Life of a Singaporean Cabby - Part 2.

Welcome back!!

I'm pleasantly surprised and pleased that many of my readers are interested or curious enough to read about the life of an ordinary Singaporean taxi driver. Maybe it's something refreshing from the daily staple of "abrasive" posts blog sphere. Sorry, no offense intended at fellow bloggers. So, here it goes, the continuation of my preceding post.

(1) how do cabbies handle accidents?

Based on the simple theory of probability, I get into more traffic accidents than others simply because I spend more time on the road than a normal driver. And I got into all kinds of traffic accidents, fortunately, none fatal.

When an accident happens, I'll determine whether it's fatal or otherwise. In case of a fatal accident and I'm not seriously injured, the first thing I do is to call for an ambulance and police and render whatever help I can to the victims before the authorities arrive. The rest I'll leave it to the traffic police to handle. I'll call for my company's tow truck and take some photographs as evidence.

For non-fatal accidents without major damages to vehicles, I'll try to settle the case amicably on the spot with the other party and with the signing of a standard indemnity form . If settlement is not possible or vehicles suffered damages, I'll exchange particulars with the other party, take photos and report to my company the following day.

Usually, my company will deduct a thousand dollars from my deposit immediately, pending the outcome of culpability. My maximum liability is a $1000, irrespective of whatever insurance claims from third party.

If I suffered injuries or whiplash and is absolutely certain that the other party is at fault, I'll engage a lawyer to claim for personal compensation. In such cases, the company will also reimburse the hirer ( not relief driver ) $80 per day for lost of income and suspend rental for the downtime of cabs inside workshop. But, if a driver gets into too many accidents, the company usually sack him.

Presently, many cabbies install CCTV camera to continuously record the traffic situation ahead and behind their taxi (not inside). In case of accidents, the videos images recorded are indisputable evidences for insurance claims. From my experience, it's always better to get the police involved, as the other party sometime twist their police report, with help from their workshop experts to pin you at fault and exaggerate their claim. 

2) how do u handle belonging left behind by passengers?

Depending of the "value" of the items left behind and whether my call center contact me on the matter instantly, I'll usually trash the "cheap stuff" like umbrella, slippers, shoes, costume jewellery, magazine at the end of my shift. But I'll return sentimental and expensive items like photo album, cellphones, cameras, wallets, schoolbags to my office the next day. My office staff will take over from there.

If my passenger is able to contact me on the same night, I'll return it instantly but usually I'll request them to compensate me for the fare. Most passengers are more than happy to accept my request but some do refuse and say it's my duty to return their lost items. In that case, I'll ask them to collect it from my office. I think it's fair.

3. Do u have regular customers?

I don't have regular customers nor take advance booking jobs because I prefer freedom in my job and do not like to be tired down with a fixed pick-up jobs. But if somebody wants to travel regularly from Jurong to Orchard at the start of my night shift, I would certainly oblige because I'm assured of a good fare and a quick passenger at Orchard when my customer disembarked. Some of my buddies do have regular customers usually at the start or towards the end of their shift. 

(4) what do cabbies chat about during coffeeshop drinking sessions?

Usually around 4am, my taxi buddies and I would gather at our regular hangout at a coffee shop in Jurong East Central to have our supper and share our night's driving adventures. Each driver would have some real life story to tell but it would normally center around some passenger's unreasonable attitude and other trivial matters. We don't talk about politics or religion.

Some tells hoary jokes while others relate boringly details of each of their trip. After a while, such stories and jokes became dull and boring because of repetitious theme. However, once in a while, someone would come out with an astonishingly humorous tale that got everyone standing on their toes, with open mouth and watery eyes from laughter.

We don't chat on political or religious matters often because these are highly sensitives, contentious and subjective subjects. Anyway, most of us are not that smart to touch on these subject intelligently. At most, we chat superficially based on "hear-say".

(5) have the casinos boosted ridership?

