SMRT sacks taxi driver over road bullying incident

An SMRT taxi driver involved in a road bullying incident has been fired by the company. -- PHOTO: YOUTUBE
An SMRT taxi driver involved in a road bullying incident has been fired by the company. -- PHOTO: YOUTUBE

SINGAPORE - An SMRT taxi driver involved in a road bullying incident has been fired by the company.

The taxi driver was sacked on Monday after 23 videos of him terrorising another motorist on the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway were posted on YouTube. The videos were captured by the front and rear in-car cameras of the victim.

They show the cabby tailgating, swerving in and out of lanes, almost hitting other road users, as well as hurling vulgarities and even a metal drink can at the motorist as they travelled towards the Marina Coastal Expressway.

The videos were put up by a YouTube user with the name Bee Pok, who also posted a detailed account of the 10-minute incident. At one point, the taxi driver drove up beside him, wound down his window and berated him in Hokkien.

"He cut into the first lane dangerously and travelled at the same pace alongside me and flipped me the third finger (sic)," said the YouTube user, who called the police during the incident. "I am totally disgusted with his actions and dangerous driving and road bully ethics," he wrote.

Police have confirmed they received a call at 5.44pm. They have classified the case as a rash act and investigations are ongoing.

When contacted, SMRT's vice-president of corporate information and communications Patrick Nathan said the incident was "regrettable". Investigations showed the Ssangyong Rodius taxi was driven by a relief driver who had no accident record, he said. "SMRT takes a serious view of any incident that may compromise the safety of our passengers as well as fellow road users."

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