I have a dislike for taxi drivers that borders on irrational hate. Everytime I get into a cab, I feel that I’m about to be cheated. Maybe there is something in my body language or the tone of my voice that betrays that belief which affects the whole dynamics of my interaction with the taxi driver which leads me to actually being ‘cheated’ - having a lousy trip and paying more for a trip.
Now, wait a minute. I can’t possibly always be ‘cheated’. If not, what basis do I have to know a trip is lousy or I have paid more for a trip. So, I confess, I have had good taxi rides, but they are the exceptions. Now, back to my rant.
What do I consider a good trip? Simple - when I get into the cab, the meter hasn’t already been started. You ask me where I’m going, I tell you the destination. Once we have decided you can take me to the location, you start the meter. You take me to the destination as quickly as possible and preferably as cheaply as possible.
I think it is alright for a driver to ask the passenger which route should be taken. Some passengers ( like me ) prefer certain routes over others. What I think is unacceptable is a taxi driver saying they don’t know how to get to a certain place and asking for the passenger to give directions.
Let me qualify myself. I do not expect the taxi driver to know of every single location in Singapore. That would be unreasonable. What, I do expect is a taxi driver having a street directory with them and using it to check on the general location of a destination. I think it is perfectly acceptable to ask for specific directions once you hit the general location but to not bother to find out for yourself where a destination might be is totally unprofessional.
Which job allows you to do that? Actually, let’s throw this to the floor, what is the service a taxi driver is providing? Is it just to drive a car or is it to get you from point A to point B? There is a difference between the two options. If your job is to just drive a car, then I think it is perfectly ok to assume and maybe treat you as a dumb tool that will just take instructions and process it. If your job is to provide the latter service, than would it be too much to expect you to be resourceful enough to find out how to get me from point A to point B.
Now, I admit I might seem unreasonable expecting so much from taxi drivers but I dislike how the drivers use not knowing how to get to a certain place as an excuse to take me on a meandering journey just to increase the meter fare.
The thing is, the drivers aren’t really to blame. It is the system which rewards them monetarily based on time and distance.
They aren’t the only ones who try to ‘cheat’ to get better value for their ‘time’. You probably know of a co-worker who takes slightly longer coffee breaks, goes to the toilet more frequently and alt-tabs a little bit too much.
In a way, we are all cheaters. Or rather rational economic agents just maximizing our gains and utility.
Is the system broken? Maybe. Maybe not. We only actually care when it’s us getting into the cab.
Daily SG: 9 Apr 2008 « The Singapore Daily | 09-Apr-08 at 12:05 pm | Permalink
[...] Transport Reforms Announced - Ian On The Red Dot: Why I Dislike Taxi Drivers [...]
Annonymous | 09-Apr-08 at 8:28 pm | Permalink
I agree entirely that taxi drivers should know their way around. In fact, most companies do try to ensure this by providing them with a GPS system, you know the on board screen is actually has a map which can help the taxi driver locate the place you want to go to. Yet according to some of the cabbies i’ve taken, the problem with this GPS system is that it’s slow, hard to use, and for most cabbies, outdated. Apparently these taxi companies do not have a policy of ensuring that the GPS system is more than just a white elephant. But back to the other point about how the system is flawed. If you think of it carefully, the $2.80 flag down fee is quite substantial actually, add on to that peak hour bonuses, i’m not sure how that adds up, but i’m pretty sure a cabby has no incentive to take you for a ride.
iantimothy | 09-Apr-08 at 8:50 pm | Permalink
The point about the flag down fee is a good one. I was thinking about that too and I realized that maybe regardless of how much the flag down fee is, taxi drivers with arguably short-term thinking might still take passengers for a ride because they might never know when they will get the next passenger, so might as well squeeze as much as you can from the existing one.
SGDaily Roundup: Week 15 « The Singapore Daily | 12-Apr-08 at 12:17 pm | Permalink
[...] Shut Up and Accept? - Sheep City: The Best Passenger Experience in the World - Ian On The Red Dot: Why I Dislike Taxi Drivers - Darth Grievous’ Dark Domain 鸟话连篇: An April Fool’s Joke - One Week Late - Ian On The [...]
Yuuka | 14-Apr-08 at 1:21 am | Permalink
I find that the only time some taxi drivers use a more leisurely route is when you seem as though you don`t know how to get to where you`re wanting to go or when you`re asking to be taken to a destination quite close to where you flagged the cab (say somewhere in Tampines, to another place in Tampines). Firm direction usually solves this.
As for their job scope, I generally see cabs as a mode of transport to take when I`m not sure how to get to a place by bus or MRT (or when I`m late/car-less) so I do expect them to know how to get somewhere without my input. I`m sure they find backseat drivers annoying.
That said, I usually pay attention to the roads they take and suggest quicker routes because I can`t let them take all the blame if I don`t even try to prevent myself from being cheated.
Trains will always be my favourite mode of public transportation! PS. Love reading your posts. They often make me really think!
iantimothy | 14-Apr-08 at 8:50 am | Permalink
Hello Yuuka. Thanks for the comment. Hope the posts make you think good and happy thoughts.
I love trains too. I remember when the MRT was first started, my dad took me on a joyride just to experience what taking it was like. Good times.
CamryLimo | 09-May-08 at 2:16 am | Permalink
Quote & unquote “You take me to the destination as quickly as possible and preferably as cheaply as possible.” -> My advice or rather suggestion is for you to STOP taking taxi and move your butt to a cheaply mode of transport. Not just me but many taxi drivers will tell you that we HATE this kind of passenger to begin with, I rather skip YOU then to bring you to your destination - Not a shit worth!
iantimothy | 09-May-08 at 10:03 am | Permalink
Hello CamryLimo…so what’s the alternative? what are the kind of passengers you like? The kind that appreciates being taken round and round, across the longest route possible, so that every possible dollar and cent can be squeezed out of us?
I’m so happy that we as customers and passengers exist for you to take advantage of. My life now has meaning.
Notice, I didn’t say I wanted cheap rides. I appreciate that a premium should be paid for a taxi ride and if I don’t want to pay that premium, I am more than happy to take public transport which I do most of the time.
The key is this. If a trip can be made at a certain cost, would I want to pay more? It is about value for money compared to other taxi trips.
CamryLimo | 09-Sep-08 at 12:35 am | Permalink
Yes that’s correct. Listen to your Singapore Government’s advice and take their billion dollar public transport system. Taxis are not meant for cheapskate passengers. I rather go for quality trip rather than quantity trips.
iantimothy | 09-Sep-08 at 9:01 am | Permalink
@CamryLimo - so totally missing the point. Read the post carefully and don’t get so easily offended. However I do apologize - the title is somewhat misleading despite my grievances against taxi drivers expressed in the post. And I also failed to give enough credence to the fact that I’ve probably had a significant number of pleasant cab trips.
Finally, do you like value for your hard-earned money? I do.