The Public Transport Agency at Road & Transport Authority (RTA) has recently launched a campaign aimed at eliminating misconducts of taxi drivers in Dubai. The campaign has yielded positive results as reflected in the reduction of the total number of recorded offences against drivers, and the drop in public complaints from cabdrivers refusing to serve them to a noticeable extent to both the public and participants in the campaign. With taxi drivers now tending to be more responsive to serving passengers, it is observed that there are less passengers waiting for taxis at taxi ranks on public roads. The effective and positive participation of RTA’s female employees in the campaign also made a positive impression on the public and franchise companies alike and contributed to minimizing the phenomenon of taxi drivers refusing to serve female passengers.

Mansoor Rahma Al Falasi, Acting Director of Franchising and Monitoring Department at RTA Public Transport Agency, stated that the one-week campaign was a success and involved voluntary participation by 24 male and female employees hailing from various categories and job grades at the Agency, who were able to monitor and report 14 offences concerning reckless and irresponsible driving endangering human life in addition to other miscellaneous offences.

“The Safe and Disciplined Campaign has produced a number of positive points, foremost of which is that it had featured a specific programme and objective behind launching such campaigns to eliminate the misconduct of taxi drivers, promote the standard of RTA service provided to taxi passengers and demonstrate a drawn-up plan for the participants in the campaign. Another aspect is that the campaign involved the participation of a number of male and female employees of various RTA agencies, who, disguising as taxi passengers, were able to record offences on the spot against all offending drivers. In essence, the participation of the RTA female employees echoed a positive impression among taxi drivers and the public”. Al Falasi said. The campaign covered all areas of Dubai Emirate, shopping malls and the areas, from which complaints were received from the public through the Call Centre.

Al Falasi concluded by emphasizing RTA’s keen interest in working continuously towards tracking down the phenomenon of taxi drivers refusing to serve passengers and combat all malpractices having negative bearing on service provision and distorting RTA image amongst all segments and spectrums of the society. Meanwhile, RTA is also launching awareness campaigns among the public that are aimed at disseminating awareness about the duty of drivers and underscoring the cases and places where driver cannot stop to pick up passengers.