60 taxis accidents a day - insurer cant tahan opt out

[Iisterry]

60 accidents a day involving taxis

Insurance premiums for taxis have also soared in last few years

By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent

 

TAXI drivers are either the most dangerous or hard-luck drivers on the road. They are behind the wheel of 3 per cent of Singapore's vehicle population but are involved in 14 per cent of the accidents.

 

Things seem to be getting worse, with taxi companies seeing their premiums soar over the last few years, and one insurer which used to focus on cab insurance dropping out altogether.

 

Between 2007 and last year, there were about 22,000 accidents each year involving taxis, or an average of 60 a day. It also works out to nearly one accident for every cab on the road.

 

On average, there were 162,000 motor accidents a year over the same period, or one in every six vehicles.

 

Taxi insurers were not available to comment, but a senior executive at leading motor insurer Chartis said: 'We do see a rising trend from accidents involving taxis.'

 

According to the Land Transport Authority, taxis make up less than 3 per cent of the total vehicle population of 933,000.

 

The accident situation is not unique to Singapore. A 2008 state study in Connecticut found that the taxi accident rate there was more than quadruple that of the passenger vehicle rate.

 

Some note that taxi drivers have far greater odds of getting into collisions given the long hours they spend on the roads.

 

And the situation may be worsening.

 

ComfortDelGro, the largest player with around 15,500 cabs, has seen its insurance expenses rising by millions over the last few years.

 

Last year, its taxi premiums totalled $71 million - $5 million more than in 2008, and more than double its 2004 bill of $32.4 million. In the meantime, its fleet size has hardly changed.

 

The smaller players are seeing it too. Smart Taxis managing director Johnny Harjantho said the trend of rising premiums is 'worrying'.

 

Owner-operators seem to be hit the hardest. One of them, 62-year-old Goh Seow Chai, has been a cabby for 40 years. 'Just three years ago, third-party coverage cost as little as $1,500,' he said. 'Now, it's around $4,000 - if you have been accident-free. If you had accidents, it can be as much as $10,000 to $13,000.

 

'I know drivers who had to borrow from relatives. They have no choice, they need to drive to make a living.'

 

Third-party injury liability cover is mandatory for road users in Singapore.

 

On average, motor premiums for other vehicles have risen by a less drastic 30 per cent since 2004.

 

Some observers point to an explosion in the number of taxis as having created a situation of supply outstripping demand.

 

Since the market was liberalised in 2003, the taxi population has soared by 30 per cent to around 25,000 now.

 

Taxi ridership, on the other hand, has grown by a more modest 9 per cent.

 

Until a recent fare increase bolstered their take-home pay, cabbies were clocking longer hours and literally racing one another for fares, observers said.

 

'Some drivers tend to be reckless, and stop or swerve suddenly to pick up fares,' said General Insurance Association (GIA) president Derek Teo. 'I have personally encountered this.'

 

So have other motorists. In January, lawyer Ye Su Jin, 37, was driving on the Pan-Island Expressway to work one morning when a cab 'cut into my lane, almost hitting me'.

 

Then he 'jammed (on the) brakes suddenly'; and Ms Ye's car rear-ended the cab.

 

After the incident, she did some checks and found that the cabby had been involved in five accidents in the past two years.

 

In April, her insurer received a letter from a law firm acting for the cabby claiming for more than $8,000 in damages, including medical expenses. The case is pending.

 

Company director Guo Yanhuai, 46, recalled making a turn at a yellow box junction some time in 2006, when a taxi collided with his car at fairly high speed.

 

Last year, the cabby sued, and Mr Guo's insurer paid out nearly $35,000. It paid another $11,000 for Mr Guo's damages.

 

Mr Guo's car insurance premium has not soared, a sign that the insurer did not deem him to be more than 20 per cent at fault.

 

Mr Teo of the GIA said cabbies could actually be competent drivers given their vast experience on the road. 'It all boils down to education to inculcate good driving habits and road safety, plus practising road courtesy and consideration for other road users,' he said.

 

[email protected]

[SimonTan]

Far=king taxi drivers again.

 

They are the real hazard.

[Beehive3783]

Erm, I don't see any part of the article saying insurers are opting out of the taxi business?

[Iisterry]

Erm, I don't see any part of the article saying insurers are opting out of the taxi business?

 

2nd line.

 

Its like motorcycles, only 2 insurer does it as far as I know.

[JE3722]

So many stories of cabbies driving around like they own the roads....

Jam break, trying to make others kiss their ass.

