Taxi drivers' woes?

I refer to the article “Taxi grouping to rev up health drive” (Straits Times, Feb 2).

Rising rental costs?

It states that “Facing rising rental costs and an increased minimum daily mileage, taxi drivers are plying the roads for longer hours.

So it is hardly surprising that the National Taxi Association (NTA) is urging cabbies not to leave their mental and physical health behind.

Holding exercise and sports programmes?

The NTA, a body that champions the interests and well-being of cabbies, plans to hold exercise and sports programmes for them, said its executive adviser, Mr Ang Hin Kee.

The association already organises sport events like badminton – one of its most popular activities – and bowling, but it is now looking at other activities taxi drivers have voiced an interest in, such as table tennis and basketball.

However, the participation rate of drivers in NTA’s sports programmes so far has been lower than hoped for, said Mr Ang.

Only 3% took part?

Singapore has more than 30,000 active cabbies, but last year just over 1,000 took part.”

This means that only about 3% of taxi drivers have taken part in the programmes.

Most drivers spending more than 12 hours a day?

Mr Ang acknowledged that there is still “a long way to go”, citing factors such as long working hours – with most drivers spending more than 12 hours a day on the road

Rental increased 60% last 3 years?

The cabby of 10 years said his daily rental has risen from $102 about three years ago to about $163 now.

Minimum distance standards give drivers even less free time?

Starting from last year, taxi operators had to have 70 per cent of their fleet cover a minimum distance of 250km a day under standards set by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), giving drivers even less free time.

“Sometimes drivers don’t even have time to go to the toilet,” said Mr Tay, 44.

Many suffer health problems?

He added that most of his peers are 50 and older, with many suffering from kidney problems and heart problems, aggravated by long, stressful hours cooped up in their vehicles.

Perhaps the Health Minister should speak to the Transport Minister? 

Mr Tay was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a visit by Health Minister Gan Kim Yong at the taxi stands around Changi Airport’s three terminals early last Friday morning.

About 50 taxi leaders from NTA accompanied Mr Gan as he made his rounds, giving out goodie bags and hongbao containing health-related items to around 1,000 cabbies to thank them for working on the first day of the Chinese New Year.

Mr Gan said the Health Promotion Board is encouraging people from all walks of life to stay healthy.

He said: “We will continue to work with NTA to reach out to more and more drivers to encourage them to have a healthy lifestyle so that they can drive (the) taxi for many years and earn a good income to support the family.”

Root causes of health problems?

So, the root cause of taxi drivers’ health problems may be that rentals have risen by about 60% in the last 3 years, according to the taxi driver quoted in the article.

And why is the taxi rental so high in Singapore? Is it because we are the only country in the world that requires taxis, being a form of public transport to pay COE?

And why are taxi drivers’ costs so high? Is it because we are the only country in the world that requires taxi drivers to pay ERP? Is it also due to our diesel price being amongst the highest in the world due to taxes?

$412.3m profits?

And of course, ComfortDelgro’s operating profit for the year ended 31 December 2012 increased to $412.3 million.

NTA’s role?

Shouldn’t the NTA be lobbying for a review of the above?

A taxi driver’s perspective?

I asked my good friend Eric, who is a taxi driver for many years and his reply to me was so good, that I would like to share it with you: