy bums to work or convert their taxis to double shift rather than single. I wonder what will LTA do to the operators if they fail the 70% and what will the operators do to drivers who refuse to clock the minimum 250km.
Created as an exclusive residential estate on an offshore island,
Sentosa Cove's tranquillity has been disrupted by revving sounds of
sports cars and driving misdemeanours by residents and visitors such as
speeding, driving against the flow of traffic, not stopping at
pedestrian crossings and overtaking in a single lane.
Complaints from residents about such "reckless and dangerous driving
behaviour" have led Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) to put up a
month-long tender to conduct a study to improve road safety and the
regulation of traffic in the enclave.
Spelling out the
transgressions, which "may be committed by residents, visitors,
taxi-drivers and contractors", the tender document said: "Community
tolerance and consideration can be fragile and easily threatened by
inconsiderate conduct and unruly behaviour of motorists on the use of
road space that meanders through Sentosa Cove, posing serious challenge
to the safety and lifestyle of this community."
Responding
to TODAY's queries, Ms Catherine Chew, General Manager of SDC subsidiary
Sentosa Cove Resort Management, said that there are about 1,300
occupied households in the enclave as of last month.
By
2014, as new developments are built, the estate can accommodate 2,160
households in a mix of luxury condominiums and landed properties in its
three precincts.
"As the population in Sentosa Cove
continues to grow, the priority of the management has been to ensure
safety within the residential precinct," Ms Chew said. She added that to
this end, measures such as regulating strips, flexible road dividers,
blinking pedestrian crossing signs and road humps have been installed on
the roads in Sentosa Cove.
Referring to the tender, Ms
Chew said: "As further precaution, we also intend to conduct a traffic
and road safety review."
Similar to residential estates on
mainland Singapore, the speed limit on the roads in the enclave is 40
kmh, Ms Chew said. The other roads on Sentosa Island have speed limits
of between 40 and 50kmh.
According to the tender document,
the consultant engaged for the study will need to look into areas such
as enforcement measures including the use of speed cameras and suitable
locations to install these.
The level of noise emitted by
"high-performance vehicles" will also be reviewed to determine what "may
be considered reasonable in a quiet residential environment, especially
at night". The consultant will also need to review the current practice
of allowing food delivery motorcycles into the residential precincts.
Sentosa Cove resident Michelle McDonald said that taxi drivers
tend to speed, despite the placement of speed cones and bumps in certain
zones.
Mrs Mia Lindbergh, who lives in a landed property
along Ocean Drive, said she was concerned about the safety of children,
given that Sentosa Cove houses are designed without gates.
However, resident Nancy Hawkes felt that some of the residents were
over-reacting. "No matter where you go to, you'll hear a bit (of noise)
here and there, when you stay in the city, you hear buses, traffic,
everything," she said. Nevertheless, she added: "Occasionally, but very
rarely, you get some people (from outside) who come in here, park their
cars in the middle of the road and take photographs."
SOURCE
Oh my, what happens when the rich complains against the rich? It is no wonder the rich living in Sentosa is facing a pretty unique problem. With houses costing S$10m in minimum, it is no surprise that each household owns a super car. If you don't believe it, take a drive down Sentosa Cove in your humble BMW and you will feel so small even if yours is a 335i.
What can you expect from drivers behind the wheel of super cars? Rolling down the driveway at 30km/h?? I'm afraid that will cause their V12s to overheat and their million dollar machines will burst into flames.
Safety issues wise, there are ways to improve it. Examples are building A LOT more humps and installing speed cameras at strategic locations to curb speeding. At the end of the day, it isn't the car but the driver that is responsible for any form of reckless driving.
The Korean Grand Prix racked up substantial operating losses last month,
the third year running it has finished in the red, but organisers say
the race will bring long-term benefits to the country.
The
South Korean race, first run in 2010, returned operating losses of 39.4
billion won (S$44.6 million), local media reported today quoting race
organisers.
One of nine Asian races on the 20-stop 2012
Formula One calendar, including the Asia-Pacific Australian Grand Prix,
the South Korean event also lost an estimated US$50 million (S$61
million) in its first year.
"It's hard to say what kind of
impact the loss has on next year," South Korean race organisers told
Reuters. "Although there are many concerns regarding the operating loss,
the loss for a third straight year is only a short-term effect.
"In the long-term the F1 event will bring more benefits to the
country. It will not only pave the way for South Korean car industries
in the future but also help foster new industries."
