The way citizens order taksi, but also the price they pay for driving, could be changed if the draft of the new Law on the transportation of passengers in road traffic is adopted, writes Biznis.rs portal.
As stated in the text, one of the most important novelties refers to rides that are contracted through electronic platforms and application. According to the proposed solutions, the price of such a ride could deviate from the local taxi tariff - depending on the demand, the user could pay up to 30 percent more or 20 percent less.
In the Professional Association of Taxi Entrepreneurs of Belgrade (SITAB), however, they believe that this model could cause numerous problems on the market and that it is not in the interest of passengers or taxi entrepreneurs.
"In the draft of the new Act on the transportation of passengers in road traffic, the application determines the price, that is, those who contract a ride through the application have a monopoly on the market, so this practically abolishes the taximeter and the prescribed price determined by the local government. The difference in prices is borne by the users or taxi drivers. the law on trade. The local authority has the right to prescribe certain prices of products and services.
According to their opinion, it is most important for users to receive professional service, to know the price of the ride in advance, to be transported by a professional driver and to have insurance during the ride, adds the portal Biznis.rs.
In SITAB, they particularly point to the problem of the work of so-called "wild taxi drivers", i.e. drivers who, according to their claims, work outside the regulations.
"We were not invited to participate in the drafting of the law. We submitted 15 proposals in written form, none of which were taken into consideration. The existing law is excellent, and such a proposal for a new law must not be adopted, because it was prepared for the privatization of the taxi industry, in favor of privileged owners and applications. It leads to the shutdown of taxi entrepreneurs," the association said.
Photo: Magnific / @wahyu-t Applications are becoming increasingly popular
They are looking for a new studio for Belgrade
One of the demands of the taxi entrepreneurs is the preparation of a new study of auto-taxi transport, which would determine how many vehicles Belgrade really needs.
As they state, the last study was done in 2019, while the City of Belgrade, according to their interpretation, is obliged to do such an analysis every five years.
"A study of auto-taxi transportation is necessary, which was last done in 2019. The City of Belgrade is obliged to prepare it every five years, that is, the Faculty of Traffic or Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade - to calculate the number of vehicles needed by users of taxi transportation, and to make this business of ours profitable. Belgrade taxi drivers annually pay 15 million euros to the budget of the Republic of Serbia," SITAB points out.
They also demand the introduction of the "one vehicle - one driver" rule, instead of the current possibility of multiple drivers using the same car.
Disputable conditions for taxi drivers
The association believes that the Draft Law could lower professional standards in the taxi industry.
They are particularly bothered by the proposal according to which a B category and a third degree vocational qualification would be sufficient for the job of a taxi driver, while certain current conditions would be abolished, including the qualification of a KV driver and five years of professional experience.
"We also need to introduce stricter control in our activity, especially when it comes to the qualifications of drivers, because it is very important who drives you and how educated they are in the field of traffic and safety. The draft law stipulates that a taxi driver is someone who has only a B category and a third degree vocational qualification, and the KV driver and five years of professional experience are abolished, which is really degrading for our profession. Taxi transport is part of public transport and professional drivers should perform it, with all the valid conditions prescribed by the current law", they point out from of SITAB.
This association points out that the problems in the taxi industry have been going on for years and that, before adopting new rules, it is necessary to take a detailed look at the market situation.
Photo: Tanjug / Amir HazlagićTraffic jam in Belgrade
Taxi drivers demand state supervision
SITAB expects greater involvement of competent institutions, primarily the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure and the City Secretariat for Transport.
As they state, they have been sending letters and reports about problems for years, but there is no concrete reaction.
"We regularly send them letters, reports on problems, and they transfer responsibilities to each other and enter into a vicious circle. This goes on for years, and the problems remain. It is necessary for the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure to supervise the implementation of the law on the transport of passengers in road traffic in Belgrade. We also addressed the Ministry of State Administration and Local Self-Government, which confirmed that the supervision should be carried out by the Ministry of Transport, as well as the Prime Minister. We are still waiting for an answer and actions," the interlocutors point out.
SITAB reminds that since 2009, they have launched various initiatives related to taxi activity - from the introduction of prescribed prices and subsidies for cars, to the preparation of a study on the optimal number of vehicles.
They also state that they sent more than 3.000 letters to the competent institutions, twice participated in the drafting of the law and organized six protests.
For now, it is not known to what extent their objections will be accepted and what will be the final text of the Law on the Transportation of Passengers in Road Traffic.
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