Rogue taxi drivers are once again under the spotlight as the Interior Ministry vows a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to the perpetrators, a senior official has confirmed.
Many of the unregulated operators are cashing in by providing regular clients with services, from night clubbers to parents wanting a cheaper ride for the school run.
Customers often fail to appreciate the potential pitfalls such as invalid insurance, car safety checks or the potential criminal intent of the man behind the wheel.
General Directorate of Traffic legal affairs head Major Khalid Buqais has stated that the ministry is doubling down on such violations and that legal consequences await those who flaunt the rules.
“It is a very serious violation,” he said. “The main concern is around safety, whether the driver has the ability to transport people safely or not, and whether the vehicle itself – be it a car or bus – is safe enough to do the job. That is why the vehicles need to be specifically licensed by the relevant authorities.
“On top of that, it is also unfair on legitimate taxi drivers who are simply trying to make a living and abide by the rules. These people pay for a certification, authorisation and licensing to be able to pursue taxi driving as a career, while the irregular ones avoid any fees.
“Without the proper authorisation, it is an unfair competitive advantage, one which we will not tolerate.”
Major Buqais has revealed that an ongoing campaign has recently intensified in order to identify violators.
Major Buqais
“The transportation sector is an important one in the kingdom, which is why it is crucial to crack down on these illegal operators,” he explained. “We are constantly inspecting suspected individuals and vehicles in order to ensure that not only do they have the necessary authorisation, but also to be sure that the transport itself is up for the task.
“The directorate is stepping up the campaign and it is being held all over the kingdom across every directorate.”
One British expatriate teenager told the GDN: “We have a number to call ‘Ramesh’ whenever I or my friends need a cheap ride. It’s always an old car that picks us up and often a different driver and they all say, ‘call me Ramesh’.”
And, a middle-aged American college lecturer added that she had a regular driver she trusted who always ensured she ‘got home safely’ and insisted she always paid him ‘the going rate’ if there was ‘too long a wait for an Uber driver’.
The authorities also hope that taxi drivers check they have gone through the necessary procedures or else they will suffer legal consequences. “Make sure that all of your necessary documentation and licences are updated and that you have the correct Commercial Registration if necessary,” he added.
“Whether you are an expat or a citizen, do not provide any paid transportation services without them, otherwise you are risking facing prison time for up to six months, and fine of up to BD1,000.
“Such illegal practices harm the national economy and the private sector as a whole, therefore, we will continue to monitor for violations, and no exceptions will be made.
“As for the people using such services, always ensure that the taxis, buses of any other form of transportation are licensed. If you are not sure, use the official taxis, as it is better to be safe than sorry.”
The GDN reported earlier this month that there are 374 land transport companies, two of which are branches of foreign franchises authorised to work in Bahrain. This was confirmed by Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Mohammed Al Kaabi.
Over the past few months, a number of rogue drivers were arrested for providing illegal taxi services, and legal measures have been taken against all of them, as reported by the GDN.
In January, it was announced that licences had been granted to 1,415 taxi drivers in the kingdom, 945 of which were Bahrainis. Around 406 licences were under the private sector and the others issued for services provided by eight companies.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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