Taxis get tech

By Leon Engelbrecht, ITWeb senior writer

Johannesburg, 14 Feb 2008

Gauteng wants to improve the quality of service rendered by the province's fleet of registered meter taxis by prescribing IT.

"There are plans to ensure that metered taxis in SA, like their international counterparts, should take advantage of innovative technologies to enhance their service," says Gauteng transport department spokesman Alfred Nhlapo. There are about 1 600 registered meter taxis operating in the province.

"[The department] is not prescribing any specific IT," he adds. "However, draft regulations that are currently being considered by the State Attorney, proposes that all taxis need to have a meter, as well as the necessary technology that helps in the identification of taxis, coupled with a record of trips and services to the authorities, as and when required.

"This includes an indication of how operators manage their services. It is the functions that are prescribed, but not necessarily specific technologies," Nhlapo explains.

"Navigational systems are part of the technology used by cabs in many countries around the world. Technologies such as tracking devices are critical management tools, as well as security tools for the industry.

"It is important to know where the taxis are at all times, whether or not they are occupied or if they are free to pick up passengers 'just in time', what types of distances they are travelling a day/week/month, when are they due for a service and how much fuel are they consuming," he adds.

Nhlapo says, under a taxi cab revitalisation programme involving the Gauteng Metered Taxi Council, 126 taxis have been fitted with navigation devices.