Yes, the two casinos had boosted ridership but as time goes by, passengers at these casinos had dwindled. Many must have lost their pants.  Some couldn't pay the full fare at the end of the trip. dumb skull!

(6) does taxi companies raise taxi rental fees? 

Yes, but not often. COMFORT maintains the same rental in the last five years for a Sonata taxi. But with increasing COE price, operating costs, inflation, improved cabby taking etc....taxi rental will surely increase in a matter of time.

(7) what are the advantages of doing night shift?

It's common knowledge that night shift taxi drivers taking is much more than a day driver because of the additional CBD, midnight and longer hours of peak hour surcharge. A night driver do less trips with fewer customers in the night but earns more and drives in less congested roads with cooler weather. But they spend more on fuel because they often have to cruise empty without passengers from heartland to city

8) What it takes to be a Singaporean cabby apart from what you've related? 

Driving a taxi is an occupation that is often associated with hardship among a large segment of Singaporeans. When PMET lose their jobs due to retrenchment or economic crises, driving a taxi become a viable option as a last resort. 

It takes a certain kind of temperament to be a taxi driver. If you don't like to meet people, don't ever be a taxi driver, because you are going to meet a lot of them.

Ego must be crushed. Forget about your glory days. But remember to love oneself and be proud of everything one do is important. 

Most passengers are kind, understanding and law abiding. But some are "M.F." . Ignore them. They are with you for only a few minutes. This quote says : "If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire, then you got a problem. Everything else is inconvenience" 

Cabbies Protesting in London

                                                            

  

Life of a Singaporean Cabby - Part 1.

Recently, Singapore Daily (http://singaporedaily.net/) suggested that I write a concisely informative blog post of a typical Singaporean cabby's life and experiences but leave the "ranting" part out. It was a great idea and a challenge. Besides being informative, they advised that my post should be factually good read and the bread/butter issues should resonate with the readers. It should also inspire young readers. I think the resonance and inspirational parts are beyond my writing ability.

Anyway, knowing that it was a tall order, they were kind to mention that I should do it only when I've the time and provided me with many relevant pointers to help me along. But they stressed that I should not "politicizes" this post nor strain relationship between them and my company. I admit that these are wise advice but I must also bear in mind never to compromise the "interests" of my fellow buddies.

So, here I'm, doing the best I can. And to make things easier for myself, I used SG Daily's questionnaires as leads and materials for this post. The views and experiences posted here are solely from my perspective and knowledge and do not represent ALL Singaporean cabbies. Each of us is unique as a human being and taxi driver.

1a) what time u start work, what time u knock off?

I drive the night shift (6pm to 6am, Monday - Friday). Each taxi driver have their own schedule, mutually agreed between a hirer and relief driver. Taxi companies do not get involved with our shift arrangement. Another relief driver might starts from 5pm to 5am or any other 8 or 12 hours time frame. I normally don't start work punctually at 6pm but tend to laze around a bit and start around 7pm when traffic is less heavy. I usually knock off at 2am except Wednesday and Friday. On these two exceptionally busy nights, I knock off a bit later at 4am.

Sometimes, after midnight when my last customer's destination is near my home, I called it a day. So, my working hours is flexible and income is also variable. But I earn more than a Train Officer at SMRT at first glance. No pun intended at Gintai. (http://gintai.wordpress.com/smrt-train-officer/). But, on deeper scrutinizing, I think he earns more than me when his overtime, paid annual leave, medical/dental benefits, annual wage increments/supplements/bonuses, employer's CPF contributions and other benefits are factored in. A cabby has no such benefits, whatsoever. He is self-employed.

1b) what are the various peak hour surcharges and it's effect on your income?

The current evening peak-hour surcharge is 25% on top of metered fare and starts from 6pm to midnight ( 6hours ), everyday of the week, including public holidays. Previously, it was 35% from 5pm to 8pm ( 3hours. Mon - Sat). Before the change, most night shift taxi drivers would take to the road punctually at 5pm to earn the 35% peak-hour surcharge till 8pm. After 8pm, when the 35% surcharge ceased, some taxi drivers would disappear correspondingly and reappear only at midnight, when a new 50% mid-night surcharges kicks in. The present longer duration of peak hour surcharge is less confusing but unfortunately, taxi commuters have to pay more.

