SMRT, other cab firms fined for failing to meet taxi availability standards

Only ComfortDelGro consistently followed rules.

The Land Transport Authority has slapped three taxi operators--SMRT, Premier and Prime--for being unable to follow taxi availability standards for two consecutive months.

All three companies failed to meet minimum daily mileage requirements. The LTA requires taxi companies to ensure that 85% and 75% of their fleet clock a daily mileage of 250km on weekdays and weekends respectively.

SMRT was able to meet standards for percentage of taxis on the roads during peak periods, which both Premier and Prime failed to meet.

Due to these violations, the three companies will have to shoulder financial penalties and will also be unable to expand their fleet in 2016.

In contrast, ComfortDelGro consistently passed both the standards for minimum daily mileage and taxi fleet availability during peak and shoulder peak period.