Chinese New Year transportation

[Steve1960]

This will be my first CNY. What is the taxi service like over the holiday period? I expect it to be hellishly difficult to get a taxi but I am not sure.

[the lynx]

This will be my first CNY. What is the taxi service like over the holiday period? I expect it to be hellishly difficult to get a taxi but I am not sure.

Taxis in Singapore will operate as usual. The drivers will still have to work regularly to make up for their taxi lease cost. They will either spend half day off on CNY eve or first day of CNY and work the rest of the time.

[Steve1960]

Thanks and taxi usage would likely be lower on the holiday with people being family centric and staying at home or higher usage as people go out to celebrate?

[the lynx]

Thanks and taxi usage would likely be lower on the holiday with people being family centric and staying at home or higher usage as people go out to celebrate?

Neither. I think it is negligible. The number of taxis plying the road will still remain but you will probably have less competition from fellow commuters, if not the same. But in airport, more taxis will try to take advantage of the high influx of people travelling through.

[Steve1960]

Great thanks with a little one to cart around waiting around for taxi's isn't fun.

[taxico]

please look out for drivers that are NOT in the right physical condition to drive... many drink a lot the night before or have been driving for long hours and are extremely tired.

i've taken cabs on lunar new year PH more than once and the drivers seem more tired than me after my 50 hour shift at the hospital!

[Brah]

Good point - nothing scares me more than a sleepy driver. I quite often watch taxi driver's eyes on a long trip, especially on the highway where the drone or the road and lack of stop-and-go can lull one to sleep.

I myself am guilty, during my younger years I'd start nodding off at the wheel, and quite often when coming back from the beach after a long day of sun and ocean. When a friend would drive I'd always watch them too.

I got to where I knew I'd get tired and would be prepared to just pull over for a 15-minute nap. Not all taxi drivers will do that.

[Steve1960]

Good point I have experienced the same in Manila many times with taxi drivers.

I have also done it myself. 16th November 1999 on the motorway one dark rainy evening, my eyes closed and when I opened them there was a row of brake lights in front of me. No one hurt thankfully but destroyed my car and the one in front.

[BedokAmerican]

Maybe it's a good idea to carry on a conversation with a cab driver about something they're familiar with (such as how busy they are for CNY or about a tourist attraction or anything). That way maybe they're more likely to stay awake and pay attention. I don't know if that would work but it's worth a shot.

This is my first Lunar New Year also.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Food works well.

[earthfriendly]

Spray some orange oil towards taxi uncle's direction when he is too busy to notice it.

Google for "medicated oil singapore tipper truck driver"