WOMEN have made their presence felt in practically every profession, but in the world of taxi-driving, they remain relatively rare.

According to the Land Transport Authority, fewer than 2,400 women hold taxi vocational licences today.

Although this is a lot more than the 350 women licence holders back in 1990, it is still only a tiny 2 per cent of all licence holders.

Ms Susan Lim, 61, a cabby with SMRT Taxis for eight years, said: 'Maybe they are not brave enough. Many women don't feel confident even driving their own car. And driving a cab is definitely tougher.''

A florist who sold her business during the Asian financial crisis, she added that women of her generation tended to be more conservative.

Read the full report in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.