Views of a taxi driver in the city

TS,Friday March 26, 2010

By April 1, taxi drivers will be required to display a list of do’s and don’ts and issue receipts
to all passengers.

The list is printed on an A4-size cardboard with one side in Malay and the other side in English.

As a taxi driver, I dutifully did as told by my taxi company to have the cardboard laminated and
hung behind the front passenger seat.

But the cardboard has been swinging like a pendulum each time it is knocked by a passenger
entering my taxi via the rear left door or whenever I take a bend.

Drivers who fasten the cardboard to the seat would be wiser to display the side in Malay as
the English version is badly translated.

For example, the text reads: “Lodge you complaints of any taxi and driver contravenes rules below”
should have been “Lodge your complaints if ...”

It is true that very few passengers need receipts for the fare and those who do are happy with
a written receipt, especially if a higher amount is stated than paid.

Compelling taxi drivers to issue a receipt every time will not work, as most passengers will not
bother to pick up the receipt.

However, it is the most effective method to rein in errant taxi drivers as the information printed
on the receipt is the best evidence in lodging a complaint.

Passengers who feel that a longer route was taken or the meter was running very much faster
than usual should ask for a receipt.

Taxi drivers should be allowed to charge an extra 50 sen as it takes time and cost to print out a receipt.

YS Chan

Kuala Lumpur