The Istanbul Taxi Drivers' Chamber is preparing to introduce a new taxi service system aimed at improving service efficiency and reducing empty taxi rides in the metropolis, reports the website “Hürriyet Daily News“, writes BTA.
The system, developed entirely by the Chamber, envisages integrating all taxis and taxi stands in the city into a common network that would allow all taxi drivers in Istanbul to work together. It will also allow drivers to avoid empty rides after dropping off a customer at a location, by redirecting them to the nearest stand or to the next customer.
According to Chamber Chairman Ismet Dalci, the reform aims to improve the efficiency of taxi services through digitalization. According to data cited by Dalci, there are currently a total of 20,311 taxis in Istanbul, with the average efficiency rate of their rides being 48 percent, meaning that more than half of their trips are without customers.
“If we increase the efficiency from 48 percent to 90 percent, it would be equivalent to adding more than 8,500 new taxis to the system. All this without putting a single additional vehicle on the road,“ Dalci said.