Air bags are not mandatory for now (TAXI)
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From iTODAY:Air bags are not mandatory for now
Sumita Sreedharan | 15 Aug, 2012 6:00 AM
Taxi companies will nevertheless be encouraged to consider optional safety features in new cabs: Minister
SINGAPORE - Taxi companies will be encouraged to consider vehicle models with optional safety features such as air bags when they register new taxis.
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said this in a written reply on Monday to a question by Ang Mo Kio GRC Member of Parliament Ang Hin Kee.
For the time being, however, air bags will not be a mandatory safety feature for new taxis, as Mr Lui noted the "significant technical and cost hurdles" in retrofitting taxis with air bags.
Mr Ang had tabled a parliamentary question on whether the Land Transport Authority (LTA) would consider making it mandatory for all taxi operators to equip their new taxis with air bags.
Mr Ang also asked if the authority is "assessing whether similar additions can be made for existing fleets".
In his response, Mr Lui reiterated that, while seat belts are mandatory for all motor vehicles - including taxis - that are registered for use here, air bags are not, because they "serve only to supplement seat belts in enhancing the safety of vehicle occupants in the event of a collision".
He added: "If seat belts are used properly, the injury risks would have already been greatly reduced. There are also significant technical and cost hurdles in retrofitting existing vehicles, including taxis, with air bags."
The issue of airbags in taxis surfaced in May after a high-profile accident on Rochor Road involving a Ferrari and a taxi.
Following a report by TODAY about how many taxis here are not equipped with air bags - despite the fact that taxi drivers spend most part of a day in their vehicles - several parties, including the Automobile Association of Singapore, called for the authorities to do more by possibly mandating seat belts and air bags as standard requirements in all vehicles.
When contacted, Mr Ang, who is also an adviser for the National Taxi Association (NTA), said that the LTA has given him the reassurance that "seat belts are more critical".
The authority also told him that studies have shown that seat belts are an adequate safety measure.
"The NTA feels that, since we have been given this reassurance, we will not be pursuing the matter further," said Mr Ang.
Expressing his personal view, Public Transport Council Chairman Gerard Ee told TODAY: "They have a point that seat belts are adequate protection but I would like to see air bags for the drivers ... as they spend so much time in their vehicles", while "passengers are there only for short distances and seat belts should be adequate"
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Originally posted by Guess?:
From iTODAY:Air bags are not mandatory for now
Sumita Sreedharan | 15 Aug, 2012 6:00 AM
Taxi companies will nevertheless be encouraged to consider optional safety features in new cabs: Minister
SINGAPORE - Taxi companies will be encouraged to consider vehicle models with optional safety features such as air bags when they register new taxis.
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew said this in a written reply on Monday to a question by Ang Mo Kio GRC Member of Parliament Ang Hin Kee.
For the time being, however, air bags will not be a mandatory safety feature for new taxis, as Mr Lui noted the "significant technical and cost hurdles" in retrofitting taxis with air bags.
Mr Ang had tabled a parliamentary question on whether the Land Transport Authority (LTA) would consider making it mandatory for all taxi operators to equip their new taxis with air bags.
Mr Ang also asked if the authority is "assessing whether similar additions can be made for existing fleets".
In his response, Mr Lui reiterated that, while seat belts are mandatory for all motor vehicles - including taxis - that are registered for use here, air bags are not, because they "serve only to supplement seat belts in enhancing the safety of vehicle occupants in the event of a collision".
He added: "If seat belts are used properly, the injury risks would have already been greatly reduced. There are also significant technical and cost hurdles in retrofitting existing vehicles, including taxis, with air bags."
The issue of airbags in taxis surfaced in May after a high-profile accident on Rochor Road involving a Ferrari and a taxi.
Following a report by TODAY about how many taxis here are not equipped with air bags - despite the fact that taxi drivers spend most part of a day in their vehicles - several parties, including the Automobile Association of Singapore, called for the authorities to do more by possibly mandating seat belts and air bags as standard requirements in all vehicles.
When contacted, Mr Ang, who is also an adviser for the National Taxi Association (NTA), said that the LTA has given him the reassurance that "seat belts are more critical".
The authority also told him that studies have shown that seat belts are an adequate safety measure.
"The NTA feels that, since we have been given this reassurance, we will not be pursuing the matter further," said Mr Ang.
Expressing his personal view, Public Transport Council Chairman Gerard Ee told TODAY: "They have a point that seat belts are adequate protection but I would like to see air bags for the drivers ... as they spend so much time in their vehicles", while "passengers are there only for short distances and seat belts should be adequate"
So seat beat is mandatory, air bags not, now our ministry so chin chay liao, so dun bother NTA commends too as they only the doog of the LTA. AAS insisted also listen to deaf eyes. Despite taxi drivers spend most part of a day in their vehicle, higher risk in safety measures, NTA can still follows to keep quiet.
Lets look at the news here, is taxi company like CDG also ignore the seriousness of taxi accidents and their drivers welfares? Just yesterday,
ComfortDelGro posts Q2 net profit of S$65m
http://sgforums.com/forums/3426/topics/457095
So god bless us, drivers safety.
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Ask the minister take out his air bag on his car then come and talk....
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When pple talk about air bag, he talks about seat belt is mandatory, is he a scholar?
If you find that it is tedious and costly to install on existing fleets of taxis, then you should fit in on new cabs and as time goes by, slowly all cabs in near future would had airbags. It is not a matter of mandatory or not mandatory, it is a matter of cultivating a safety society base on justic and equality?
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asked the ministers CDG S$65m profit for 2nd quarter bluff one ?
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know how to make money nia ...... never think safety for those people who make money for them phui ....
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but when TransCab has got a safe , good green taxi on the road , they implement cng levy to kill them off the road.
SMLJ PAP ?
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Originally posted by Poolman:
but when TransCab has got a safe , good green taxi on the road , they implement cng levy to kill them off the road.
SMLJ PAP ?
Ya implement after the GE...very very KNN one....
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That minister must had invested in some casket and funneral companies, no wonder said air bags is not mandatory.
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- Hope they seat behind their Mercedes, suddenly air bags opens save the front mans..oops the back, these VIP wait touch wood RIP, hope god bless them on the road ..!!! That time I claps and see who's that Man?