Search the Community

Nothing is free....the cost will be pushed to the taxi drivers eventually...and passengers of course. Worstif the accident is caused by the taxi driver, can taxi driver purposely say forgot to turn on the cam? I think it's hard since it become mandatory. Why pay money to get farked in own ass by the law? Better to spend own $$$ and install own camera. If favorable use the video to fight claims. If not favorable, bua bodoh, just don't reveal the video. Sunday, Jun 03, 2012 The New Paper Three cab firms get LTA nod for in-car cameras By Rennie Whang THREE of the seven taxi companies here have obtained approval to install cameras inside their taxis, aLand Transport Authority (LTA) spokesman told The New Paper on Wednesday. They are Comfort, CityCab and TransCab. At least one more company, Prime Taxi, is going through the application process. The LTA spokesman said that applying companies need to provide the objective for installing the equipment, its technical specifications and mounting mechanism, as well as the implementation schedule for installing the equipment. She said: "LTA will take into account the information submitted by the taxi company and consider factors such as the safe mounting of the equipment, and whether it will unduly affect the safety, comfort and privacy of passengers." Prime Taxi general manager Eric Ang said yesterday that his company was still sourcing for the right product and vendor. He said: "In-car cameras in all our taxis will happen, but not immediately." Both SMRT and Prime Taxi said information on costs - including how much a driver would have to foot - would come at a later date. In-car cameras would benefit taxi drivers and their passengers as it would expedite accident claims, defence lawyer Gloria James said. It would also come in handy if, say, a passenger sues the cabby in an accident. Such insurance claims can be hefty. In 2003, a lawyer was awarded $300,000 compensation when a taxi slammed into the rear of a taxi he had been riding in, resulting in whiplash. Said Ms James: "In an accident, the passenger sues the driver even if the taxi has been hit from behind. "The taxi driver then has to bring in the driver of the other car as a co-defendant. In-car camera footage would prove the taxi driver's case and help transfer liability." [email protected] This article was first published in The New Paper.