Taxi Driver Online

Fujairah's Asian taxi drivers accused of running illegal trips

UAE national taxi drivers have alleged that their Asian counterparts have been robbing them of business through underhand means.

More than 55 national drivers out of a total of 270 working on the Fujairah-Sharjah-Dubai route, said Asians lure passengers on the highways instead of waiting at the taxi station for their turn. They have complained to the Traffic and Licensing Department and the municipality and urged them to regulate the sector.

Hamad Ali Salem, a national, said: "We don't know what to do? They are stealing our earnings and destroying our profession by taking advantage of loopholes in the law."

The Traffic and Licensing Department has tried to re-organise the sector and deployed traffic patrols round the clock, but he said Asians have been one step ahead.

Jasim Abdullah Humaid, another national, urged the authorities to build a special, well-equipped taxi station in Fujairah that will arrange daily trips not only from Fujairah to Sharjah and Dubai, but regular direct trips to the other emirates too. This will stop manipulation by Asian drivers. He said traffic patrols also should be deployed on main and arterial streets to prevent Asian drivers from picking passengers up.

Abdullah bin Obeid, a national, said: "When a person comes to the taxi station to get to Dubai, he has to wait for a long time till there are enough passengers in the cab. Hence, people wait on the highways where Asian cabbies pick them up."

Other nationals said there is no local authority to protect them from the 'dangerous domination' of Asian drivers. One national alleged no Asian has been fined and nor have their cars been seized for offences.

He said: "There is no supervision at the present taxi station in Fujairah. There is no control either on the small taxi parking area near the Plaza Cinema or on the highways." Other drivers urged the authorities to improve the current taxi station located near the Fujairah Police Department, or build another in the city centre to make it easier for passengers who have to take a cab to get to the station.

Major Ghanem Ahmed Ghanem, head of the Traffic and Licensing Department, said they are doing their best to curb illegal practices by taxi drivers.

"More traffic patrols will comb the roads, particularly the highways to prevent Asian drivers from picking passengers up. Offenders will be fined and their vehicles confiscated."

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IDFIMH

Before the PC brigade comment, the subject heading is pointing to the same old story of some drivers trying it on, and officialdom ignoring it.

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IDFIMH

And of course Sussex your are the paragon of PC virtue.

Alex

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ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ

Simply the best taxi forum in the whole wide world. www.taxi-driver.co.uk

But at least he speak his mind.
I wish more of us would. Not just on here but at the council.