Writing is on the wall for taxis

THE days of disregard for traffic rules and over-crowding of taxis in a given area are numbered.

In time, taxi owners will be expected to mark their vehicles with black-and-yellow chequered strips on either side and within the next five years, all taxis will have to be sprayed the same colour. Picking up and dropping off passengers in areas other than demarcated taxi ranks will cost taxi and bus drivers their driving licence.Minister of Works, Transport and Communication Joel Kaapanda informed the National Assembly last week that a new transport policy is in the offing to ensure efficient, safe and affordable public transport.Consultations between local authorities, law enforcement agencies and the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) are currently underway to make contributions to the new legislation, which would regulate both urban taxis and long-distance buses.The policy will prescribe the number and type of permits that are allowed to be issued within a five-year period in line with the need for transport in a specific area.The new transport policy would also allow the Works Minister to prescribe standards for vehicles used for public transport.”Furthermore, the taxis and buses will only be allowed to stop in demarcated parking bays to allow passengers to embark and disembark.In the event that a bus or taxi is caught by a law enforcement officer allowing passengers to embark and disembark at any other place except at a demarcated parking bay, such bus or taxi permit will immediately be suspended,” Kaapanda warned during his motivation of the Works budget of N$675 million for 2006-07.Any taxi or bus driver found contravening this law will have his driving licence suspended.Kaapanda did not say how much longer the public would have to wait before stricter public transport regulations come into effect.Picking up and dropping off passengers in areas other than demarcated taxi ranks will cost taxi and bus drivers their driving licence.Minister of Works, Transport and Communication Joel Kaapanda informed the National Assembly last week that a new transport policy is in the offing to ensure efficient, safe and affordable public transport.Consultations between local authorities, law enforcement agencies and the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) are currently underway to make contributions to the new legislation, which would regulate both urban taxis and long-distance buses.The policy will prescribe the number and type of permits that are allowed to be issued within a five-year period in line with the need for transport in a specific area.The new transport policy would also allow the Works Minister to prescribe standards for vehicles used for public transport.”Furthermore, the taxis and buses will only be allowed to stop in demarcated parking bays to allow passengers to embark and disembark.In the event that a bus or taxi is caught by a law enforcement officer allowing passengers to embark and disembark at any other place except at a demarcated parking bay, such bus or taxi permit will immediately be suspended,” Kaapanda warned during his motivation of the Works budget of N$675 million for 2006-07.Any taxi or bus driver found contravening this law will have his driving licence suspended.Kaapanda did not say how much longer the public would have to wait before stricter public transport regulations come into effect.