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MEDIA RELEASES

05 March 2020

SMRT Taxis launches Booster Seat Pilot Programme for safer and more inclusive journeys

  1. From today (5 March 2020), passengers in SMRT’s taxis can use booster seats for their young children at no charge. This six-month pilot programme by SMRT Taxis is supported by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and aims to encourage greater use of booster seats among children aged 4 to 7 who are under 1.35m for safer journeys.

 

  1. SMRT is the first taxi operator in Singapore to offer the folding booster seats in its vehicles for free. During the pilot, SMRT will progressively equip its fleet of 2,800 taxis with booster seats.

 

  1. Mr Tony Heng, Senior Vice President for SMRT Road Holdings, said: “For more inclusive travels, it is important that families with young children are able to travel safely during taxi rides. With this trial, we hope to not only reduce road risk factors, but also give parents peace of mind during longer taxi journeys.”

 

  1. While the use of booster seats in taxis is not compulsory, its use is recommended for young children to enhance their safety.

 

 

  1. Mr Yeo Teck Guan, Senior Group Director of Public Transport at LTA, said, “We are heartened that SMRT is taking the lead to enhance the safety of children in taxis, and provide parents of young children with safer transport options.  We will monitor the trial closely and evaluate the feedback gathered from both parents and taxi drivers. This initiative by SMRT complements other previously-launched efforts to promote Transport for All, a key theme under our Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP) 2040.”

 

  1. SMRT would like to encourage its drivers to offer the booster seats to passengers where applicable so everyone can enjoy safer and more comfortable taxi journeys.