Most Singaporeans agree in-car cameras should be allowed in taxis, private-hire cars
SINGAPORE — A majority of Singaporeans think that the use of inward-facing car cameras can help to protect both drivers and commuters from inappropriate or violent behaviour, and agree that taxis, private-hire cars and limousines should be allowed to have such devices installed, a survey has found.
SINGAPORE — A majority of Singaporeans think that the use of inward-facing car cameras can help to protect both drivers and commuters from inappropriate or violent behaviour, and agree that taxis, private-hire cars and limousines should be allowed to have such devices installed, a survey has found.
Reach, the national feedback and engagement unit under the Ministry of Communications and Information, polled 1,000 Singaporeans aged 15 and above on their views towards these inward-facing in-vehicle recording devices (IVRDs), commonly known as in-car cameras.
When asked if they think such cameras can help to protect drivers or commuters from inappropriate or violent behaviour,
76 per cent said it can help to protect both drivers and commuters
10 per cent said it would protect drivers
3 per cent said it would protect commuters
6 per cent said it would not help anyone
They were also asked if they think taxis, private-hire cars and limousines should be allowed to have inward-facing car cameras installed.
To this, 64 per cent said yes
Out of this 64 per cent, 91 per cent said both audio and video recordings should be allowed
Those who said both audio and video recordings should be allowed were then asked why they felt that way, and they could choose from three possible answers. Multiple answers were allowed.
93 per cent of them said both audio and video recordings are needed to enforce against inappropriate and/or violent behaviour and deal with fare-related disputes
41 per cent said they believed that there were sufficient regulations to safeguard their privacy and avoid leakage of personal data
25 per cent said they were not concerned about having their conversations recorded or their face captured in video recordings
The issue of inward-facing car cameras surfaced earlier this year when a video of a Gojek driver in a dispute with his passenger went viral after he uploaded it on Facebook.
While the driver garnered a lot of sympathy from netizens, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) issued a warning to him for the unauthorised recording and disclosure of the video.
From June last year, taxis, private-hire cars and limousines can be installed with in-car cameras, but they must not have any audio recording function so that the passengers’ conversations are not recorded.
According to LTA guidelines, owners of these vehicles also have to seek the authority’s approval before installing the cameras at LTA-authorised installation centres.
These centres will ensure that the cameras are secured, data is not downloaded without authorisation and the video footage will be available only for a maximum of seven days.
To protect the privacy of the passengers, in-car cameras must also be fitted in a fixed position and fleet owners are to conduct regular checks on their vehicles.
Notices should be displayed to ensure that passengers are aware that in-car cameras have been installed in the vehicle.
Under the law, individuals found guilty of breaching the LTA’s rule is liable for a fine of up to S$1,000, jailed for up to three months, or both.