• The Mandarin term “黄顶德士” is a paraphrase of the English term “Yellow Top taxi”.
• In 1933, Wearne Brothers Limited introduced the first batch of Yellow Top taxis to Singapore.
• In the 1960s, due to the lack of a comprehensive public transport system in Singapore, people who did not own their own vehicle often had to make use of taxis to get around.
• At the time, there were two main types of taxis: licensed Yellow Top taxis and unlicensed vehicles for hire.
• The rampant behaviour of the illegal vehicles affected the livelihood of Yellow Top taxi drivers. In the 1970s, the Government implemented new taxi policies in response.
• Under the new regulations, the Government stopped issuing individual taxi licences. New taxi drivers could only obtain their licence through NTUC Comfort. In addition, the Government cracked down on the drivers of the illegal vehicles for hire.
• The last batch of Yellow Top taxi drivers who obtained their individual taxi licences before 1973 will turn 75 by 2032. This is the age limit for taxi drivers as mandated by the Ministry of Transport. Yellow Top taxis will thus cease to exist after 2032.
• Taxi fares are calculated by meter for both Yellow Top and ordinary taxis.

As of November last year, there were more than 23,400 taxis. Except for Yellow Top taxi drivers, all taxi drivers are considered self-employed, with no Central Provident Fund contributions or medical benefits. (Lianhe Zaobao, 15/1/2018)