SINGAPORE The already notorious safety records of Singapore's taxi drivers are getting worse, according to a press report Friday quoting traffic police. The report in the Straits Times newspaper comes as no shock to Singapore's tourists or residents, where taxi drivers are not known for their courtesy or safe driving. Last year they caused 500 accidents that led to death or injury, 40 more than in 1997, and 75 more than in 1996, the report said.

From January through October last year, the Land Transport Authority's statistics show 78 accidents for every 1,000 taxis, compared to 51 for 1,000 buses, 36 for 1,000 motorcycles, and 16 for 1,000 personal cars. But taxi drivers spend more time on the road than other drivers, covering about 125,000 kilometers per year, while the average car driver covers only 20,000 kilometers.

Assuming that all drivers are equally safe, the fact that you travel more means you have a higher likelihood of being in an accident, the newspaper quoted Dr. Chin Hoong Chor, chairman of the National Safety Council's road safety committee, as saying. Even if you do not compare them with other motorists, the fact is that their safety record worsened last year, the newspaper quoted Thomas Tan, an insurance agent and motorist, as saying.

(DPA)