Taxi Industry Must Toe The Line

THERE is a clear need for the regulation of taxis in the public interest, and such rules need to be formalised, explained to the public, and implemented without further ado.

There was public mayhem in Windhoek this week when hundreds of taxi drivers took to the streets to protest a municipal regulation which requires the yellow ‘taxi’ signs to be affixed to the roofs of their vehicles. The City Police had apparently pulled over taxis in the capital, fining those who were non-compliant when they went to renew their municipal registration certificates.The protests at times turned violent, and also resulted in the blocking of public roads and resultant inconvenience to motorists in the city. There was also apparently no permission granted for the protest, which was deemed ‘illegal’, and a number of taxi drivers were arrested.There is an absolute need for regulation of the taxi industry. It is an open secret that many taxis (whether pirate or legitimate) have been used in the commission of crimes on a number of occasions. Often this is possible because they have no clear markings, even disguised number plates, and this is a threat to the safety of those who take rides in vehicles such as these and risk being robbed or worse; as well as city residents, whose homes have been burgled by people who have got away in taxis.It was encouraging news some time back to learn that plans were afoot to ensure that all taxis would be uniform in colour, again a measure to separate the legal vehicles from the pirates, with other clear demarcations including lit signs on the roofs of the vehicles.Nothing has come of the taxi colours as yet, and currently some of the taxi drivers are clearly unhappy about the roof signs, which they say result in holes in their vehicles, making them problematic to use as private cars when it rains, and also damages the vehicle for re-sale.We believe that if the law requires such signs, then this must be adhered to by the owners of taxis, for it is both in their own interests as well as those of commuters.There are those who would argue that it is costly to paint and affix signs, but it must be remembered that taxis are a business, and as such, should be expected to comply with regulations or forfeit their licence to transport members of the public who pay for the service.Namibia does not have to reinvent the wheel when it looks at the regulation of this industry, for it is something that happens in most countries of the world, and a well-organised, professional, safe and well-maintained taxi service is essential to the city’s good image, both in the eyes of local inhabitants, as well as foreign visitors who also make use of these services.The City Police are absolutely correct when they argue against the magnetic signs affixed to the roofs by some taxi drivers, who argue that these are easily removable when they want to use the vehicle for private purposes. It is equally true to say that the removable signs make it easier for unscrupulous taxi drivers to allow their vehicles to be used in the commission of crimes than those on which they’re permanently affixed.The City Police should therefore not compromise on this.They have given Nabta three weeks to come up with ways in which this can be done without ‘damaging’ the taxis. It would appear at this point as if compromise will only result in the continuation of the use of removable signs, and the Police need to stand their ground on this one, or risk making no difference at all to the current status quo governing the use of taxis for criminal purposes.In most countries the taxi roof lights are on or off depending on whether the driver is on duty or not, and there is no reason why they cannot permanently affix the signs, because an off light would indicate that the taxi is not in public use and this in turn would cover the drivers’ arguments about needing to use the vehicles for private purposes.We believe the City Police should stick to their guns on this regulation, and we would also request that they speedily resolve the issue of the compulsory taxi colours, so that in the future, taxis will only be given the licence to operate if their vehicles are compliant with the regulations.The City cannot afford the kind of anarchy experienced in the streets this week, so they should insist on the taxi industry being brought into line because it will be better for all, including taxi owners themselves, in the long run.