Reference is made to thearticle entitled ‘Uniforms compulsory in tougher taxi-driver laws’ (December 29), which contained a number of inaccuracies.
The legal notice, which amends the Taxi Services Regulations, was drawn up following consultations between the Transport Authority and the taxi owners’ association (TLWA), particularly over the last two years.
The amendments are inten-ded to achieve the following main objectives: improving the taxi experience of current and future customers; improving the regulatory framework so that it can better reflect the exigencies of the sector, the authority and the public; simplifying administrative procedures and ensuring effective implementation and enforcement of the regulations.
The article said that the original regulations “described taxi drivers as having to be of ‘good repute and good conduct’. However, this was never defined, meaning the authorities had little criteria against which to evaluate drivers, their performance or their eligibility for the job in the first place.”
It is incorrect to say that the good repute and good conduct requirements for taxi drivers were never defined.
The principal regulations in fact already defined the conduct requirements applicable for taxi operators and stipulated that the same requirements should also apply to taxi drivers.
One of the amendments to the principal regulations consists of the removal of the role of ‘taxi operator’ in order to simplify the sector’s organisation and regulation. Thus, the good repute and conduct requirements for drivers merely needed to be transposed (not defined) to reflect this change.
The article further stated that “the amendments also set standards for vehicles used as taxis. First-time permits will only be issued to new vehicles with a minimum engine capacity of 1,400cc. They will have to have ‘ample head space and leg room’ and working air conditioning. Taxis will have to be fitted with trackers and an emergency button, which should be displayed well within reach of both passengers and drivers.”
These vehicle standards were already set in the principal regulations. The main change is that the surveillance camera in taxis has become an optional, rather than a mandatory requirement. Surveillance cameras caused battery depletion in some vehicles and reduced customer confidence because of privacy issues.
The article also stated that “the regulations set out prices taxi drivers are obliged to follow. The most expensive one-way trip stretches from St Julian’s to Marsascala and will cost commuters €40.”
The same table of maximum fixed fares from taxi booths was already in force. The table ha been changed only to include four new locations where taxi booths may be set up.