“Passengers should get a sense of security whether they step into a licensed taxi or a Grab or Go-Jek vehicle,” said Song Seng Wun, an economist at CIMB Private Banking in Singapore. “Having heard so many horrendous stories about incidents, safety is the most important thing. So this is a timely move.”
The new framework comes more than five years after ride-hailing apps such as Grab gained popularity in Singapore. The new rules also include barring exclusivity arrangements for all ride-hailing firms that prevent their drivers from working for other operators.
As of Nov 1, there were 37,000 private-hire car driver license holders in Singapore. The city used to require 60 hours of training for taxi drivers to earn a vocational license. That’s now 25, compared with a 10-hour course required for private-hire car drivers.
