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Concession over: Half of private-hire car drivers not permitted to drive without licence

SINGAPORE — Nearly half of the drivers who provided private-hire car services are no longer allowed to do so, after they failed to get their vocational licence before the June 30 deadline.

The PDVL was introduced last year to ensure that drivers providing private-hire car services had the requisite skill to do so safely. Those who applied for one before July 1 last year must attend a course and pass a test by June 30 to continue providing the service.

The PDVL was introduced last year to ensure that drivers providing private-hire car services had the requisite skill to do so safely. Those who applied for one before July 1 last year must attend a course and pass a test by June 30 to continue providing the service.

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SINGAPORE — Nearly half of the drivers who provided private-hire car services are no longer allowed to do so, after they failed to get their vocational licence before the June 30 deadline.

Responding to media queries, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that 20,900 of the 42,900 drivers who had received the one-year concession to attend a course and pass a test to obtain their Private-Hire Car Driver’s Vocational Licence (PDVL) either did not pass or did not try to take the test.

Those who did get the licence numbered at 22,000.

The PDVL was introduced last year to ensure that drivers providing private-hire car services had the requisite skill to do so safely. Those who applied for one before July 1 last year must attend a course and pass a test by June 30 to continue providing the service.

An LTA spokesperson said that concession holders who did not get the licence and wish to continue providing chauffeured services will have to re-apply for the PDVL.

They will also have undergo the required health and background checks.

Only the concession holders who have signed up for the course and test before the June 30 deadline but were scheduled for the test early this month do not need to re-apply. They can continue to provide the service once they get the licence.

TODAY previously reported that ComfortDelGro Taxi, one of the two vocational-licence training providers, saw the number of Taxi Driver’s Vocational Licence applicants jump nearly three-fold from January to May. This could be a sign that some private-hire car drivers may be crossing over to work with taxi operators.

In February, some applicants — mainly the older drivers — told TODAY that they were struggling to pass the test for the PDVL despite a number of attempts. They lamented that the passing grade was too high, and the questions required the test-takers to memorise and recall answers, which they said was unfair to older drivers seeking a means to make a living.

Some also questioned the need to quiz drivers on topics such as personal health and laws.

If convicted of providing private-hire car services without a valid licence, drivers can be fined up to S$1,000, or jailed up to three months, or both. Repeat offenders could be fined up to S$2,000, or jailed up to six months, or both.

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