Taxis and Hire-Cars with Driver

Objective

Develop proposals, to be submitted to the Passenger Transport Council, to promote and develop taxi transport, as well as to protect the interests of taxi operators.

Working programme

• Examine the impact of taxi services on land use planning, and define proposals for the promotion of the use of taxis, to be advocated by the Member Associations with their appropriate authorities, and designed to strengthen and enhance the role of taxis in urban and rural areas:
  • as a complementary or a substitution service, under certain circumstances, for public transport, i.e. the integration of taxis into collective/public transport and their recognition as a means of collective/public transport;
  • as a valid alternative to the use of private cars in order to relieve urban traffic congestion, reduce pollution and improve the urban environment.
• Represent the interests of the sector and communicate its positions to all appropriate decision-makers at international level.
• Monitor developments in:
  • the related transport sectors and the work of those organisations which may have a bearing on taxi transport and intervene at the appropriate levels as required;
  • the field of road safety and security in taxi transport;
  • transport of people with disabilities;
  • rules for access to the profession;
  • cooperation and integration of taxis in collective/public transport and promote the recognition of taxis as a means of collective/public transport capable of offering a valid alternative to the use of private cars;
  • the field of technology, such as the use of on-board electronic data collection systems, the computerisation of taxi call centres, as well as satellite vehicle tracking systems (GPS and GPRS for dispatch centres);
  • legislation and initiatives from international bodies (UN, UNECE and EU) likely to be applied to the taxi sector - particularly in relation to taxation of mineral oils, road safety, passenger transport security and public service requirements.
• Monitor and reflect on the development of new markets, the diversification of services, the diversification and flexibility of fares and the harmonisation of their structure, to satisfy new market or special services requirements.
• Promote faster introduction of new and cleaner vehicles in taxi market by means of incentives, compensations and appropriate transitional periods for operators, and make known the contribution of taxis in environmental protection in urban areas.
• Exchange best practices between Members on issues of interest for taxi operators.
• Increase the level of participation of members in the IRU Group “Taxis and Hire-Cars with Driver” meetings, and attract new members to join the Group.