The first taxis equipped with video surveillance equipment, a taxi-meter, a tracking system and a panic button were put on show yesterday, as the reform of the newly liberalised sector continues to be implemented.
Over the next few months all taxis, numbering 300, will have these devices installed. There used to be 250 taxis (50 of them in Gozo) licensed to ply their trade but 50 new licences will have been issued by next year in a gradual process that has already seen 20 of them awarded. Applicants for 20 more are under consideration.
The owners of the existing taxis will receive a €3,000 grant from the government towards the new equipment.
Speaking about the new measures yesterday, Transport Minister Austin Gatt said taxis were an important part of any modern transport system.
Electric mini-cab services, which were once restricted to Valletta, have now also been liberalised and can operate anywhere around the island, with Dr Gatt hoping that commuters would start making more use of them. He said there had been interest shown by a number of prospective operators. Yesterday, the press were shown three mini-cabs whose operator had just received a licence to operate in Valletta.
“We’re going through a very difficult time with the bus system, as Arriva still hasn’t given us the service we were expecting of it, but we hope that the launch of these two services for two different markets will help to alleviate the blow,” Dr Gatt said.
“So far, taxis have been targeted more at tourists than the Maltese. I hope that these reforms will lead to more custom for them,” Dr Gatt said, adding that the reforms had been undertaken with the agreement of the association that represents taxi drivers.
However, one of the main drawbacks of the taxi service – the price – might be hard to swallow for many locals.
The prices fixed by Transport Malta for tickets sold at booths means a short trip from the airport to Kirkop will cost a maximum of €11, while a trip from Valletta to Ċirkewwa will set the customer back as much as €32.
When selling tickets from fixed points, drivers will not have to switch on their taxi meter.
The meters also make it compulsory for drivers to issue receipts and they have the option of accepting credit or debit card payments. Drivers can also give discounts using the meter itself, which Dr Gatt said would make the market more competitive.
Taxi drivers are also being required to attend a 46-hour course in both practice and theory. The courses cover everything from interpersonal skills to “safe and ecological driving”, as well as basic language skills.
The tracking device installed in taxis will enable Transport Malta’s control room to know their position, speed and taxi meter status.
In cases of emergency, drivers or passengers can press the “panic button” which alerts the control room so that it could possible send help.
Another feature aimed at increasing passenger and driver safety is a CCTV camera trained on the back seats, which will only be used in the event of an investigation by the police or TM, and will be destroyed 10 days after being taken. The camera will be filming at two frames per second when the vehicle is moving but will switch to eight frames a second when the vehicle stops or the doors open. Vehicles are also equipped with a two-way radio system.