Saudi FM calls Indian, Pakistani counterparts to discuss developments    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Arabia cracks down on fraudulent Hajj campaigns, urges pilgrims to use official channels    Nammos Amala Resort to open soon with Saudi-Greek designs    Saudi Arabia completes 674 Vision 2030 initiatives, achieves 93% of KPIs as ninth-year milestone marked    Literature Commission inaugurates Saudi Pavilion at Muscat Book Fair    Saudi Minister of Culture holds talks with his Costa Rican counterpart in Jeddah    Alkhorayef praises advancements in Al-Kharj food industries sector    MHRSD: 80% of recruitment offices are non-compliant with regulations    At least 50 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza    Teenage girl killed in French school stabbing attack    Trump claims meeting with China after Beijing denies any trade negotiations    GACA chief chairs 16th meeting of the Steering Committee on aviation's strategy    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Stopping licenses is not enough
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 28 - 08 - 2016

There are no precise statistics on the number of taxis in the Kingdom, but everyone agrees the country's taxi sector is in total chaos.
Some reports indicate that the number of taxis exceeds 200,000, but others say only 50,000 of taxis are licensed, with 35,000 of them driven by Saudis. There are also about 1,300 licenses for public taxis, and recently 11 licenses were issued for guiding vehicles, like Uber and Careem.
All these licenses are for different kinds of vehicles that will ply our streets and roads, for drivers with various levels of competence, all amid a system that is unclear and unspecific.
There have been many attempts to organize this market, but till now none have succeeded. Late last year, sources at the Ministry of Transport confirmed that a ban would be imposed on taxis at the beginning of 2016.
The sources added that this would apply to big companies, then implemented gradually on medium and small companies. Special mechanisms and systems will be drawn up for vehicles owned by individuals.
However, this system has not been activated due to many obstacles that it faces. Foremost among these is that a large number of Saudis own taxis and object to the fees levied in return for operating the system.
In an attempt to solve the inherent problems in this system, it was announced recently that the ministries of transport, labor and the interior had begun procedures for setting up a company to organize the work of taxi operating companies. Among the goals of these companies is to provide jobs in the sector to Saudis, specify a minimum monthly salary of SR5,000 and provide a work environment suitable for them.
This was followed by the Ministry of Transport's announcement that it would stop issuing licenses for operating public taxis in Riyadh and Jeddah due to the noticeable increase in their numbers in the two cities. The decision also included stopping adding new cars to the existing fleet of licensed companies in Riyadh and Jeddah, except for replacing old cars. It also included the re-evaluation of public taxi services in Riyadh and Jeddah in light of the need for this activity.
Whoever has visited these two cities over the last decade or so will know well that the system for small taxis requires reconsideration. There is chaos right from the gates of airports, at the headquarters of government departments, and on main roads. They are the main cause for many of the accidents.
Furthermore, many of the taxis do not switch on their taxi meters. They are little more than decorations. Some of them are not clean, while others are operated by three drivers for eight hours each. This is aside from the competition by private car owners.
Stopping the issuance of licenses for operating taxis in Riyadh and Jeddah is a good step in order to stop more cars from entering the market, but it is not enough. It is important to reorganize and restructure this activity totally and take advantage of the experience of companies like Uber and Careem that have been well received by the public for the services they provide.


Clic here to read the story from its source.