The reason for Taxi’s exemption does not make sense!
- Ample time for a private-hire car to prepare – The time taken for a rider to book a private-hire car with a mobile application can be much faster than flagging down a taxi especially so during peak hours. Riders generally expect private hire drivers to pick them up on demand. Mobile booking applications also assign concurrent ride bookings to Driver, which effectively means Driver has even lesser downtime to install/remove booster seats/ child restraint. It is inaccurate to say that private-hire drivers have sufficient notice to prepare accordingly.
- Many taxi drivers also take bookings via JustGrab and UberTaxi. Should they also be subjected to similar rules when they accept bookings via Uber and Grab since LTA says that rider will indicate upfront whether booster seats or child restraints at the point of booking and that will give sufficient advance notice to prepare?
- LTA says the approach strikes a balance between practicality and ensuring that the safety of our children is not compromised. Where is the balance? When there is no child seat or restraint installed on a Taxi, every child is at risk. They would not be safe from accidents just because they are in a Taxi. The risk of meeting with an accident is similar be it in a Taxi or a private-hire vehicle.
Level the playing field for the good of everyone
- Adopt a common child seat rule across all taxi and private-hire. Educate all service providers and riders that child seat is required by law.
- Consider the operating nature of private-hire vehicle. Remove the need of child seat in private-hire vehicles
The framework for the vocational licence is deeply flawed and does not address many underlying problems that the new private-hire industry faces.
The governing body has a misguided impression of this brand new industry. Their impression is that private-hire operates like a premium limousine booking service characterised by a small number of trips, personalised service and high fares.
However, most private-hire vehicles operate under the economy service category, which is similar to the operating model of a Taxi.
Imposing all these restrictions on private-hire is impractical for both drivers and riders. Changes need to be made through a thorough consultation with the right industry experts.