Foul Mouthed Driver SHB786K Angulia Park

Clive Coombes informs the following on 01/08/2011:

I have just seen your excellent web site on taxi drivers in Singapore and offer the following as an example of behaviour I have experienced today; the worst I have seen in 2 years living here. Here is the text of my note to SMRT.

I wish to lodge a formal complaint regarding the behaviour of the driver of SMRT taxi registered SHB 786K. His foul mouthed tirade to me after being informed of his awful driving and complete lack of consideration for road users is indicative of a complete lack of courtesy and awareness of the standards required of a representative of your company.

Specifically, on 1 Aug at 1315 hrs, your driver turned off Orchard Road onto Angulia Park Road beside Wheelock Place . After having made the turn, he proceeded approximately 100 meters and simply stopped in the middle of the road and allowed passengers to disembark. This meant that a number of vehicles also attempting to turn off Orchard into Angulia were unable to move. Your driver had, quite simply, blocked the road. Having waited for some time, and with other cars in a dangerous position, stationary on Orchard Road, I alighted from my own car (I was chauffeur driven and therefore did not leave my vehicle unattended) and walked to the rear of your driver’s vehicle and rapped loudly on the rear window of his cab, telling him forcefully of his inconsiderate, stupid and very dangerous actions. He finally moved his cab, him having been waiting – blocking the road throughout – and joined the taxi rank at Wheelock Place .

I returned to my own car and as I passed his vehicle he shouted from his cab “F*** You, F*** You”. I immediately noted his number and the time and this complaint is the result.

I inform you of this incident as I am disgusted by the behaviour of this person. His driving and actions were dangerous and inconsiderate. His foul mouthed tirade is unbecoming. He deserves – and needs – disciplinary action taking against him and I would be grateful if you could inform me of what action is taken.

Hope this is of some use. Many thanks and best wishes.

Just because they are providing a service, these people often believe that they are justified in doing the stupidest of things. There are better ways of managing the situation and a simple apology for holding up the whole road would have been a more appropriate response that mitigates his stupid and inconsiderate behaviour. However, as astonishing as it is, the typical behaviour is to get angry with those who have been inconvenienced in the first place! As ever, we advise against approaching the cab companies and proceeding with a feedback comment to LTA through their online feedback form for a more concrete outcome.These types of drivers are banking on our kindness that we won't take them to task - and using it as our weakness.