inDrive app, which facilitates illegal ride-hailing, no longer available in Singapore: Sun Xueling
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The firm currently operates in more than 980 cities in close to 50 countries, and has more than 3.6 million app downloads.
PHOTO: SUN XUELING/FACEBOOK
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SINGAPORE - An app that allows users to book trips using illegal ride-hailing services is no longer available for download in Singapore.
The move comes after feedback from residents about the app, inDrive, said Senior Minister of State for Transport Sun Xueling in a Facebook post on Aug 27.
inDrive is a ride-sharing and service platform where users can offer their desired fare for a ride or service, and then find a driver or service provider willing to accept that offer.
The app offers services to destinations in Singapore and facilitates illegal ride-hailing activities, said Ms Sun.
It is not available for download in Singapore any more, she added.
When users now attempt to request a trip with a Singapore location, a pop-up will show that inDrive is not available here, and the user cannot proceed, said Ms Sun.
According to inDrive’s website, the firm currently operates in more than 980 cities in close to 50 countries, and has more than 3.6 million app downloads.
inDrive has been a topic of discussion for users in Singapore private-hire vehicle Facebook groups, including those known as PHV Community and Professional PHV Drivers Singapore.
In the comments section of these posts, members urged one another to report the inDrive app to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), saying many drivers were offering rides illegally.
Legal ride-hailing operators in Singapore are CDG Zig, Geolah, Gojek, Grab, Ryde, Tada and Trans-cab, according to LTA’s website.
To offer taxi or private-hire car services here, all motorists must have a Public Service Vehicle Licence. Malaysia-registered taxis must also have an Asean Public Service Vehicle Permit.
The Singapore authorities have been cracking down on illegal ride-hailing activities, including drivers who offer such services within Singapore and across the border with Malaysia
On July 11, more than 20 motorists were caught by LTA for offering illegal ride-hailing services at Changi Airport and Gardens by the Bay.
Ten motorists were nabbed by LTA on July 18 after they were caught providing illegal ride-hailing services within Singapore, as well as to and from Malaysia.
In a separate LTA operation on Aug 5, 19 drivers were caught offering illegal ride-hailing services within Singapore and across the border with Malaysia.
Earlier in August, The Straits Times also reported that a total of 136 drivers had been caught providing illegal cross-border passenger transport services since 2022. Their foreign-registered vehicles were impounded.
Ms Sun said in a Facebook post on Aug 6 that LTA was ramping up its enforcement because drivers who offer these illegal services do not have proper licences and insurance coverage for the passengers they might be ferrying.
“Such services put passengers at risk, and harm the livelihoods of law-abiding licensed drivers,” she said.
Offenders may be fined up to $3,000, jailed for six months or both. Their vehicles may also be forfeited.
“We will continue to do our best to deter illegal ride-hailing activities,” Ms Sun said in her Facebook post on Aug 27.
