Over 1,000 complaints of poor taxi service as cases rise for third year

The overall number of complaints about poor taxi services received by the Transport Department is on the rise for a third consecutive year, with a total of 1,006 cases in 2023 - a 75 percent increase compared to the previous year. 

The department said on Wednesday that the number of complaints received by the Transport Department against taxi drivers involved those of a more serious nature. They include overcharging, refusing hire and driving to a destination other than by the most direct practicable route.

Of the 1,006 complaints, 340 of them were related to overcharging, 389 were related to refusing hire or refusing to drive to the place indicated by the hirer, and 277 were related to driving to a destination other than by the most direct practicable route.

Complaints of various types have increased compared to the previous two years, with complaints of overcharging increasing by 1.2 times annually.

In 2022 and 2021, the department received 574 and 464 complaints respectively, meaning the figure in 2023 has more than doubled compared to 2021.

However, the department noted that the overall passenger volume, including taxis, in public transportation, has decreased in 2021 and 2022 due to the impact of the pandemic, resulting in relatively fewer complaints.

The department also provided the number of traffic accidents involving taxis in each of the past three years, with the numbers standing at 4,153, 3,632 and 4,585 respectively.

Meanwhile, police figures showed that a total of 140 enforcement actions were taken against taxi driver-related offenses of a more serious nature last year, more than the figure of 95 and 49 recorded in 2022 and 2021 respectively.