Sharjah taxi drivers corrected for 'bad conduct'

Taxi drivers in Sharjah who were involved in highest number of incidents last year attended a training course by the Sharjah Taxi Corporation (STC) last week.

Fifty drivers from the four franchise companies were selected, based on the number of irregularities recorded in 2013.

The training – in languages English, Arabic and Urdu - was aimed at correcting  the mistakes and raising the performance of the drivers, explained Rabi’aa Al Marzouki, Diretcor, Franchising and Licensing Activities, DTC.

The training course was completed in two phases at the STC headquarters in Aazra.

Irregularities are not uncommon among taxi drivers in Sharjah. In fact, residents have often complained of bad behaviour of taxi drivers in the emirate, with little respect for the customer.

According to STC, common complaints about cabbies are abrupt stopping on the road, non-compliance with the traffic rules and blocking traffic on the road.

When this website reported on the issue a little more than a year ago, Faisal Al Mahmood, Head of the Monitoring Section and Quality Service at Sharjah Transport Corporation (STC) had said: “We have inspectors on the road who monitor drivers. When they observe a violation the driver is first penalized according to regulations. Then they look at the record of the driver, and if the violation was carried out repeatedly we subject the driver to re-training.”

“Drivers are also subjected to a black-point system. When the driver exceeds 24 black points he will be suspended and terminated,” he added.

Al Marzouki said that the company strives continuously to improve and develop its services,  as well as ensure the safety of all commuters, including additional services for women and family and those with special needs.

He further urged the public to communicate with the STC by reporting incidents involving the rude behaviour of drivers, the way they deal with passengers and their behaviour on the roads of Sharjah, in addition to giving their ideas and suggestions that could contribute to the improvement of their work.

To give feedback, contact 600525252.

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