Latest news with #taxidriver
CNA
4 days ago
- CNA
Fine for cabby who shone laser at bus near Changi Airport, blurring driver's vision
SINGAPORE: A taxi driver shone a laser pointer towards a shuttle bus ferrying passengers between terminals at Changi Airport, blurring the bus driver's vision. Huzairi Hamzah, 51, was fined S$2,500 by a court on Monday (Jul 28) for one count of a rash act endangering the personal safety of others. The court heard that the bus driver, a 32-year-old Singaporean man, was plying his route on Aug 28, 2024. He was driving along Airport Boulevard at about 9.50pm that night with about 30 passengers on his bus. He signalled his intention to filter into the extreme left lane of Airport Boulevard at about 9.55pm. He saw a taxi, driven by the accused, along the extreme left lane, some distance behind the bus. The bus driver changed lanes to the extreme left lane. Huzairi then drove to the rear right side of the bus. As he followed the vehicle, Huzairi shone a laser pointer towards the right side of the bus for about two to three seconds. Closed-circuit television footage captured Huzairi shining the laser light at the bus. The laser beam struck the right mirror and reflected into the bus driver's eyes, causing him to experience blurry vision. As there were passengers on board the bus, the bus driver ignored Huzairi and continued driving towards Terminal 4. Huzairi left the area, and the bus driver later told his supervisors what happened and was advised to lodge a police report. No injuries were sustained in the incident. The prosecutor sought a fine of S$2,500, saying Huzairi had intentionally shone the light, knowing fully that there was a real risk that the laser beam may distract the victim. Huzairi almost qualified his plea, with his lawyer saying Huzairi had never intended to point the laser to shine into the bus driver's eye. He also said that Huzairi's position has always been that his action would not cause a risk to the driver. However, he later accepted the statement of facts and pleaded guilty.
Independent Singapore
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Independent Singapore
PHV driver/rider guide for Singaporeans: How being behind the wheel is killing you, and what you can do to stay alive and beat fatigue without hitting the brakes
SINGAPORE: If you're a private-hire vehicle (PHV) driver, delivery rider, or taxi driver in Singapore, you already know: the 9-to-5 life is a distant dream. Your work clock spins on its own terms. One hour you're dropping off someone, and the next hour, you're grabbing food for someone else—all while seated for hours, dodging erratic cars, tolerating demanding passengers, and sitting through the occasional monsoon downpour. It's not just exhausting. It's dangerous. According to a 2022 study by the National University of Singapore's Institute of Policy Studies, platform workers work an average of 59 hours per week, as reported by CNA Lifestyle . That's more than a full-time job and then some. And with roughly 70,000 gig workers in Singapore's ride-hail and delivery sectors (about 3% of the national workforce), that's a lot of folks behind the wheel, pushing through long days with barely a break. These individuals are our unsung heroes, responsible for our food deliveries, midnight rides, and early-morning airport trips. But behind every steering wheel is a platform worker fighting traffic jams, fatigue, dehydration, body aches, and burnout. Sleepless in Singapore Fatigue isn't just about feeling tired. It's a slow fade of your mental reflexes, concentration, and alertness, turning your Grab ride into a potential hazard. 'Drivers experiencing fatigue may show signs such as frequent yawning and blinking, difficulty keeping their eyes open, and decreased concentration and vigilance,' CNA Lifestyle quoted Dr Licia Tan, an associate consultant at Sengkang General Hospital's Department of Occupational Medicine. 'Passengers might also notice the driver becoming fidgety, veering off the lane, or driving erratically,' she added. How long does it take before you hit the sleepy slope? Just one to two hours of non-stop driving, according to Dr. Tan. That's because driving—especially in Singapore's bustling streets—is mentally demanding. 'Driving is a cognitively demanding task that relies on sustained attention, quick reflexes, and decision-making – all of which would decline when a driver is tired,' she explained. And on scorching hot days, it gets worse. 'Intense weather conditions, such as a high environmental temperature, show a positive association with fatigue symptoms and have been linked to poorer decision-making and road traffic accidents,' said Dr. Tan. Translation: Singapore's weather isn't just bad for your hair—it's bad for your brain. Even more worrying: Staying awake for 18 hours is the cognitive equivalent of a 0.05% blood alcohol level. Push that to 24 hours, and it's 0.10%—above the legal limit of 0.08% in Singapore. You may be sober, but your brain thinks you're drunk. It's not just traffic that's draining you Fatigue comes in two nasty flavours, said Dr. Tan: active and passive. Active fatigue happens when you're constantly dodging other bad vehicle drivers, navigating heavy traffic, or trying not to hydroplane during a thunderstorm. You're mentally switched on, but that intensity burns you out fast. Passive fatigue, on the other hand, creeps in during long, boring driving journeys. Think: driving along the expressway on autopilot. It's so monotonous, your brain starts to doze off before your eyes do. And let's not forget the psychological stress, such as dealing with rude customers or being under pressure to meet incentive targets. Add in mobile phone distractions and the occasional sip of alcohol (which you shouldn't be doing at all while driving/riding), and you've got a cocktail of concentration killers. The health toll behind the wheel You'd think mental stress would be the worst of it—but nope, your body takes a massive hit, too. Driving is, at its core, a sedentary job. Hours spent sitting still, missing meals, or wolfing down fast food, and barely moving your limbs is a one-way street to chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and obesity. Also on the danger list are lower back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, and the condition known as whole-body vibration (WVB). If you've ever felt your bones rattle after a long day on rough roads, that's WVB in action—and it's linked to nerve damage, spinal degeneration, and vascular issues. So, what can a road warrior like you do about it? Doctor's orders: 4 easy habits to stay road-ready 1. Fuel your body right (not just your car) Stick to regular meals and stock up on healthy snacks. Think: fruits or unsalted nuts—basically anything that won't leave a grease trail on your steering wheel. 