Singapore Taxi Drivers – A Harsh Truth From Personal Experience

Today I read a blog by Chris Reed. His bold statement caught my attention:

“Singapore has the world’s worst taxi drivers.”

He made it clear — this wasn’t a question or an opinion. It was a declaration. And honestly? I agree with him wholeheartedly.

Let me preface this by saying: I love many things about Singapore — the food, the efficiency, the safety, the multiculturalism. But taxis? They're not on the list. Yes, I've had some brilliant drivers. But some is the key word. Out of roughly 100 taxi rides, about 10 have been excellent. The rest? Rude, abusive, racist, or rip-offs.

You might ask, “Why still take taxis then?” Simple — there's no choice. After 10:45 PM, the MRT shuts down. There’s no night bus network. Your only option home? A taxi — assuming you can even get one. If it’s raining, forget it.

Let me share a few stories that shook me to my core. If I weren’t a professional, I might’ve ended up in jail.

1. Abuse Toward My Son

One evening, my wife, my son (who has learning difficulties), and I were in a taxi. My son, Kai, is a sweet, joyful child. He was excitedly looking out the window, naming vehicles as they passed — “Car! Bus! Truck! Daddy, big truck!”

He rolled down the window. We reminded him, “Kai, the aircon is on — put it up, please.” He forgot and rolled it down again. At this point, we explained to the driver, gently, “Sorry — our son has learning difficulties.”

His reaction? Absolutely vile.

“Can you shut your retard up?”
“He should be locked up.”
“F***ing retard.”
“What’s wrong with him? You feed him the wrong things? You should follow our diet.”
“He should be in a special home.”

We begged him to stop. We asked to get out. He refused. “No. I drop you off,” he insisted. We sat in silence, utterly disgusted, praying to never see that man again.

2. Racism at the Zoo

Another time, my brother and a friend visited. After a beautiful day at the Singapore Zoo, we waited at the taxi stand. We were a large group and waited specifically for a big cab, letting others go ahead.

Eventually, a large taxi arrived. We approached, only for the driver to say:

“Get out. You skipped the queue.”

I explained, politely, that we’d waited longer and let others pass us. Even the Singaporean family behind us backed us up. Still, the driver said:

“You bloody ang mo think you own this place.”

Eventually, he grudgingly let us in — but as we gave our destination (Woodlands), he refused:

“No. I don’t want to go there. Get out. F***ing ang mo!”

I took a photo of his ID, threatened to call his company. A security guard approached — and sided with the driver. The driver sped off without taking anyone. We later heard complaints are often ignored because the companies don’t want to lose revenue while a replacement driver is sourced.

3. Why Are Taxis Unreliable?

Try getting a taxi when it rains. You won’t. They disappear — all 26,000 of them.
Need one after 11 PM? Good luck. MRT is closed. No buses.
Some drivers ask where you're going, then refuse the fare.
Many don't know basic routes — and ask you for directions in a city just 716 km².
You’ll often get charged more unless you specify the exact roads to take.
And yes — the racial bias is very real. As a foreigner, I’ve seen green-light taxis drive past me only to pick up a local a few steps away.

Why Is the Service So Poor?

1. The Change-Shift Excuse
Drivers pull into taxi stands only to ask where you're going, then drive off empty. Why even stop?

2. Education & Training
There’s no equivalent of London’s “Knowledge” — a test that ensures taxi drivers know every street before they're licensed. In Singapore, there’s seemingly no standard.

3. Lack of Competition
Only Singaporeans can drive taxis. There’s no real competition — no fear of losing the job to someone better. Complacency thrives.

4. No Incentive for Long Trips
Drivers often avoid long fares. It's easier (and more profitable per km) to take short rides with surcharges.

5. Poor Accountability
Cab companies care more about renting out vehicles than enforcing standards. Complaints go nowhere.

Suggestions for Improvement

Mandatory City Knowledge Test — Like London’s “Knowledge”. Make it a licensing requirement.
Training & Refresher Programs — Regular, rigorous, and focused on professionalism and route knowledge.
Introduce Mini-Cabs — Like in the UK. Pre-booked, fair-priced, and accountable.
Open Up the Job Market — Let non-Singaporeans compete. It will raise service standards.
Track & Penalize Refusals — Refusing jobs without valid reasons should result in fines or suspensions.

Final Thoughts

Who’s at fault here? The drivers, the cab companies, or the government?

Frankly, all three.

I’ve lived in Singapore for two years and know my way around better than many taxi drivers. How is that possible in such a small, well-signposted country?

If you’re a professional driver, know your city. If you’re representing your country, be respectful. And if you’re running the industry — enforce accountability.

Thanks for reading. I know this may seem like a rant, but it comes from a place of deep frustration — and love for a country that deserves better from its public service providers.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Have you had similar experiences?

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