More commuters satisfied with ease of taxi booking
TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — The benefits brought about by the proliferation of third-party taxi booking apps have become clearer, as the ease of taxi booking saw the biggest improvement in commuter satisfaction across eight service areas.
Results from last year’s taxi customer satisfaction survey commissioned by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) showed that 88.6 per cent of 1,200 respondents were satisfied with the ease of taxi booking. In contrast, only 66.3 per cent were happy with this in 2013.
In a press release yesterday, the LTA said the growing popularity of third-party taxi booking apps “has provided an additional avenue to better match commuter demand and taxi supply”.
Touching on the survey results during the Transport Ministry’s Committee of Supply debate yesterday, Mrs Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State (Transport), said more commuters were satisfied with taxi services last year (96.2 per cent) than in 2013 (95.6 per cent). All eight service areas, such as drivers’ knowledge of routes, safety and information on taxi services, saw improved satisfaction levels.
Apart from the widespread use of third-party taxi booking apps, the implementation of taxi availability standards could be another factor accounting for the higher overall satisfaction levels, said the LTA.
The percentage of taxis plying the roads during peak hours had increased, from about 82.4 per cent in 2012 to 86.9 per cent last year. This translates to more than 1,500 more taxis free for hire.
There was also less empty cruising, which resulted in cabbies’ average incomes rising by about 6 per cent from a year ago. Of the total taxi mileage clocked last year, 68.2 per cent was with passengers on board, versus 64.9 per cent in 2013.
Asked if the various improvements had come at the expense of drivers’ health, Mrs Teo said the increase in two-shift operations was the reason that the various service areas were now better, adding that there was scope to improve this area further.
The Government is also working closely with the National Taxi Association (NTA) and taxi companies to enhance the welfare of taxi drivers, Mrs Teo said.
During the debate, Mr Ang Hin Kee, Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC and NTA executive adviser, asked if the Government was monitoring bus, train and taxi drivers’ fatigue levels, as their well-being would affect commuter safety.
In response, Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said that apart from looking at fatigue levels, the Government was also looking at the maintenance team to ensure that there is enough manpower for three shifts.
