Parts of Singapore's taxi fare structure to be standardised from H2 '15

SOME parts of the taxi fare structure will be standardised from the second half of this year to prevent taxi fares from becoming even more complex in the future.

Today's taxi fare structure consists of four main components - the flag-down fare, unit fares, surcharges, and booking fees.

Other than the first component - the flag-down fare - the Public Transport Council (PTC) will require taxi companies to standardise the rest, that is, the unit fares, surcharges, booking fees and additional passenger fees.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the PTC will not mandate the harmonisation of the flag-down fare because it may lead to higher flag-down fares for commuters. Flag-down fares range from S$3.20 to S$3.90 for standard taxis, and S$3.50 to S$5.00 for premium taxis.

Taxi companies had told the LTA and PTC that if they were required to harmonise flag-down fares, they would do so by levelling them upwards, partly to be fair to taxi drivers who currently charge higher flag-down fares.

Taxi drivers themselves also preferred flag-down fares to be levelled up.