To a taxi driver, the extra 3 hours of peak hours motivates him to spend more time on the road as it means more income. Therefore, it's easier to get a taxi in the evening between 8pm to 12midnight now because more taxi drivers are on the road

A 50% midnight surcharges kicks in after 12 midnight till 5am, while the morning peak hour surcharge is also 25%  from 6am to 9.30am (Mon - Fri). Basically, surcharges are imposed to bring supply to demand and also helps to improve the taxi drivers' lot.

(2a) are u the main hirer who share ur cab with another co-driver?.

No, I'm a relief driver now. When I started as a taxi driver 7 years ago, I was the main hirer for 3 years. As a hirer without a relief, it was very stressful and tiring because I have to drive long hours of at least 12 to 14 hours daily in order to earn a decent income. It's not easy to find a suitable relief driver to take half the rental. As a relief driver now, I work 5 days a week (Monday to Friday) for 9 hours a day and earn a sustainable income.

I'm more relax now with shorter driving hours. I'm an old man of 65 with no major financial commitments or debts to service. My needs are simple and few. Therefore, I don't need to work so hard. As long as I achieve a nett income of about $70/$80 a day, I head for home. Many younger taxi drivers with family to support are less fortunate than me. They have to slog for at least 60 hours a week to make ends meet in this increasingly expensive country.  

(2b) Do u had any issues with your main driver?

No. I've no major issues with my main driver who stays next to my block. We've been together for almost 5 years but meet face to face on less than 5 times a year. We communicate mainly through sms. Most partnerships are difficult to forge or last long, especially when one party is perceived to be petty over trivial issues, like quarrels over dirty taxis, cheating on diesel refill, late handover etc...

I've none of these issues because I don't wash my taxi. Instead I pay my hirer a daily $3 for him to keep the taxi clean. And I also pay him the diesel cost based on the mileage I clocked at $12 per 100 kilometers. Therefore, I do not refill diesel at the end of my shift and nullified the "cheating of diesel" issue. Both of us don't start work punctually, so late handover is never an issue too. So far so good.       

(3) what is the rental u pay to taxi company daily?

My hirer pays the taxi company $104 daily for a Sonata taxi and I pay half of that amount to my hirer plus $1 for car park charge. So, my rental is $53 a day. Different taxi companies charge differently for their taxis. And rental is based on the age and type of model of taxi leased. COMFORT charges $105 for a new Sonata, whereas a 5 years old Toyota Crown cost about $84 daily. SMRT charges $118 for a new Chevolett and $146 for a Chrysler. Because of different rental rates, the flag down price of taxis are differentiated correspondingly.

There are about 8 taxi companies in Singapore and each has different rental and incentives schemes for their drivers. Taxi companies are solely responsible for routine maintenance and repair of taxis and drivers do not have to pay a cent in these two aspects, except in accident cases when the guilty party is the driver. I shall touch on this accident thing later.

4) what are the daily diesel costs?

COMFORT has many diesel refill stations in many parts of Singapore and they charge their cabbies about $1.11 per liter. A typical taxi driver doing about 300 kilometers daily, pays about $30/$35 as diesel cost depending on the fuel efficiency of the taxi.

5) how could one be a cabby? are there courses to take?

Only Singapore citizen can be a cabby (no PR or FT) and it's easy to be a cabby here. Briefly, as long as you can speak simple English, has a valid driving license and above 30 years old, you can apply to LTA for a taxi vocational license. You'll be call up for a simple interview, attend a one month evening theory course, pass a written test and off you go...to earn a living as a cabby with a taxi company. You'll get immediate employment, no questions asked, except you've to pay a deposit of about a thousand dollar with the taxi company as a "contract" hirer or a relief driver with them.

