Written Reply by Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung to Parliamentary Question on Private Hire Vehicle Companies' Rule for Maximum of Three Passengers

Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Minister for Transport why does the Government allow the private hire vehicle companies to impose a rule that their drivers take up to a maximum of three passengers only and must leave the front seat empty as it affects both drivers and passengers.

Reply by Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung:

1.     While the government has issued advisories and measures to Point-to-Point (P2P) operators to help combat COVID-19, the P2P operators have also introduced additional measures, such as Grab’s requirement for the front seat of vehicles be left empty to create a physical distance between drivers and their passengers.

2.     LTA respects the decision of the operators, which is to create a physical distance between drivers and their passengers. But they need to make this requirement known upfront to passengers when they are making their bookings. Grab has since lifted this restriction on 2 October 2020.