SINCE March 1, taxis can stop only at taxi stands or building driveways in the CBD to pick up or drop off passengers between 7am and 10pm from Mondays to Saturdays, except on public holidays.

Cabbies caught flouting the rule can be given three demerit points and be fined up to $100.

The rule, meant to improve road safety, aims to stop taxi drivers from swerving across lanes or driving into bus lanes to pick up passengers.

When contacted, bus operators SBS Transit and SMRT said it is still too early to conclude whether bus drivers now have an easier time navigating the CBD roads.

SBS Transit spokesman Tammy Tan said while its drivers have noticed a 'slight improvement', vehicles other than taxis still intrude into bus lanes.