Grab rides likely to take longer with new regulations

Grab rides likely to take longer with new regulations

In addition to the expected fare increases due to the July 12 deadline for drivers to obtain the mandatory Public Service Vehicle (PSV) license which will result in reduced ride-hailing driver availability, Grab has stated that ‘getting a ride might take longer’, though efforts are being put forth to help its driver-partners meet the new requirements. Wait times may increase up to twice the typical duration, Grab said in its frequently-asked questions list.

The ride-sharing company has also issued a brief ride-hailing advisory; this includes making bookings earlier than usual and to be ready as soon as the driver arrives in order to minimise wait times. This is especially crucial when there is a flight to catch or important meetings to get to, it said. Passengers can also help alleviate the demand load by riding outside the peak hours of 7pm – 9am and 5pm – 8pm.

Grab rides likely to take longer with new regulations

Grab hopes that the situation will be temporary, and will continue to issue updates on the matter, it said in its statement. The move to updated regulations for ride-sharing drivers is aimed at creating a more level playing field for both e-hailing drivers and taxi drivers by having both parties subject to the same rules and regulations, deputy transport minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar said last year.

The transport ministry said last week that out of approximately 167,000 ride-hailing drivers in Malaysia, only 16,338 had signed up for the PSV test, with 62% (10,151) of those having qualified for the license ahead of the deadline. It is expected that 70% of e-hailing drivers will be PSV-ready by the end of the year, said president of the Malaysian E-hailing Drivers Association (MeHDA) Daryl Chong.

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • Norlia on Jul 10, 2019 at 12:02 pm

    More roadblocks, more redtape, more RM. Ini 3R kera-jaan ke?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 5
    • This includes vehicle inspection
      And passenger insurance

      Which is good for rider passenger

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 12
      • So everytime you hail, they need to send car in for inspection and check to get insurance? Is this a good reason for the slower service?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 2
      • Waste of time – People who drive for Grab or any service do look after their vehicles as they do not want negative feedback. Ask yourself if your vehicle is your tool to earn money would you neglect the maintenance and suffer a breakdown while having a customer in your car?? Common sense is not common, ministers who create problems for the common people will not last another term!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • FireAce on Jul 10, 2019 at 1:02 pm

      Must protect our taxi driver income and family; former army and polis, civil servant retirees ..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 4
    • lilytan on Jul 10, 2019 at 1:38 pm

      Previously i prefer using Mycar and ezCab app. Now mostly i used female driver Riding Pink^^

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Amran on Jul 10, 2019 at 12:14 pm

    Kudos to transport ministry! Level playing field now for taxi & Grab drivers. Licensed & trained Grab drivers provide safe trip to us passengers!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 48
    • Amzan on Jul 10, 2019 at 1:05 pm

      WTF you tokking. All these years, Grab passengers ALREADY have safe trip. Especially compared to gangster taxi’s clogging roads outside shopping centers with 20 year old Protons. Taxi’s have zero record of passengers. Grab has exact time and route.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 2
    • Grab passenger 2.0 on Jul 10, 2019 at 1:41 pm

      But till now taxi drivers never provide safe trip to passengers! But before even this new rules introduced, Grab drivers already provided better services than Taxi. You either ‘katak dibawah tempurung’ or the ‘taxi’ driver :|

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 18 Thumb down 0
    • Malik on Jul 10, 2019 at 1:47 pm

      What same rules and regulations is the Deputy Minister talking about. The taxis can be purchased at discounted prices and they pay cheaper tolls. How is this considered as same when grab driver pay high prices for their vehicles with higher maintenance costs and further pay full for tolls. Grab fairs are fixed whlist taxi drivers at times refuse to use their meters and some taxis are not well kept. Give Grab driver same fairness on buying new cars and reduce toll rates then talk about equal status Mr Minister of PH
      .

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 1
    • LRT User on Jul 10, 2019 at 2:34 pm

      Level the playing field means uplifting taxi industry to Grab level of professionalism, not drag Grab down to the level of taxi uncompetitiveness & incompetence.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 2
  • Ben Yap on Jul 10, 2019 at 2:59 pm

    I rather drive my civic turbo to work and contribute to the jam up the city center than to pay high fare with lousy service from taxis or longer waiting time with high fare from Grab.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 5
  • transformer on Jul 10, 2019 at 3:20 pm

    Just need to start search for ride earlier… pay a little more….
    no worries! I will still uses Grab for my children… Grab safer with a little more higher charge….

    Who still rely on taxi and public bus this age????

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 0
  • Danny Tay on Jul 10, 2019 at 8:06 pm

    i was an utusan staff last year when i received MSS, and being a 31 y.o. junior editor still struggle to find suitable jobs. at moment grab allows me to pay bills and continue to pay my monthly corolla installment. anyway, what i see is that most drivers that willing to pursue full time driving already fulfilled their part. basically we need to do 3 things; 1. go for medical checkup, 2. get puspakom approval (at the expense of removing my raytech tint, painful but had to…) and 3. pass the ePSV test. the problem now is, to wait to be called for the ePSV test takes very long time. i just did my puspakom test today am and had a chat with several other e-hailing drivers while waiting for inspection. most of them said the waiting period for ePSV test is at least 20 days! imagine that you already done everything you could to continue driving grab but the operator still have not called you yet for the exam. i guess if grab still not calling me for the exam this 12th July (enforcement date), i may have to wait and find part time work someplace else.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • Not Toyota Fan on Jul 11, 2019 at 3:35 pm

      Poor preparation, poor planning, poor implementation by those that be are affecting the drivers and public. All in the name of satisfying the politics of the Minister.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • IMissTheOLDgrab on Jul 10, 2019 at 10:34 pm

    Gov killed e-hailing industry for taxi drivers. The main reason why grab works is there’s a lot of people wanted to do part time job and grab pays well enough. New regs just killed partimers and now we are here.

    Gov also has no strategy for public transport so we are left buying overpriced highly taxed sub-standard cars that contribute to jams or deal with gangsters taxi who either has bad attitude or had a car that is falling off but somehow passed inspection.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
    • Not Toyota Fan on Jul 11, 2019 at 3:36 pm

      Hear hear.

      If things don’t improve, this will be a one term ruling party come next GE.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
 

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