SINGAPORE: From 1 March, taxi drivers can no longer pick up or drop off passengers along public roads in the Central Business District (CBD) on weekdays and Saturdays from 7am to 10pm.

They will only be allowed to stop at taxi stands and driveways of buildings.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said this is part of efforts to help improve the safety of taxi commuters and road users by reducing traffic disruption.

To make taxi facilities more accessible to commuters, LTA added that it has increased the number of taxi stands in the CBD by 30 per cent, from 80 to 105.

This means that the distance between a taxi stand and any building within the CBD is less than 300 metres which translates to a less than five-minute walk.

Taxi drivers who violate the rules can be fined S$100 and given three demerit points. -CNA/vm