1.  Since the introduction of the Taxi Availability (TA) framework on 1 January 2013, more taxis have been plying the roads and more have been hired by commuters. The percentage of taxis on the roads during peak hours increased from 82% in 2012 to 91% for the first nine months of 2015. This means that about 2,000 more taxis are available for hire by commuters during peak hours. Over the same period, the percentage of taxis plying at least 250km daily has also increased, from 75% to 81%. The daily taxi utilisation rate, or the proportion of total taxi mileage under hire, has likewise increased, from about 65% in 2013 to 66% in the first nine months of 2015. This is a slight dip from 68% in 2014, but overall, indicates that there has generally been less empty cruising than before. The proportion of taxis on a two-shift system has increased significantly, from 53% in 2012 to 68% in the first nine months of 2015. In short, the statistics show that more taxis are plying the roads to serve commuters, and the taxis are being more efficiently utilised.

Table 1: More Taxis Serving Commuters

Performance of Taxi Companies in 2015

Percentage of taxis on the roads during peak periods

2.  Taxi companies are required to have 60% of their fleet on the roads during the two shoulder peak periods – 6am to 7am & 11pm to 12 midnight – and 85% of their fleet should be on the roads during the morning peak periods (7am to 11am) and evening peak periods (5pm to 11pm). In the first nine months of 2015, Comfort, CityCab and SMRT consistently met these standards. Trans-Cab consistently met the standards during the shoulder peak periods and most of the peak periods, except for 7am to 8am and 10pm to 11pm in January 2015. Premier met the standards except during  the peak periods between April and September 2015. Prime only met the standards during the shoulder peak periods between April and September 2015.

Percentage of taxis with minimum daily mileage of 250km

3.  Taxi companies are also required to meet minimum daily mileage requirements. They must ensure that 85% and 75% of their fleet clock a daily mileage of 250km on weekdays and weekends respectively.

4.  Comfort consistently met the standards for the first nine months of 2015. CityCab did not meet the standards in February 2015 while Trans-Cab did not meet the standards in January and February 2015.  SMRT, Premier and Prime did not meet the standards.

Taxi fleet growth

5.  Taxi companies are required to pass both the standards for minimum daily mileage and taxi fleet availability during peak and shoulder peak periods for at least four months in every half-yearly period, to be eligible to expand their fleet in the corresponding six-month period the following year. Based on the TA performance of the taxi companies from January to June 2015, Comfort, CityCab and Trans-Cab are eligible to expand their fleet, capped at 2% per annum, in the first half of 2016.

Financial penalties

6.  Taxi companies that are unable to meet the TA standards for two consecutive months for the same indicator will be fined. The 2014 standards, instead of the 2015 standards, are currently being used to assess financial penalties payable in 2015. This is to allow taxi companies more time to adjust to the higher 2015 standards. SMRT, Premier and Prime are the only companies that have been fined so far in 2015.

TA Standards to Remain For Now

7.  In view of the ongoing consultation with stakeholders on the appropriate regulatory approach to take for the private hire car industry, SMS Ng Chee Meng has asked that there be no change to the current TA standards for now, which will continue to apply from 1 January 2016 onwards. Likewise, LTA will continue to apply the 2014 standards to assess financial penalties in 2016, instead of using the 2015 standards.

8.  LTA encourages taxi companies liable for financial penalties to put in place incentives and work with their drivers to meet the TA standards.  We are pleased to note that a few taxi companies have offered incentives for hirers to find relief drivers.


Annex A: Taxi Availability Standards
Annex B: Taxi Availability Results (January – September 2015)
Annex C: Further Measures to Improve Taxi Availability and Assist Taxi Drivers