This is a new move to improve the nationwide shortage of taxi drivers. Fukuoka City is aiming to introduce a new system for the first time in Japan that allows taxi drivers even with an ordinary license if certain conditions are met, and is coordinating to request the national government to establish a special zone.
In the taxi industry, labor shortages are becoming more serious due to the lack of progress in the return of drivers who left their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic, and while demand is recovering, there is a nationwide problem that dispatching cannot keep up.
According to the people involved, in order to improve this situation, Fukuoka City is relaxing the regulations on the type 2 license required for taxi drivers, and is coordinating to request the national government to establish a special zone with the aim of introducing a new system in Japan that allows taxi drivers to operate even with an ordinary license if certain conditions are met.
Specific conditions include being an employee of a taxi company and taking a course.
The aim is to make it easier for operators to secure drivers by relaxing the regulations required for driving, and Fukuoka City will promote specific coordination with the national government and the taxi industry in the future.
In Japan, there are persistent cautious voices about lifting the ban on "ride-sharing," which uses private cars to transport people for a fee, and it is likely to attract attention as a new movement.
On the other hand, since this initiative will be responsible for transporting passengers without going through the strict process of obtaining a Class 2 license, how to ensure safety will be an issue.
What are the challenges to relaxing the "Type 2 license"?
A Type 2 license is a license required to drive a car for the purpose of transporting passengers, such as taxis, hire, and buses.
It is stipulated by the Road Traffic Act to ensure the safety of passengers, and taxi drivers are required to have an ordinary driver's license and receive training in departments and skills, and they are also required to take first aid training so that they can respond appropriately in the event of an emergency such as an abnormal change in passengers.
Since passengers will be transported without going through such a strict process, Fukuoka City is considering being an employee of a taxi company and taking training to ensure safety as conditions for relaxation, and how to ensure safety will be an issue.