2. Hydrate like your life depends on it (because it does) Two litres of water a day is the bare minimum. Keep a reusable bottle in your car and top it up regularly. Dehydration can make you drowsy, dizzy, and cranky—not a great combo for safe driving. 3. Take micro-breaks Even a 5–10-minute pause every hour can work wonders. Stretch your legs after dropping off a passenger. Do quick lunges or shoulder rolls. Park and pace around the car. The more you move, the more your body will thank you. 4. Say no to marathon driving Driving more than 12 hours a day isn't heroic—it's hazardous. Long hours heighten fatigue-related errors and hurt your heart in the long run. If no time to stop, here's a hack If you really can't pull over for a proper break, then micro-stretch at the wheel. Dr. Tan recommends neck rolls, shoulder shrugs, and upper body stretches—simple seated exercises you can do while waiting at a red light or in a queue. And don't underestimate your seat. Adjust it for the most ergonomic posture—for comfort, and to prevent strain that creeps in after long shifts. Even the best engines need regular maintenance, and so do you You're not just a driver. You're the engine of the gig economy. But even the best engines need regular maintenance. Similarly, your body, mind, and health deserve pit stops, hydration, and decent fuel. Don't let fatigue take over the wheel. Take control of your health—one break, one stretch, one good habit at a time. Drive safe. Stay sharp. And don't forget to take care of the person behind the steering wheel first before anything else. In other news, a Grab rider's wife opened up about her growing concerns for her husband's safety on the road. She said, 'It's just the risk in riding that concerns me, especially during rain. Even when we're careful, others may be careless.' You can read their full story over here: 'Are you embarrassed or even humiliated to say your husband is a Grab rider?' — Singaporean 'abang Grab' asks his wife, and gets an honest, shocking answer
Times
20-07-2025
- General
- Times
Invasion of 1,200 bats forces taxi driver to sleep in her cab
One night earlier this summer Anne-Marie Murchie sleepily went to the bathroom. The taxi driver reached out for some paper and got a surprise so terrifying she started sleeping in her car. 'Half asleep, I grabbed the toilet roll holder and a bat came out and held on to my hand.' Murchie's home in Dyce near Aberdeen has been invaded by a colony of up to 1,200 soprano pipistrelles. Soprano pipistrelles one of the most common bat species in Britain. The weight up to 8 grammes and have a wingspan of about 200mm ALAMY Because the animals are protected, there is nothing the 41-year-old can do until they move on at the end of the summer maternity season, which could be next month or even September. The bats are everywhere. 'They're above the spotlights in the kitchen and they've popped them out a few times as well,' she said. 'I'm scared to come in the house. Sometimes I actually sleep outside in the car. I'm just petrified.'
CTV News
15-07-2025
- CTV News
Man sentenced after fleeing moving taxi on Highway 400 leaving behind handguns, drugs, and cash
A 25-year-old Sudbury man is facing jail time after an incident in 2023 that shut down Highway 400 and resulted in the seizure of cash, narcotics, and firearms. On Sept., 16, 2023, provincial police out of Orillia responded to a weapons call along Highway 400 near Mount St. Louis Road. The call came after a taxi driver said that a passenger, heading to Sudbury, had demanded to flee the moving vehicle. The man got out on the side of the highway and left behind $18,000, cocaine, and a loaded handgun in the back of the cab. Provincial police launched a search operation. Members of the OPP Emergency Response Team, rescue units, OPP Canine Unit, and York Regional Police Air Support Unit assisted in shutting down both directions of Highway 400. During the search, officers found another loaded handgun close by, along with a large quantity of suspected cocaine and additional cash. At roughly 2:30 a.m. the next day, officers received a report of a suspicious person walking along the highway. Police ended up arresting the man shortly after, confirming it was the same suspect linked to the taxi incident. The investigation led to multiple charges including careless storage of a firearm, tampering with the serial number of a firearm, failure to comply with probation order and a plethora of other charges. The man was sentenced to 868 days in custody, a weapons order for 10 years, and a DNA order.
Khaleej Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Driver ordered to pay Dh51,450 after running red light, not paying traffic fines
A court in Abu Dhabi ordered a man to pay Dh51,450 to his former employer, after he ran a red light and failed to repay the traffic fines the company covered on his behalf. According to Abu Dhabi Labour Court documents, the company filed a lawsuit against the driver, demanding he repay the amount it had to cover due to his violation. The company also requested a 5% late payment fee from the date of the claim until full settlement, along with legal costs and lawyer fees. As reported by Al Khaleej local newspaper, the company argued that the driver, who was employed as a taxi driver with a total salary of Dh800, committed a traffic violation by running a red light. While the driver was fined Dh3,000, the company ended up paying Dh50,000 in penalties, plus Dh1,450 in transport-related fees. Despite multiple attempts, the former employee did not reimburse the company. The court reviewed the driver's salary report, work contract, and other documents in the case file. It confirmed that the driver was employed by the company under a fixed-term contract as a taxi driver. The company provided authorities with a proof that it paid Dh51,450. The court referred to Article 1 of the Evidence Law, which says that the plaintiff must prove their right, and the defendant has the right to refute it, with the burden of proof resting on the plaintiff. Since the company showed clear proof of payment, the court ruled in its favour and ordered the driver to pay back the full amount.