Many taxis companies are desperate to have you as their "partner" in this business and provides attractive incentives to get you on board. I know there are a few individuals who lease about 20 to 30 taxis from the "big boys/personal taxi owners" and sublet them to drivers who drive on an ad-hod basis without a need for deposit or contract. Some drives on weekends only to earn extra cash while others get a license as a backup in case of unemployment. I think in Singapore, we have at least over 100,000 vocational taxi license holders but only about 70% are active taxi drivers.

(6) what happens if cabby does not pay rental?

Simple. A hirer gets sacked if rental is not paid after a short period of time. I don't know after what period of time. But he can easily join another taxi company. There are 7 other "big boy & individual freelancers" to choose from.

(7) do u like customers who pay via NETs or Credit Card? i know some cabbies prefer to "hutang" their rental, so they dislike NETS / Credit Card payment as the fares go into their GIRO account.

Yes, the statement is correct and true. But, I don't mind customers paying me via NETs or credit cards. However, I get irritated when they insist on paying small taxi fare like $5 via these plastic cards or in big bills like $50 or $100. The "hutang" (Malay word for "owe") part is never an issue for me. Usually, when customers pay by cards, I've no choice but to accede their demands or else I had to forgo the fare. A typical taxi driver do not keep more than $150 in loose change for daily transactions.

(8)  do u know of cabbies who overwork?

Most of my buddies are night shift drivers and much younger than me. All of them looks healthy and strong. None looks overworked but I'm sure there are many cabbies who have to "overwork" to service their obligations. A common joke among us is :- "overwork to fatten the doctor's wallet only".

(9)  how do cabbies handle illness or HDB loans?

Cabbies are like shopkeepers who lease their shops from HDB and pay daily rental regardless of whether the shop is open for business or not. Unlike salaried employee, a cabby do not have medical benefits and therefore, have to bear the medical bill themselves and pay the rental even when he is unable to drive due to illness.

As a relief driver, I pay half of my normal rental to my hirer whenever I'm unable to drive for whatever reasons. The amount is $52 divided by 2 i.e. $26. But when my hirer is sick, he can't pay half of the rental to the taxi company. He must pay the full $105. Basically, all taxi drivers are self-employed and have to contribute to MediSave to validate their vocational license yearly.

Cabbies do not have CPF contributions from any source. Therefore, most cabbies pay their HDB loans through GIRO, cash or banks. unless they have monies in their CPF.

(10) how do u handle TP or traffic offences?

From my experience, I do not get any special treatment or sympathy from traffic police or LTA officers when I commit a traffic offence. In fact, the reverse is more prevalence and they are more stringent with taxi drivers. They say that as a "public transport operator", I have to be extra vigilant in term of safety as I'm transporting public commuters.

Sometimes, I do get a waiver or deferment on appeal when the traffic offense is minor like illegal parking for a short period of time without obstruction or forgetting to turn on the headlight immediately after 7pm in the evening. Unfortunately, most of my traffic offenses involves picking/unloading passengers at unauthorized lanes, queuing outside the rank, illegal U-Turn, speeding and beating traffic lights. For committing such serious traffic offences, no matter what valid reasons I give, they are always rejected. Appeals via my MP is a waste of time . So, I paid the fines and boar the brunt.

Recently, I got my license suspended for 3 months for...a) beating the traffic light while turning left at slow speed at the intersection with a speed camera,.....b) speeding twice at about 80kmph at a 60kmph designated road and....c) picking passengers at unauthorized spots. In total, I collected more than 24 demerits points in 20 months and paid a total fine of about $800. Another two more suspension, my license gets revoked. touch wood!

Now, I'm getting tired writing. I've covered about half the questionnaire and shall leave the rest for another post at latter date. Meanwhile, if you've any questions related to the main subject of this post, please send me your comment and I shall try my best to answer them as truthfully and factually as possible. Bye.......

