The alternative news in 1 day? (part 18) – Fine transport operators

By Leong Sze Hian
I refer to the article “Bus operators could be fined S$4,000 for every 6-sec-delay” (Today, Jan 6).
Fine per 0.1 min late?
It states that “PTOs can be fined between S$1,300 to S$4,000 for every 0.1 minute (6 seconds) that the EWT is higher than the baseline score of the particular service.
Incentive per 0.1 min early? 
If the service shows improvement, PTOs stand to receive between S$2,000 and S$6,000 for every 0.1 minute that the EWT score improves from the baseline.”
More stress for drivers?
Wouldn’t bus drivers be stressed by such a move?
Safety and service compromised?
Would safety be compromised?
Would good service and courtesy start to diminish, to give way to punctuality?
Traffic jams?
Seriously, isn’t 0.1 minute kind of stretching it to the point of ridicule? Haven’t we heard of traffic jams, heavy rain or accidents?
Past statistics?
What is the expected 6 months’ fine or improvement incentive for the bus operators?
Surely, such data may be available based on the past records.
Bigger carrot than stick?
What is the rationale for making the carrot bigger than the stick?
More often late than early – still get incentive?
Since the “earlier” incentive ($2,000 for every 0.1 minute) can be as much as 54 per cent ($2,000 divided by $1,300) more than the fine for being late ($1,300 for every 0.1 minute), does it mean that even if on the average a service is more often late than early – the operator may still get an incentive payment?
Commuters end up paying?
If there are fines, is it not akin to the commuters paying at the end of the day?
If the end result is an improvement incentive payment – isn’t it like taxpayers paying for it too?
In other developed countries, I understand that service lapses result in fare reductions, fare credits or free rides for commuters.
In Singapore, commuters may be worse off either way.
More taxpayers’ money for operators?
Also, why are we using taxpayers’ money to reward  transport operators for being just a little earlier than schedule?
Are there any other countries that do this?
Increase fares and fines? 
As the operators have applied for a fare increase – why not keep fares the same, instead of increasing fares and then possibly fine them or worse still – even rewarding them?
[spacer style=”1″ icon=”none”] See “Trial to improve bus service reliability by penalise and reward system for PTOs”
First 15 Bus services involved in the trial are: 3, 17, 39, 52, 176, 184, 188, 228, 241, 242,  302, 325, 858, 901 and 911.