Watch out for Taxis When Driving in the CBD

Here're some interesting statistics from LTA based on data collected from 2005 to 2007 as reported in the Article "Hear the views, then set the rules" by Yeo Ghim Lay on the Sunday Times, March 30:

1 in 3 accidents in the CBD involves a taxi (versus 1 in 5 island-wide)

70% of accidents involving a taxi in the CBD is caused by the taxi-driver

53 in 10,000 registered taxis had an accident in the CBD (versus 4.6 in 10,000 registered vehicles)

While the LTA tries to implement rules to improve the safety for road users (see my earlier post), other motorists should exercise caution and defensive driving when they are in the CBD and when they are close to taxis.

COE Prediction - April 2008 1st Bidding Exercise

Continuing the strong demand for new cars, both Category A and Category B COE quota premium is expected to increase in tandem. I was hesitant to predict Category B COE quota breaking the $20,000 mark but it may be here sooner with all the dealers trying hard to grow their businesses and the buyers believing the sales pitch - buy now or pay more. And with a 3-week elapse from the last bidding exercise, dealers will accumulate many more orders so an upward movement is expected.

Prediction on March 30:
Category A: $16,000-17,000
Category B: $19,000-20,000

Verdict on April 9:
Category A: $16,930
Category B: $19,501

Taxi Stops

LTA finally backed down on the rule implemented on March 1st to "increase safety for all road users" aka taxi only stops at the taxi stands. The change from March 17th allows taxi to pick up and drop off passengers on side roads that are not served by public buses in the Central Business District. This finally came after two and a half weeks of complaints showered from taxi-drivers, passengers and businesses in the city.

Should the public be consulted about such policies? Would the policy makers understand the impact of the policy? Is a simulation of the policy implementation done? I wonder if our policy-makers have actually gone around the city to observe taxi stands and streets with many restaurants to observe and ask members of the public what they would think of the new policies.

Another thought in my mind is that our rules state the allowed activities in the sandbox versus where are the out-of-bound markers. A well-known example is our "No U-Turn Syndrome". It may be a result of our education of mostly being taught what can be done rather than "just do not break the laws". Make a guess on how many of us would take big risks?

So why is the title of the post Taxi Stops? That is because public buses can only stop at Bus Stops. Thus, I had expected that the announcement of the March 1st rule should have included the renaming of Taxi Stands to Taxi Stops.

COE Prediction - March 2008 2nd Bidding Exercise

It felt kind of strange that the COE quota premium trend is going against the stock market. However, our economy did very well last year and many motorists have received good bonus and as usual, are itchy to change their rides. Afterall, Singapore has the youngest average age of vehicles on the road. The herd instinct is very common here - now that everyone is aware of fewer COE being released this year, most will believe the sales pitch to buy now before COE quota premium raise further. And lo and behold, COE quota premium keeps increasing...

I predict that Category A COE quota premium will increase much more than Category B's.

Prediction on March 17:
Category A: $15,000-16,000
Category B: $17,000-18,000

Verdict on March 19:
Category A: $15,389
Category B: $19,001

COE Prediction - March 2008 1st Bidding Exercise

Since ARF is reduced effective from this month, we should expect a corresponding fall in the selling price. However, dealers would have to consider the increase in demand which will push up the COE quota premium. The recent government budget has also given cash back to the residents and thus, buyers may be a little more generous in spending on a new ride.

Prediction on March 2:
Category A: $13,000-14,000
Category B: $16,000-17,000

Verdict on March 5:
Category A: $14,351
Category B: $18,000