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Third party taxi booking apps to be regulated by LTA

21 Nov 2014|1,854 views

The Land Transport Authority has announced that it will introduce a regulatory framework for taxi booking apps to safeguard commuter safety and interests.

Third party taxi booking services like GrabTaxi and Uber will soon be regulated by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), reported The Straits Times.

Third party booking service operators can provide commuters with the option to set their user preferences to automatically reject certain types of taxis, or taxis with certain fare rates and surcharges

Under the framework, which is expected to take effect in the second quarter of next year, third party booking services will have to comply with five conditions:

1. Registering with the LTA. Successful applicants will be granted a certificate, which is valid for three years.

2. Dispatching only licensed taxis and drivers who have valid taxi vocational licenses. This is to ensure that commuters are served by taxis and taxi drivers who are operating legally in Singapore.

3. Making clear all fare rates, surcharges, and fees payable with commuters upfront. These include the flag-down fare, distance and time rates and booking fees, as well as peak period and location surcharges. In addition, booking fees cannot exceed those charged by taxi companies.

4. Not making it a requirement for consumers to specify their destinations before they can make bookings.

5. Providing basic customer support services, including lost-and-found services and avenues for feedback or complaints.

Third party taxi booking services like GrabTaxi and Uber will soon be regulated by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), reported The Straits Times.

Under the framework, which is expected to take effect in the second quarter of next year, third party booking services will have to comply with five conditions:

1. Registering with the LTA. Successful applicants will be granted a certificate, which is valid for three years.

2. Dispatching only licensed taxis and drivers who have valid taxi vocational licenses. This is to ensure that commuters are served by taxis and taxi drivers who are operating legally in Singapore.

3. Making clear all fare rates, surcharges, and fees payable with commuters upfront. These include the flag-down fare, distance and time rates and booking fees, as well as peak period and location surcharges. In addition, booking fees cannot exceed those charged by taxi companies.

4. Not making it a requirement for consumers to specify their destinations before they can make bookings.

5. Providing basic customer support services, including lost-and-found services and avenues for feedback or complaints.