The executive director of the Public Transport Agency at the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, Ahmed Hashem Bahruzian, told "Emirates Today" that the authority decided to reduce the number of taxis during the night period in which the "national sterilization program" is applied from 8 pm until 6 am, as the authority shortened a request Those vehicles, to be only through the "Karim" and "Uber" applications, adding that the authority warns passengers through text messages that taxis must be used for transportation only when necessary, in compliance with the instructions taken at the state level that they must stay in homes.
Behruzian stressed that taxis are subjected daily to cleaning and sterilization as a precautionary measure to combat the spread of the new Corona virus, but a decision was made to reduce the number to fit the decrease in the number of passengers due to not allowing roaming in the streets during the period of national sterilization, which necessitated the need to reduce material and human burdens on Companies providing taxi service during the current period.
Behroozyan said that the presence of taxi vehicles was distributed to cover all areas in the emirate, indicating that the first days of reducing their number during the night period did not witness any obstacles in providing the service, as it was characterized by the rapid availability of taxi vehicles without delay and in a period of time not exceeding 5 minutes.
Asked about the authority’s role in educating customers to adhere to precautionary measures to prevent the virus, Bahruzian said that no one can be prevented from asking for a taxi, but passengers are warned that they must go to the necessary places.
And on how to ensure that all franchise companies operating in Dubai apply the taxi service to the precautionary health requirements, Bahruzian stressed the obligation of all companies to follow the standards and protective conditions applied by the authority, as well as the procedures for sterilizing vehicles and thermal examination for drivers before they take over the vehicle, where if it shows a high temperature The driver, or has any obvious signs of fatigue, is sent immediately for rest.
Regarding obliging passengers to wear the muzzle as part of the measures taken to ensure the safety of passengers and drivers, Behroozyan said that the authority encourages passengers to wear the muzzle and that they should follow the instructions announced within the preventive measures to combat Corona, adding that the muzzle is not compulsory for drivers, but it is not permitted to transport more than two passengers in Single trip sterilizers are also available inside the cab for the driver and passengers.
Behroozyan said that there are facilities equipped to receive drivers and quarantine them in the event of monitoring any manifestations of fatigue on them, and the isolation measures are being taken in accordance with the health standards and practices announced by the Ministry of Health and Community Protection.
It is mentioned that taxis and public transportation lines were provided in place of the metro service, during the restriction of movement at night during the period of national sterilization, with the aim of ensuring and facilitating the transportation of passengers from the categories excluded because of their working conditions, especially the workers in the medical sector, health care and pharmacies.