TAXI runs over man lying in the middle of the road

Talking about occupational hazard. It applies to train operator on MRT trains, bus drivers and Taxi drivers.  What will happened to you when a person intends to use your vehicle for attempting suicide?

MRT train operator will get off clean in the eyes of the law because there are no way for the train to stops in time even he sees the person jumping onto the track.

For bus drivers and Taxi drivers, it all depends on what is the speed you were travelling, visibility on the road and whether you can react in time.

In this case, it is up to the investigator or traffic police to decide whether it is an negligent act.

Punching Cabby

It is an old news happened in April 2014. It just highlighted some of the hazards a cabby have to endure working in this trade.

When you see a lone man standing on the street after midnight. You have to make a quick decision on the spot, do I pick him up? Can he afford to pay? Is he drunk? Will he soil your vehicle by vomiting? Especially a drunk buff man.

LTA says you have have to pick any passenger up if you do not have the busy sign up, Will LTA. protects you or come to your rescue when he rough you up? Well the police will. Will LTA helps you to collect the fare if he runs away?

I picked up a "white man" a Caucasian over the weekend at Orchard road after mid-night. He wants to go to the Traders hotel. He is so drunk he falls asleep the moment he steps in. I wander how he stands up beside the road flagging. During the short journey, he keeps on gagging in his sleep, so afraid he might throw up along the way.

Upon arriving at the hotel, he steps out of the Taxi, said a thank you under his breath then walks into the hotel Lobby. Should I chase after him for the miserable $7 fare? So who is going to pay for his fare? I drove off quietly into the night with this thought.

Singapore's population make up

In a city state like Singapore where 40% of the population is non-resident. Meaning they will be going back to their country one day. It is mind boggling when I thinking of the day when all of them disappear together with all the permanent resident.

1. Streets, shopping mall will be empty of half the people. 
2. You will have a place to sit on the morning train going to work. 
3. Offices and workplace, company will be shut down because of not sufficient workers. 
4. Home owners not able to rent out their units.
5. Taxi drivers we will be poorer off because about half of my clients are make up of foreigners.

Is there a perfect solution to this? I do not think so, we all just have to managed it, managed people's expectations. We can move out of Singapore to work in another country, follow their example.

credit cards payment for TAXI ride (today's news)

This is a case of capitalism greed of the taxi companies. No competition, no improvement.

If the case is true of running a NETS payment / credit card payment terminals are so high a 10% surcharge has to be paid by the consumer. Why Uber and Easy Taxi is able to do it? Another way of looking at this, is the business model of paying by terminals rather than smart phone outdated?

Driving Taxi on 13 Sept 2014

I started off around 1530 hours. Took a family to 211 Bedok road temple for the parent's death anniversary. The two teenage daughter and son is with them. They looks to me a like a happy family going out for a picnic.  They dot empathize with Taxi driver's long hours on the road after they asked me the hours I need to drive for a living. They have moved to Woodlands about 14 years ago. That is the way to start the day, :)

Went on to the airport terminal 2, have a quick coffee and toast, pick and go. This person going to Woodlands. It is after 5 pm, so the airport surcharge is plus $5 fare.The person is a FT working for Vodafone, coming back from a conference in Philippine.

Woodlands MRT pick up 3 India FT, going to Jalan Kayu to send their friend off going back to India. They are friendly, and asking about difference in fare price amount Taxis. In the end I found out he had the luck of boarding one of this Chrysler Black Taxi, the fare difference is $12 comparing to a normal Taxi.

Jalan Kayu pick up another Philippine FT girl going to Mohd Sultan road. She dress to kill with a perfume that lingers on in the Taxi long after.

Long Queue at Clark Quay Taxi rank (all green lanterns). Went to Queue at Parkmall taxi stand, waited for 5 minutes where a Malay Family board the Taxi after dinner at the Mongolian BBQ Restaurant. They are going to Woodlands street 13 @ marsiling.

After that is a blurrr...... Woodlands to Tampines, Tampines to Bedok, Bedok to Tampines etc. I am really not familiar with that area. In the future, need to read up the map to get myself familiar with that area. Luckily those passengers are understanding.

In the end, I go up to TPE, arriving at airport T2 to try my luck. Good, pick and go. Person no luggage, He is going to Geylang Lorong 18. Not sure why, but most of my passenger, 7 out of 10 will be going to Lorong 18.

Along Geylang towards city, pickup another FT philippine girl, going to Luck Plaza. Then from Lucky Plaza Taxi rank to Eunos Crescent. Had my dinner at Eunos MRT.

Along Eunos pick up a friendly old lady going to Joo Chiat Place. She thank me and very surprise I can give her a big grin smile when she board the taxi. She flatter me by saying I must have a sunny personality, my wife must be luck to have me.

After which I do not remember the rest of the trips except the last trip after midnight. Took a gentleman home from Centre Point to Anderson road off Thomson road. He had a bad night out because of his girl friend. :)

Total collection is about $270. After rental $60 and petrol $37. Take home $173. Not bad for 12 hours of work. Note, only good takings on Saturday.

Rumors of Taxi fare hike 2014 September

After reading the above article from MyPaper. I would said, it is about time for a fare changes. Almost every worker is getting bonus, salary increment yearly, why not taxi drivers? 

When will the market force change the fare structure? When there are lots of Taxis sitting in the bay of those taxi industry operators without sufficient hirer.

I like the part, "who complains when off peak there are no passengers?" This is especially true if the industry is going to increase the number of Taxi on the road again.  

Taxi industry still cannot match the demand of peak hours as they all originate from particular area (eg. CBD). 

My suggestions:

1. Do Away with ERP charges for Taxi, it will eliminate the barrier for Taxi moving into C.B.D. without a passenger.
2. Drastically increase the CBD peak hour surcharge to $6-$10. Taxi will all be rushing into the CBD to pick up customer. This will ensure only those whole really needs a Taxi will use one during peak hours. Come to think of it, is this not the principle of ERP? If you want to use transport over congested area during peak hours, you pay with your arm and leg. :-)
3. Mobile Apps /MDT for Taxi drivers to inform them where are the passengers during peak and off peak period. Example, number of passenger queuing in  certain taxi stand or MRT stations.

15 hours on the road

 What do you need to be on the road driving taxi 15 hours? What will you gain in the end?

1. You need to have a Taxi at your disposal. Sign up as a driver at one of the 4 Taxi company is a start.
2. You need cash float for changes from passengers (see pic).
3. You need a vocational driver License.
4. You need sufficient sleep (or you can catch up on your sleep in-between journeys).
5. You need a cash card to pay for ERPs.
6. You need a bottle of water, red bull and some sweets to suck on when bored.
7. You need a Fuel discount card. 20% for diesel, 16% for petrol.
8. You need a street directory or GPS.

What do you gain at the end of the 15 hours'of driving? (see below picture)

1. A good night of sleep because you will be so tired, you fall asleep the moment your head touch the pillow.
2. $450 cash in total collection. Minus rental and fuel. Income is about $300.
3. Satisfaction for a job well done. You bring bread home for the family.

If you can do this for 30 days straight, potentially you could earned $300 x 30 = $9000. But, sadly, it is not possible for me, I will need to sleep through the next day to recover from the ordeal.

So my income is around $2500 -$3000 for 30 days of driving. (6 Sept 2014)