Alternative News Media

It's great to be back on the road again earning my daily bread - the fun way. There are so many things I love about being a taxi driver -- the unpredictability of each shift with different people and the endlessly joy of visiting places that I would never visit on my own in this small island of Singapore. The other beauty of cab-driving : I can start work at any time I want without having to worry about being late for work and getting into my boss's bad record. And I can also stop, eat and sleep whenever and wherever I want and decides how much I want to earn or lose each day. But there are also a few things I hate being a taxi driver, like traffic jams, accidents, some inconsiderate drivers and difficult passengers. And of course, the general low respect for taxi drivers. I suppose other drivers and my passengers loathe me similarly and I, too have no respect for cheapskates.

Now, I had an interesting encounter on the first day of my return to cab driving.

In the early evening hours of last Friday, a Causasian lady of early twenties jumped the queue at Clarke Quay and boarded my cab before I could reached the taxi stand. I was hesitant to accept her as there were many traffic warrants around. I had recently lost quite a bit of money on traffic fines and certainly do not want pick another one so soon. But she had that kind of enchanting look, with a gorgeous body and a sweet voice that made me threw all discretion to the wind.

"Sir, please take me to N.T.U. Thanks for picking me outside the rank". she said sweetly and softly into my ears.

"My pleasure, lady. Nobody ever call me Sir. It's usually "Uncle" for an old man like me" I replied with a cheeky smile and stole a quick glance at her low cut neckline.

"I'm an exchange student from Germany and tonight is my first night out after a month here". she said proudly.

"Wow, but you look fabulous, more like a "Miss Universe" than a student. You're a voluptuous beauty" I mischievously exclaimed with my tongue rubbing along my lips, trying to get her excited and happy.

But she was not responsive or amused and then her mood changed abruptly.

"Pay attention on the road and drive me home quickly" she said brusquely.

I was stunned and searched my soul for what I might have done wrong.  Maybe my mischievous "accolades" had made her thought that I had prurient interest and she became defensive. Dead silence engulfed my cab in the following few minutes.

Then, suddenly "I love Singapore"..that familiar sweet voice came to my ear again.

"Uncle, do you love Singapore?. she asked surprisingly and leaned forward to gave a light tap on my left shoulder.

I gave her a startled stare and replied matter-of-factly. "Yes and No". Anyway, I was in no mood to talk to a psycho.

"Tell me the "No' part, Uncle, please" she implored me like a young girl begging her father to buy the favorite Barbie doll.

"Are you writing a thesis for your doctorate?. I asked in satirical jest.

"No. I'm just an under-graduate studying for political science degree back home". she answered tenderly with a childish smile that melted my heart instantly and I forgot my earlier frustration of her.

Moreover, as the journey would take another half hour or so to complete and it (anti-establishment) was my favorite topic with foreigner, I went on full throttle.

"Miss, get your pen and writing pad ready because I'm going to blast this place with multiple machine guns"  I said jokingly with my waspish tongue.

And she quickly took out a miniature pen-shape recorder from nowhere and said "I'm ready". 

I was pleasantly surprised at her enthusiasm.

This was our short dialogue.

"Uncle, why and what you don't love about Singapore"

"No, I love Singapore, my country but not the government of the day".

"Why not, they have transformed this swampy land into a modern metropolis"

"Yes, you're right. But what about things you can't see with your eyes"

"OK, tell me more"

"No, I can't tell you more because you need to sit down with me at a quiet place and we need a whole day to go through every aspects on this topic seriously"

"Sorry, Uncle. I can't sit with you at a quiet place and......"

"Ok, I suggest you logon to www.singaporedaily.net to get the most comprehensive alternative news media in Singapore. At this website, you'll get a daily dose of mostly nonconformist news that are not reported in the government controlled news media. Well, I think I should concentrate on my driving so that you can reach home safely".

