Being the first of its kind in Singapore, Taxi Tales in Singapore is a bilingual publication that provides insights to the real-life stories and interesting facts relating to taxi drivers in Singapore. The publication is officially launched today, at the Singapore Book Fair 2012 held at Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The launch was officiated by Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Minister for Transport.
The publication is a tripartite project led by the National Taxi Association (NTA), supported by Land Transport Authority and the seven taxi companies. Taxi Tales in Singapore retails at $10 each and is currently available for sale at all major book stores.
A taxi driver meets with all kinds of people and encounters while they are on the road. These interesting stories and other bits of information on taxi drivers, some unknown to many people, are compiled into this publication. We hope that after reading through the book, the general public can have a deeper understanding of this occupation." commented Mr Wee Boon Kim, President of NTA.
About Taxi Tales in Singapore
The publication comprises short stories shared by 23 taxi drivers to give readers a different perspective of the day-to-day happenings in the taxi drivers’ lives. The main duty of a taxi driver is to transport his/her customer to their designated venue. But, who would expect to find a baby in the back seat left behind by a passenger or a driver who dresses up as a cowboy to work every day.
To help readers better understand the likes and dislikes of drivers and passengers in Singapore, two street polls with over 30 passengers and interviews with about 100 drivers were conducted spanning across two weeks. Consolidated passengers’ views on the drivers and drivers’ views on their likes and dislikes of being a driver are introduced in the book.
The publication also helps readers learn how taxis around the world are like and hear from passengers from different walks of life share their taxi-taking experience. They include local celebrity Jack Neo and NTUC President Emeritus John De Payva. Readers, who have had the experience of taxis not stopping for them, would also find out answers to this mystery from the book.
Upon finishing this comprehensive and well-researched publication, readers should have a better understanding of the taxi drivers and their services in Singapore - good and bad, warts and all, unadulterated.
