Drivers under the Thai Public Taxi Association wrote on the association's Facebook page, complaining about how the proliferation of electric trains has left many local taxis idle. The association, in particular, pointed the finger at the Yellow Line, which has reduced the number of taxi passengers due to its convenient interchanges with six other electric trains in the capital.
The association's Facebook post sparked a large response from the public, with many criticising taxi drivers as the root cause of their problems. People have lodged numerous complaints about the misconduct by some taxi drivers, such as refusing passengers, rejecting the use of fare meters, ejecting passengers during traffic congestion and favouring foreign tourists over Thai passengers.
Such behaviour has compelled many to seek alternative modes of transportation, and with the completion of the city's electric train network, their options are broadening.
Although many commendable taxi drivers still provide excellent service, the reputation of taxi services has been marred by some bad apples.
Taxi driving in Bangkok predominantly attracts many unskilled labourers from the provinces, with approximately 80,000 registered taxis in the city. Considering each taxi may have two driving rosters, the number of drivers could easily double the number of taxis.
The government recently approved a taxi fare hike, raising the initial metered fare in Bangkok from 35 baht to 40 baht for the first kilometre, with additional increases depending on the distance travelled.
While allowing fare adjustments to keep up with inflation is fair, taxi drivers and their associations should seriously consider passenger feedback.
According to the Department of Land Transport, more than 85,000 complaints related to road transport in Bangkok were filed with the agency in the past nine months. Of these complaints, 31,554 were related to public transport services, with taxis being a primary source of discontent due to passenger refusal and reckless driving.
As passengers now have more transportation options, including electric trains and ride-hailing services, taxi drivers will continue to face challenges if they fail to improve service quality, adhere to standards, and be honest and polite with passengers. The taxi community must proactively address these issues by distinguishing between good and bad drivers and removing the latter.
Not only are bad taxi drivers damaging the taxi industry, but they are also tarnishing the country's reputation. Reports of taxi scams targeting foreign tourists have frequently made headlines, exacerbating the problem.
Addressing Thailand's taxi problem requires the government's support in restructuring the taxi service to improve efficiency and drivers' behaviour. Taxi drivers' earnings must be on par with other service sector jobs, reducing their need to work excessively long hours.
However, for taxi drivers and their associations to thrive, they must cease blaming others for their hardships and instead reform themselves to adapt to the rapidly changing industry and passenger expectations.
While the rise of electric trains and alternative transportation modes presents challenges for taxi drivers, they should view this as an opportunity for growth and improvement.
By enhancing service quality and addressing misconduct within their ranks, the taxi industry can overcome such hurdles and regain the trust and loyalty of passengers.
