State puts breaks on unruly taxis

Smoking, spitting and smelly food have been banned from China's taxis, and cab drivers who refuse customers because of the passenger's destination could be disciplined.

These are among the new taxi service operation standards published by the National Standardization Administration and taking effect from Tuesday.

According to the new standards, taxi drivers will not be allowed to pick and choose passengers depending on where the customer intends to go.

For many people, this has been a familiar scenario. In some cases, taxi drivers ask the destination before passengers get in the cab and refuse service with excuses such as lack of fuel or road construction.

In fact, observers say the drivers actually feel the proposed fare would not be profitable due to snarled traffic or slim chances of finding a passenger for a return trip.

Now, a passenger who is denied service after telling the driver his destination can complain to the taxi company. The new standards state that the complaint must be addressed within 24 hours and the passenger will receive the result in 10 days.

The standards also placed a ban on peculiar smelling food, as well as smoking or splitting by drivers during their service.

Taxi companies were also ordered to establish lost-and-found systems for the convenience of passengers.

Finally, taxi drivers were urged to practice 26 useful phrases to passengers during the trip in both Chinese and English. Among the phrases are, "Please fasten your seatbelt," "It's my pleasure to be at your service" and "Please note my plate number."