The
Yeongam circuit, 400 km south of Seoul, has an initial contract of seven
years, with a five-year option that could keep the race there until
2021.
However, it has been plagued by problems, even before
opening in 2010, when construction of the circuit was only just
finished in time for its maiden race.
South Korean
organisers have expressed dissatisfaction at the terms of their contract
with Formula One, particularly over the cost of race-sanctioning fees.
However, their complaints have fallen on deaf ears with Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
The last two Korean races have been won by Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, the current world champion.
The problems facing South Korea's race contrast sharply to the
success Formula One enjoys in nearby Japan, where sell-out 120,000
crowds are commonplace at Suzuka.
"Compared to the boom
years, things have become a little harder but we had 103,000 for race
day this year," press manager Yoshihisa Ueno told Reuters.
"Last year with the (tsunami and nuclear) disaster, numbers were down
but this year, operation-wise was a successful year."
The
Japanese Grand Prix has been held at Suzuka almost exclusively since
1987, apart from 2007 and 2008 when it was held at Fuji Speedway.
SOURCE
The Korean GP had a difficult birth right from the start. It was a miracle that they even made it in time to hold their maiden race back in 2010. It's baffling as to why they build the track so far away from Seoul, making it very much inaccessible and the lack of entertainment around the track isn't helping either. After 3 years, it's still suffering from a loss, the Korean government has alot to do to turn it around anytime soon.
COE for cars in Category A, up to 1,600cc, ended at $77,291, slightly above the previous record of $77,201, from two weeks ago.
Prices for Commercial vehicles in Category C also reached new high of $60,235, up from $59,111 in the last bidding exercises.
Premiums for cars in Category B, above 1,600cc, closed at $93,004, up from $92,400 two weeks ago while the Open Category which can be used to register any vehicle but is usually used for big cars, ended at $93,990.
This is up from $92,100.
Motorcycles were the only vehicles that saw a decrease, finished $1,689, down from $1,959 previously.
| Nov 2012 - First bidding |
| Category | Nov 21 prices | Nov 7 prices |
| Cars (1,600CC below) | $77,291 | $77,201 |
| Cars (above 1,600CC) | $93,004 | $92,400 |
| Commercial vehicles | $60,235 | $59,111 |
| Motorcycles | $1,689 | $1,959 |
| Open category | $93,990 | $92,100 |
SOURCE
It simply wouldn't stop climbing, and with the commercial vehicle category getting crazier in pricing, this will eventually pass the cost to consumers. Ended up everything else is just going to be even more expensive. Why is our inflation rate so high? COE is a huge contributing factor other than housing.
SINGAPORE - Prices for Certificates of Entitlement (COE) saw yet another surge in the latest bidding exercise that ended at 4pm today.
Small cars below 1,600cc saw the biggest hike of 8.7 per cent. Prices ended at $77,201, up from $71,001 previously.
Premiums for big cars jumped by about 7.7 per cent, from $85,801 in Oct to $92,400 in the current bidding.
COEs for commercial vehicles climbed up slightly to $59,111 from $57,889, while the increase for motorcyles was marginal.
In the Open category, which is usually used for cars and is transferable, premiums ended at $92,100, up 5.9 per cent from $87,000.
| Nov 2012 - First bidding |
| Category |
Nov 7 prices |
Oct 17 prices |
| Cars (1,600CC below) |
$77,201 |
$71,001 |
| Cars (above 1,600CC) |
$92,400 |
$85,801 |
| Commercial vehicles |
$59,111 |
$57,889 |
| Motorcycles |
$1,959 |
$1,920 |
| Open category |
$92,100 |
$87,000 |
SOURCE
Record breaking COE prices once again. This is just the prelude. Coming January 2013 there will be another round of quota adjustment. Singapore, the most expensive country in the world to own a personal car.
SINGAPORE - The driver of the Ferrari involved in the horrific crash in May was speeding at 178kmh before smashing into a taxi at Rochor Road.
This is almost three times the speed limit of 60kmh set at that stretch of road.
The Ferrari's speed was determined from three videos that were shown today at the coroner's inquiry into the accident which left three people dead.
Those killed include driver of the Ferrari Ma Chi, a Chinese national who was working as a financial advisor here in Singapore, taxi driver Cheng Teck Hock, 52, and the taxi's passenger, a Japanese female passenger in her 40s.
