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Source:
www.lta.gov.sg |
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From 1 March 2008 Taxis Within The Central
Business District (CBD) Can Only Stop At Taxi Stands And Building
Driveways |
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From 1 March 2008, taxi drivers can no
longer stop to pick up or drop off passengers along all public roads
within the CBD between 7 am and 10 pm from Monday to Saturday, other
than a public holiday. They should instead do so at taxi stops, taxi
stands and driveways of buildings in the CBD. |
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This measure, which was announced by LTA in
November 2007, will help improve the safety of commuters, taxi drivers
and other road users as it will reduce the number of taxis driving into
bus lanes to pick up passengers or indiscriminately stopping along the
roads and disrupting the flow of traffic. This way, public buses which
carry more passengers will enjoy a smoother and faster journey. |
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Taxis picking up and dropping off passengers
at taxi stands will increase the availability of taxis there and ensure
a fairer allocation of taxis than street hail by preventing passengers
waiting for taxis along the road to jump queue by going up-traffic. |
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To make taxi facilities more accessible to
commuters, LTA has increased the number of taxi stands within the CBD by
more than 30%, from 80 to 105. This means that there is now a taxi stand
or taxi stop within 300 metres or less than a 5-minute walk from any
building within the CBD. Please refer to Annex A for a list of the 10
additional taxi stands installed in February 2008. |
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LTA has also increased the waiting capacity
at these taxi stands by about 3 times so that more taxis can wait for
passengers at the taxi stands. To make the taxi stands and taxi stops
easily identifiable, all the taxi signs in the CBD have been replaced by
distinctive by distinctive taxi signs. |
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In addition, the taxi stands will be
numbered for easy identification by both commuters and taxi
drivers. These signs include LTA's advisory against touting and
overcharging. Please refer to Annex B for a picture of the taxi
sign. |
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Taxi drivers who breach the rules can be
fined $100 and given 3 demerit points under the Vocational Licence
Points System (VLPS). |
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Mr Yang Ban Seng, CEO of ComfortDelGro's
Taxi Business, said, "The move to mandate that taxi passengers can only
be picked up or alighted at taxi stands, taxi stops and building
driveways in the CBD is a good one and we are supportive of it. In fact,
we have been working with LTA and our Taxi Association to address
implementation issues of concern to our taxi drivers, such as providing
more taxi stands and taxi waiting lots in the CBD, and educating the
public to minimise misunderstandings between taxi drivers and passengers
who may be unaware of the new ruling. We hope that commuters will
appreciate that our taxi drivers cannot now just stop anywhere along the
roads on their request, and seek their understanding, especially on
rainy days". |
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Mr Foo Chi Yong, Chairman of Premier Taxi
Operators' Association, said, "We are fully supportive of LTA's measures
to improve taxi services. This measure will enhance the safety of
commuters and taxi drivers, and at the same time make it easier for taxi
commuters to get a taxi from a taxi stand. We will encourage our taxi
drivers to pick up passengers from taxi stands. We would also like to
urge commuters to cooperate with our taxi drivers". |
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LTA officers will be deployed on the ground
during the first month to remind taxi drivers not to stop along public
roads in the CBD. These officers will also help to educate commuters on
the new rule. |
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Annex A and B |
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Source:
www.lta.gov.sg News Release 28
Feb 2008 |
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Important
Notice |
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FrontPage Edition: Sat 1 March 2008
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