Forum: Taxi surcharges fair but service standards must improve

I refer to the report, “Higher surcharges for taxi rides from Changi Airport, Mandai attractions to be made permanent” (June 24).

With the high cost of living in Singapore, the move is fair as it helps taxi drivers eke out a living.

Compared with most developed countries, Singapore taxi fares are still relatively affordable. But the service standards of Singapore taxi drivers are far from acceptable. They hardly ever help passengers with their luggage. At best, a driver may alight to make room in the boot. At worst, he simply sits in the taxi and waits for the passengers to help themselves.

In other countries, taxi drivers always help passengers with their luggage, even in those places where taxi fares are very low. In fact, it is quite obvious that most of these drivers take pride in helping with the luggage.

It is about time Singapore taxi companies made helping passengers with their luggage (or any other things, especially wheelchairs) mandatory. The service standards need to improve to a professional level to position taxis for future fare hikes.

Passengers, on the other hand, must make it a point to also help drivers with the luggage, especially when the drivers are elderly. Obviously, two persons carrying luggage is much easier than one – this is a win-win situation. The bigger taxi companies should take the lead in implementing the luggage assistance rules as soon as possible.

Ong Kok Lam