RIYADH, 13 June 2006 — Livery drivers will soon be a phone call away. Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry told the owners of private taxi services in Riyadh that his ministry will make it mandatory on all limousine companies to equip their vehicles with wireless radio in order to improve services.
“Up until now, equipping the limousines (with radios) remained optional,” the minister said. “And so far no company had installed these facilities in their vehicles.”
The minister said that the government had decided to make radios mandatory in part to help avoid the need for people to hail taxis on the street.
“This will also help reduce the traffic, fuel costs and smog since it would reduce the number of taxis cruising for passengers,” said Al-Seraisry.
The minister also announced that his office has declined the proposal to extend the legal time that vehicles may be used for limo service from five to six years, a request that had been made by private limousine companies in an effort to reduce overhead costs.
“A taxi covers an average of 400 kilometers a day,” said the minister. “Extending the vehicle’s period of use could cause inconvenience to passengers who would not get value for their money.”
While the government continues its policy of replacing expatriate workers with Saudis, the minister said for the time being it would be difficult to Saudize the nation’s force of livery drivers.
He urged the limousine companies to attract Saudi drivers by offering better perks and facilities.
The minister also said a special committee has been set up comprising ministry and Riyadh municipal officials to come up with a strategy for doing away with the old coaster buses plying the streets of the nation’s capital.
The minister was addressing the owners of public transport companies at a meeting arranged by the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry at its auditorium. The chamber’s Vice President Abdulaziz Al-Athel chaired the proceedings.
