bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Navigational devices put unscrupulous cabbies on notice

Rude and unscrupulous cabbies could be driven off the roads when a global positioning system is launched next month.

More than 1,000 taxis will initially be fitted with the navigational devices. The  cabs belong to a new radio-taxi company called HK Cab ITS and will roll onto the streets this autumn.

The company - jointly owned by the six largest taxi  groups and Castel Spaceinet  Communications - said the fleet would expand to at least 5,000 by the middle of next year.

There are 18,138 taxis in Hong Kong and 15,250 are urban cabs.

Apart from improving navigation, the HK$20 million system  would improve deployment of taxis and standardise  quality, it is claimed.

Kwok Chi-ping, Spaceinet managing director, said operators at the  control centre in Lai Chi Kok would distribute jobs according to the proximity of taxis to the caller, with each cab appearing as a red dot on a wall-sized electronic map that also shows  traffic conditions. 'We send messages to empty cabs to inform them of a job  to  shorten  waiting time,' Mr Kwok said. 'Drivers can choose if they want it or not. But we provide them with an extra source of customers at low cost and they don't have to pay for the equipment. I don't see why they wouldn't want to join us.'

The system is also designed to improve driver safety.

If  drivers feel threatened by a passenger they can press an alarm  linked to the control centre. On receiving the signal, operators start recording the conversation inside the taxi and police can be called if drivers are in danger. The cabs are also protected against theft as drivers have to enter a  code before they can start the engine. Fuel supply is cut if the taxis are started by other means.

But in exchange for these services, drivers must be polite, Mr Kwok said.

'You must have heard unpleasant tales  of disputes between drivers and passengers regarding fares, choice of routes or  attitude problems, but in our team, drivers must never scream at the passengers.'

Traditionally easy prey for rogue drivers, like  foreigners, can also claim their money back if it is proved that the driver demanded an unreasonable fare or had taken them on a longer route than necessary.

'Every detail of the trip is recorded, along with traffic conditions, so there will be no argument,' Mr Kwok said. He expects  that up to 90 per cent of urban cabbies will  eventually join his team.

Transport analyst Hung Wing-tat said if the scheme worked, the company could monopolise the radio-taxi trade, which may turn the city's cab  operation into one similar to that in Singapore - where on-hire cabs have been replaced by radio taxis.

But Professor Hung said there was a long way to go because the company could  only exert power over the drivers as long as it  provided them with extra profits.

The Transport Department said it welcomed initiatives  to enhance taxi services.

Meanwhile, the Transport Advisory Committee  is examining how to   improve the taxi trade's competitiveness and whether its fare structure is outdated. The findings will be released by early next year.

Two sides to benefits of the technology

Benefits of GPS taxis:

For passengers

Details of every trip recorded

Service more efficient and reliable

Friends or families of lone female travellers can watch her  journey on internet

Points gained from trips can be exchanged for meals and entertainment, plus entertainment information provided

Passengers  who are club members can keep track of taxi expenses in personal internet account

In event of accident, emergency services can quickly locate taxi

For drivers

Security pin to start taxi protects it from theft

Alarm button if threatened by passenger

No installation cost

Instant  traffic information



GPS taxi system offers public a smoother ride