Taxi driver gets stern warning from LTA for not checking vehicle after passenger leaves wallet and reports incident

Taxi drivers in Singapore are urged to check their vehicles in case a passenger leaves something behind. This is to prevent receiving a warning notice from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in the event a passenger reports an incident.

A cabbie shared a warning letter from LTA to Facebook page Beh Chia Lor – Singapore Road, to show he had failed to search the vehicle for any property left by a passenger at the end of the trip on July 9, 2022.

The caption reads, “To all taxi drivers, if we don’t look behind the seat after passenger alights, and the passenger has left or lost items in taxi, if passenger complains to LTA, this is what we’ll receive a stern warning letter, and we might be held liable.”

LTA investigations found the taxi driver liable for the offence of “failing to search vehicle for any property accidentally left by the hirer” under rule 39(1) of the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) (Vocational Licenses and Conduct of Drivers, Conductors, Trishaw Riders and Passengers) (“PSVC”) Rules.

LTA said it issued a written warning to the taxi driver on Sept 28, which the latter appealed on Oct 11 through Member of Parliament Tin Pei Ling (PAP – Macpherson SMC).

“We are satisfied with our investigation findings that you are indeed liable for the offence. Hence, we are unable to rescind the written warning,” noted LTA.

Netizens responded to the incident, wondering why it wasn’t the passenger’s responsibility to check for any belongings left behind.

“Totally ridiculous. Passenger left their own property or items inside our vehicle due to their negligence and carelessness, yet we got penalized or (receive) a warning because of it? What’s the logic? We pay the price for other people’s carelessness?” asked Facebook user Rick Ho.

“It’s already hard to earn a living being a taxi driver, yet now if you forget to check after the passenger left, you will be penalized,” added another netizen. /TISG

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