Transport Ministry mulls measures after over 10,600 complaints about taxis
More than 10,600 complaints have been received about taxi services, the Ministry of Transport said, while outlining its policy to expedite improvements in taxi services that are "convenient, safe, and reasonably priced".
According to information from the Department of Land Transport's website on complaints received through the Passenger Protection Center at 1584 during fiscal 2024 (October 2023 to February 2024), 10,687 were related specifically to the use of taxi services.
The top 10 complaints regarding taxi services, based on the number of complaints received, were: refusal to pick up passengers 2,291; rude behaviour/language 1,872; reckless driving 1,285; not using the meter 1,054; not taking passengers to agreed destinations 564; overcharging passengers 503; taking longer routes than necessary 450; meter reading discrepancies 438; incorrect licence plate display 403; and illegal parking/blocking traffic or bus stops 335.
The ministry said it was assigning the Department of Land Transport to identify the causes of taxi drivers rejecting passengers and to address these issues.
Additionally, they will collaborate with the Thailand Development Research Institute to develop the quality of taxi services comprehensively, including researching appropriate fares that reflect current living costs without burdening the public.
The penalties for taxi drivers who refuse to pick up passengers include a fine of up to 1,000 baht and mandatory attendance of a training programme for a minimum of three hours, as stipulated by the Department of Land Transport. Repeat offences may result in the suspension of the driver's licence for a period ranging from one to six months.
Citizens can report wrongdoing and receive rewards according to regulations for informing about violations after inspection and completion of penalty or legal action processes, the ministry said.
