The National Private Hire Vehicles Association hopes that the Land Transport Authority will exercise flexibility and consider opening up taxi stands to private-hire vehicles (27 drivers caught flouting new rules for private-hire cars; Sept 5).

Taxi stands were set up in the days when taxis were the only providers of point-to-point car passenger services.

Today, private-hire vehicles carry possibly as many passengers as taxis each week.

Private-hire vehicles also vastly outnumber taxis on the roads.

With the number of taxis and taxi rides falling, taxi stands are not being optimally used if private-hire vehicles are not allowed to use them.

The public tends to use the same mobile application to choose between a taxi and a private-hire vehicle.

It is odd that a passenger who uses an application to call for a taxi can be picked up or dropped off at a taxi stand, but another passenger who opts for a private-hire vehicle instead cannot.

Many passengers prefer to be picked up or dropped off at a taxi stand for convenience and safety, especially in bad weather. For passengers who are elderly, disabled and children, being dropped off at a taxi stand can be a necessity.

Rules and regulations need to keep pace with the evolving nature of the industry, while meeting the needs of the commuting public.

Mohd Randy
Executive Secretary
National Private Hire Vehicles Association