Revise taxi fares to benefit all

TS,Saturday 20 October, 2007

It is well known that bad taxi drivers don’t use meters. But ever wondered why good taxi drivers
sometimes also don’t use the meter?

I have come across business travellers who insist that the meter be used to the airport but
will not pay for the toll and surcharges (RM12 to KLIA, plus RM2 for luggage in the boot).

The practical step is to do away with all surcharges including the additional 50% from midnight to 6am.
This surcharge often results in argument when passengers are dropped off a few minutes after midnight
or picked up just before 6am.

The current meter fare for Budget taxis in the Klang Valley starts at RM2. The first kilometre or two
minutes, being free, induces many drivers to switch on the meter before passengers board the taxi.
This will not be necessary if the meter registers an increase of 10 sen from the first 100m or 30
seconds onwards.

I propose that the starting fare be increased from the current RM2 to RM3; 10 sen for every 100m
(RM1 per km) instead of 150m (66 sen per km); 10 sen for every 30 seconds (RM12 per hour)
instead of every 45 seconds (RM8 per hour).

The proposed increase for the starting fare, distance and time is a consistent 50% to compensate
for the removal of all surcharges. Drivers can continue to collect toll charges paid and call taxi service.

The rates for Premier taxis should be increased from RM3 to RM4.50 for the starting fare;
from RM1 to RM1.50 per km and from RM16 to RM24 per hour.

The rates for Executive taxis should remain at RM6 for the starting fare, RM2 per km and RM36
per hour. This will streamline the rates for all metered taxis in the Klang Valley.

Taxi drivers should realise that high fares do not necessarily translate into high income.

A huge increase in fares (up to 600% as demanded by some taxi associations) will attract more
people to drive taxis and taxi companies are sure to benefit.

But there will be many empty taxis on the road, as drivers will find that high fares will
result in fewer passengers and more competition.

Taxi drivers will be back to square one with this double whammy.

Sensible and reasonable taxi fares will benefit and encourage good drivers.

YS Chan

Kuala Lumpur

PS.       The fare was increased from August 2009 (about 2 years later)

·                    Starting fare from RM2 to RM3 with first kilometre or 3 minutes free

·                    Distance travelled from 10 sen for every 150 metres (66 sen per km) to every 115

metres (87 sen per km) – a 32% increase (I proposed 50%)

·                    Time clocked from 10 sen for every 45 seconds (RM8 per hour) to every 21

 seconds (RM17.14 per hour) – a whopping 114% increase (I proposed 50%)

·                    Surcharges for luggage in boot and 3 or 4 passengers were removed

·                    Meters are now programmed to automatically clock midnight surcharge