A motorcyclist and a female passenger in the Ferrari were also injured.
One of the videos that were played in court today was taken via a video recorder installed in the Ferrari. It showed the supercar speeding towards the junction of Victoria Street and Rochor Road. This is despite the traffic lights turning red, reported a local broadcaster.
The ComfortDelgro taxi then appeared on screen from the right.
Both Ma Chi and the woman passenger had seat belts on, the court heard.
The Straits Times reported that an autopsy indicated that Mr Ma had traces of chlorpheniramine, used to treat flu, in his urine.
The inquiry is adjourned till Friday.
SOURCE
Finally, the truth is out. A whopping 178kmh on a road like Victoria Street at 4am in the morning. Ma Chi is indeed very brave, and very crazy. His actions were seriously very irresponsible. Being at that kinda speed, it is very hard for him to react in time if there is any changes to the road. He isn't Fernando Alonso I reckon.
Former sales manager Mark Leow took a pay cut to become a taxi driver but still considers it a good move.
"I can do more for myself as a taxi driver than working for other people," said the 32-year-old Institute of Technical Education graduate in automotive repairs.
Mr Leow, who used to work in sales at a multinational company, declined to reveal his previous salary, but said he now earns more than $6,000 a month as a cabby.
As a MaxiCab driver with transport giant ComfortDelGro, he earns mainly from shuttling corporate clients, hotel guests and airport passengers in his seven-seater van. He says it is not impossible to earn a decent living from driving a cab - it is all about having the right attitude because the demand for taxis is always there.
"You go out on the street and you can see so many people waving their hands for a taxi," he said. "There is no downtime for us."
Mr Leow said making money as a cabby is all about knowing where to go.
For instance, there is no point for a cabby to wait for a fare in the city after going there in the morning, because hardly anyone will be heading out of town at that time.
"You have to go to where the people are," he said, adding that he would usually head to nearby neighbourhoods or stop at hotels looking for passengers heading to the airport after dropping a fare off in the city.
A typical day for him starts at 6am and ends around 6pm, though on some days he pulls a longer day and ends at 9pm. On Sundays, he rests.
On average, he earns about $300 a day after paying $155 for rental and $40 for fuel. He said although he earned more in his previous job, he also spent a lot of time away from home because of business trips overseas.
One of the perks of the job is that he can take time out during his work hours to meet his family for meals.
"Now, how much time I put in is how much I earn," said the father of a two-year-old girl.
He said being a taxi driver is similar to being an entrepreneur; he's his own boss without needing to pump in a lot of start-up capital.
"If you own a business, you have to be creative, advertise and worry about expanding," said Mr Leow, who lives in a five-room Housing Board flat in Choa Chu Kang. "Now all I'm doing is selling my service and my hard work."
As for taxi drivers not having such benefits as annual bonuses, medical leave and Central Provident Fund contributions, Mr Leow said he has to look after his affairs on his own.
"I have my own medical insurance and set aside money for retirement like I would if I was given CPF," he said. "It's just all about managing my money well."
Having observed more young men and women choosing to be cabbies, he said it is an attractive option for those who want to avoid the rat race.
"It's a renewal of the industry," he said, referring to the rising number of people like him who choose to be cabbies over regular jobs. "Just like in the 1960s when many young men joined the business."
For him, becoming a cabby was a career choice and not a stepping stone to another job or just something to do to pass the time. He said: "It is a fantastic industry to be in and I see a good future here."
SOURCE
What do you think? I agree with him totally. How well a cabby earns really depends on how hard he works and what kind of mindset he adopts. Sadly, there aren't much cabbies like him around in Singapore. Looking at the statistics, Singapore has almost double the number of taxis as compared to Hong Kong, but the amount of passengers we carried still lags behind our counterpart.
Why is that so? Alot boils down to the attitude of the cabbies here. Most of them are middle-aged ex-PMEs who lost their jobs or couldn't find jobs in their original industry and ended up being a cabby. How often you see cabbies relaxing half a day away at home or coffeeshops, earning enough just to pay off the daily rents and diesel costs? Productivity is lost whenever the taxi isn't on the road. In addition, one of the most ridiculous things discovered few weeks back about lack of taxis during rainy conditions was that cabbies stop their vehicles due to fear of accidents.
The taxi industry needs more people like Mark Leow above to spruce up the scene. If not it will simply continue to be sluggish and no matter how many taxis are added to our already very congested road, it will never be enough.
