More taxies have been involved in fatal accidents and road injuries.

The number of such cases rose from 1,270 cases in 2005 to 1,420 cases last year, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng.

In his written answer to a question from Ms Ellen Lee, MP for Sembawang GRC in Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Wong said that there was an overall increase of 11.8% in the total number of fatal and injury accidents, although the proportion of accidents involving taxis to total accidents remained stable at 19% over the last two years.

He also revealed that 103 taxi driver vocational licences (TDVL) were revoked in 2006.

The licences are not reinstated and the drive will have to make a fresh application once the debarment period is over. The applicant is also required to attend the taxi-driver course again and sit for a test as a fresh applicant.

The duration of the debarment period would depend on the nature of the offence committed by the taxi driver.

Mr Wong said the Traffic Police holds regular meetings are held with the taxi operator associations to discuss road safety issues and initiatives, while road safety talks are conducted to educate taxi drivers on safe driving behaviour. Road safety advertisements are also put up on taxis to remind all road users, including taxi drivers.

Mr Wong also added that since 2000, the Traffic Police has also been appointing taxi drivers to serve as road courtesy ambassadors and that items like tissue boxes, tissue packs and note pads carrying road courtesy and safety messages were also given out to more than 20,000 taxi drivers in 2006.

Ms Lee also asked the Minister for Transport, Mr Raymond Lim, for the number accidents of commuters getting trapped while boarding MRT trains.

Mr Lim replied that in 2006, there were five such incidents.

He said claims and compensation for such incidents are dealt with by public transport operators, but the SMRT and SBST have not received any claims for compensation arising from these incidents, but have borne the medical cost in some cases as a matter of goodwill.