Review methods of assessment for cabbie licence renewal

I am turning 70 and have been contentedly playing badminton twice a week and driving a taxi part-time. In October last year, I was informed that I would need annual assessments on my fitness before my Taxi Driver Vocational Licence can be renewed.

I was jittery, but I assured myself that I have not had any problems with my driving, and my annual health checks had certified me as medically fit. On Dec 22, I went for my assessment, which was a humiliating experience. During the test, the impatient-looking instructor did not properly explain what was expected of me. When I made my first turn, he startled me by commenting: “Very bad.”

This worsened my confidence, which was already affected by driving an unfamiliar car model. I drove slower than I usually would, and the instructor told me I would be a traffic hogger. I failed the test.

I had been sustaining an average of 220km per shift, with an accident-free record for the past eight years. I have also won awards for commendations from passengers who appreciated me for going the extra mile, such as carrying their luggage and sheltering their children from rain. I could not accept the result of the test.

I hope the Land Transport Authority can review how the assessments are carried out in line with objectives. We should be assessed based on job requirements, such as driving from one location to another, instead of being asked to respond to ad-hoc instructions.

I am scheduled for a retest. The cost of the first assessment was S$136.90 and a retest another S$53, plus S$35 to be paid in cash to the driving-test instructor each time. This is a hefty sum to me.

Would it be unreasonable to have a familiarisation session on the test before it is done, using the vehicle we will be driving during the test?

I am consoled when I hear our ministers speak of successful and graceful ageing. Seniors such as myself want to be independent. We ask for basic respect and clear test objectives from service providers. To be able to continue working means a lot to many of us.