 

If I am not wrong, they get somekind of allowance from insurance when they are out of action due to accident (rem I read it somehwere.. cant confirm)

 

The cabbby Ms Ye mentioned, 5 accidents in 2 years... ask for compensations etc

 

I can't help but wonder if some of the rouge cabbies are using this tactic to "supplement" income..........

[Bluepica]

First, it was all the bad experience with cabbies gathered from all drivers here.

Now, the statistics are here to backup the claim that most (but not all) cabbies are "road terrorist". :angry:

 

but despite of these, why aren't the authorities taking any firm actions against them? Out on the road to 害人害己 :angry:

 

Just last Friday night, while I was driving from Marine Parade road towards Amber road, taking the roundabout in front on the The Silversea, I was at the outer most lane cos I intended to turn into Amber Rd (towards Haig Road). When almost reaching Amber Rd turn out, this freaking CityCab suddenly from my right side (inner lane) cut into my lane in front and straight away turn into the other side of Amber Road towards Chinese Swimming club. Thank God I wasn't driving very fast at that moment. I was freaked out and keep my palm on the horn for more than 10sec! The passenger in the cab still dare to look back at me. Freaks! :angry:

[Mrlau]

They are behind the wheel of 3 per cent of Singapore's vehicle population but are involved in 14 per cent of the accidents.

 

Come on lah, what aim at Taxi ?

 

Who contribute to the 86% of the accidents ?

[Beehive3783]

2nd line.

 

Its like motorcycles, only 2 insurer does it as far as I know.

Oh. missed it. my bad

[Kangadrool]

Hint that taxi companies want to increase the hire charge to taxi drivers again citing increase in COE premium + insurance premium + ....... = increase in fare again.

Edited May 14, 2010 by Kangadrool

[Joseph22]

Flaw Statistic? Taxi driver are on the road most of the time, they might be 3% of the population, but the milege a month is easily at least 1/2 year of driving for normal singaporean. so in 1 year they might have already driven what a normal driver will had driven for 5~6 years. Cope with long driving hours, what so surprise about Cabbies having the most accident rate?

[Watwheels]

The flaw is that it's the taxi company who pays the insurance premiums for their fleet of cabs. Most taxi drivers just rent the cab, paying a fraction of the insurance of whatever is included in the so called rental charges. When they get involved in accidents, do they get penalised? I doubt that they are even affected.

[Leggt]

Basically, what is lacking here is an independent body that can regulate the service rendered by various taxi hirers.

A governing body that can exercise strict control over the performance of individual cab driver.

Not only will this improve the image of a cab driver, citing that their profession is recognised. But also improve the city's impression to tourists.

 

Just like the recent cartel which was set up to look after the property profession in Singapore.

Edited May 14, 2010 by Leggt

[Seaweed]

it is a social problem...if the taxi driver no need to snatch customer...no need rush to pickup customer...etc etc...I don't think this kind of problem will occured...fix the society and you will love your taxi driver... tough but true...

[Joseph22]

The flaw is that it's the taxi company who pays the insurance premiums for their fleet of cabs. Most taxi drivers just rent the cab, paying a fraction of the insurance of whatever is included in the so called rental charges. When they get involved in accidents, do they get penalised? I doubt that they are even affected.

 

Every accident that is not at least able to claimed 80%, Taxi driver have to pay S$1500.00 per accident.

meaning even if the other party is at fault but only 50%, taxi driver have to pay at least S$1500.00 per accident.

Edited May 14, 2010 by Joseph22

[Introz]

wat to do

taxis cars are 24/7 driving with driver changing

[Ryanyusoff]

so obvious cabbies have made the insurance companies stand up.why don't LTA/TP do something about it?so easy to track speed and driving pattern by their on-board locator..

[Gearoil]

The moral path of truth always says...if the ones at fault don't change and be better, it could only get worse for them all.

 

Take it that this is a collective behaviour of one type of occupation.

 

Given a few are well behaving, it will not stem well as more are misbehaving and not walking the right path in life.

 

This include their bosses who run the shows.

 

So the entire group suffers.

 

Accident is not a predetermine thing but if one sets up oneself in such a way as to tempt accidents, then accidents will surely find you.

[Rickster]

Actually, i think the numbers is very low.

 

There is no doubt that according to percentage, they 4.67 times more likely to be involved in an accident compared to a private car.

 

However, if we were to pivot the data into how often accidents per KM, private cars are actually more prone to accidents than taxis.

 

This is based on the assumption that a taxi on average, clocks more then 4.67 times the mileage of a private car.