Allowing car owners to charge for offering rides to affected passengers during train breakdowns can have a far-reaching impact ("Allow car owners to offer services during disruptions"; by Mr Phillip Tan Fong Lip, last Thursday).

Several questions need to be answered before this proposal is considered.

First, will motorists cash in on the situation by imposing exorbitant fees to make a fast buck?

Second, is there any assurance that such car owners possess a good driving record, and are their vehicles properly maintained and road-worthy?

Third, are there name tags or badges issued to these drivers for easy identification?

Above all, to which government agency can a passenger direct his grievance or complaint against a driver who conducts himself poorly?

Undeniably, train breakdowns are inevitable and may occur at different times and locations, but most people can take them in their stride.

Car owners who offer rides for a fee during train disruptions are no different from pirate taxi drivers of the past.

Given the above issues, I would advise others to avoid a situation where one needs to pay for a ride in a stranger's car, as there is no guarantee that you will reach your destination safely and on time.

Jeffrey Law Lee Beng