Lesson for the future: experts talked about the effects of mandatory certification of taxi drivers

From March 1, taxi drivers in the capital and the Moscow region will be able to take orders and transport passengers only if they successfully pass the certification for knowledge of the city, rules of transportation and emergency measures. According to experts, this measure will help improve the safety of passenger transportation. Izvestia found out what the industry expects from certification and how likely it is that this practice will spread to other regions of Russia.

The road will be mastered by the rider

From the very beginning, experts argued that certification would not cause problems for taxi drivers, since it includes only those issues that drivers still know. How Sergey Aleksyuk, head of the Taxi Transportation Development Department of the Moscow Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development, saidduring a press conference at Izvestia, the certification consists of three blocks concerning the taxi driver's knowledge of the main infrastructure facilities and routes to them, rules for the transportation of passengers and luggage, as well as emergency measures. In other words, we are talking about the possession of information that is necessary for any taxi driver in his daily work.

"The test consists of ten questions, they are given 20 minutes. To pass the certification, you need to answer eight of them. We see that about 80% of taxi drivers pass certification the first time," said Sergey Alekseuk.

The questions proposed during the testing simulate the situations and actions of the driver in the event of an accident, fire, or the discovery of things forgotten by passengers in the cabin, including items that may pose a potential danger. The certification also involves checking the taxi driver's skills to choose the best route to key infrastructure facilities such as train stations, sports, leisure, and medical facilities.

In other words, the certification does not require anything new from the drivers. All the issues included in the certification are already a prerequisite for employment in a taxi and are prescribed in federal laws: the Charter of Motor Transport and Urban Land Electric Transport, adopted in 2007, as well as in the Labor Code of the Russian Federation, experts say.

From the passenger seat

Experts do not hide the fact that taxi driver testing is primarily aimed at ensuring professional transportation services for taxi passengers. The introduction of testing will not change anything for responsible drivers and taxi companies, and trips will become even safer and more convenient for passengers. The taxi driver's confirmation of professional knowledge, which is fixed in the legislation as mandatory, will ensure for passengers that there is a professional driving who knows the city well and knows how to act in emergency situations.

"The certification checks Moscow taxi drivers for knowledge of passenger transportation rules, emergency procedures and key facilities in the city. Passengers will be sure that they are being driven by a professional who knows how to act in emergency situations. The introduction of certification is a consistent step towards improving the quality and safety of transportation. For those drivers who work in the market according to all the rules, confirmation of their professional level will not be a problem," says Ilya Zotov, chairman of the All—Russian Passenger Association.

Experts also point out that the introduction of mandatory certification will make taxis an even safer, more professional and high-quality service.

Moscow in the vanguard

For the capital, taxi is a sought—after urban service. More than 1.7 million people are transported by taxi in Moscow every day. At such a scale, it is especially important that testing will allow drivers to confirm their professional knowledge, and passengers to be confident in the safety and comfort of trips.

"The taxi service industry is developing rapidly, so it is necessary to improve the skills of drivers who work in Moscow and the Moscow region. In order for the service to meet the highest standards of service provision for passengers, taxi drivers must navigate the infrastructure of the city. The introduction of mandatory certification is an important step to make taxis a better and safer service," said Sabina Tsvetkova, Chairman of the Transport Commission of the Moscow City Duma.

Over the past few years, major changes have taken place in the taxi industry aimed at improving safety and quality of service. In August 2021, the KIS ART taxi analytics system was launched, which allows us to screen out drivers with insufficient experience, those who violate traffic regulations, and those who do not undergo medical and technical examinations. Thanks to the KIS ART taxi analytics system, orders are transferred only to professional drivers with at least three years of driving experience.

On September 1, 2023, a new taxi law came into force, which established the responsibility of taxi ordering services to passengers. According to the adopted law, the ordering services ensure that orders are transferred only to qualified drivers who are in the state or who have a work permit in a taxi. This excludes situations where a driver is driving without a license, with an expired license, or with a foreign license that is not allowed to work in Russia. Industry experts are confident that driver testing will be the next step towards ensuring the safety of passenger transportation.