CCTV On Board

For those who have read my earlier update, they would know that I've been forced out of the road for three months because of accumulative traffic offenses. I've been hesitant to post here during my non-driving period, mainly because I've been busy doing part-time bookkeeping jobs to help pay my bills. And honestly, if blogging paid the bills, I'd probably do it a lot more. Anyway, those desk bound jobs of reading figures is boring and didn't pay well. I prefer cab driving. I'm now on the road again with my same partner doing the night shift.

During my three months of absence from the road, many cab related incidents were reported in local newspaper. The three prominent news were..... a cab driver was killed  by a Ferrari driven by a Chinese national, who beat a traffic light at high speed, ......another cab driver was slashed in an unprovoked attack in the early morning hours somewhere in Jurong, ........And another cab driver was beaten unconscious by Korean male passenger who complained about his "lousy" taxi. Of course, many other nasty incidents did happened in the same period that goes unreported. However, these three reported incidents might give the impression that cab driving is a hazardous job in Singapore. But I don't think so. Why? Because at anytime, there are at least 15,000 taxis on the road plying passengers. Most passengers are normal, decent human begins who abide the law. In any society, there will always be some "odd-balls" around but these are droplets in an ocean. So, it's perfectly safe to be a cab driver on Singapore road. However, one must be cautious when driving and be "street-smart" to forestall and avoid unforeseeable incidents. The rest we leave fate to decide our destiny. Honestly, the safest haven is the nearest police car or station for all drivers.

Now, on the subject of cabby safety, I got an email invitation from 938 to do an interview with them recently>

Quote

Hi, James

I am a news feature producer with Mediacorp radio station, 938 Live.  I was just at your blog, cabby65 at blogspot, and am interested in your views.  

I'd like to interview you on whether you feel safe on Singapore roads when you drive your taxi and what further measures could be taken to protect taxi drivers from attacks by passengers.

This is for a weekly 5-minute news feature to be broadcast on 938 Live this Thursday at 5.10pm.  I would like to conduct a face-to-face interview either tomorrow evening (Tue) after 7pm, or on Wednesday before 3pm if possible.  We can arrange to meet and have the interview recorded at a relatively quiet spot - it could be one of your usual taxi driver hangouts.

Unquote:

I didn't respond to the email because I'm publicity shy and I would like to use this opportunity to apologize for my non-reply and perhaps give my view like in a live interview.

"What further measures could be taken to protect taxi drivers from attacks by passenger"

In my view, deterrent is the best form of prevention.

In Singapore, CCTV is omnipresent in many public places like shopping malls, HDB lift landing areas, banks, ATM kiosks, hotels, schools, hospitals, popular roads/lanes etc..... Like it or not, "Big Brother is looking over our shoulders EVERYWHERE". Many households has CCTV at their front door too. Whether these household CCTV cameras are real or fake, most burglars would avoid households that has one displayed. It, therefore, acts as a deterrent. So, the same principle of deterrent can be applied inside a taxi. A bold red sticker reading "CCTV On Board" might deter prospective criminals or aggressors of taxi drivers.

If a real CCTV miniature camera is installed at an inconspicuous spot inside the taxi, the images captured could be relayed through the GPS system to the taxi operator control center but not into taxi drivers' hand. The facial images stored would certainly helps the police in any criminal investigations. To allay commuters fear of invasion of privacy,  the CCTV would runs for only a few seconds, not the entire trip.

The question is whether taxi operator is willing to invest million of dollars to protect taxi drivers. Frankly, they are more concern of their bottom line than anything else. As long as rental are collected, they do not care how the drivers survive or their safety. To save cost, some taxi operators instruct their taxi manufacturers to dispense with and remove the airbags of all taxis, despite the fact that airbags have save thousands of lives since their introduction in early 1980s. Toyota Wish taxis by Transcab do have airbags but not COMFORT, who has the largest fleet of taxis. Perhaps, they might be persuaded to spend a few thousand dollars on cheap "CCTV On Board" stickers with LTA's blessing.

Maybe my readers could help by giving some ideals on what further measures could be taken to protect taxi drivers and passengers. Thank you sincerely..