11.03.2025 19:30
While citizens are waiting for a solution to the taxi issue, the Parliament is preparing to implement a regulation that further protects taxi drivers. With the new regulation, stricter inspections and penalties will be applied to vehicles and individuals that carry passengers without permission. Once the regulation becomes law, those who transport passengers without authorization will have their licenses revoked for one year.
The taxi problem in Turkey is growing day by day. While citizens are rebelling against issues such as high fares and short distances, the lack of a solution has exacerbated the problem.
REGULATION FROM THE GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TURKEY THAT WILL DISAPPOINT CITIZENS
While citizens are waiting for the taxi problem to be resolved as soon as possible, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey took a contrary step. The Assembly has started working to take strict measures against illegal transportation. A new legal regulation is coming to increase sanctions against illegal transportation, which has been debated for a long time in Turkey. The regulation discussed in the Assembly's Commission aims to impose heavier penalties on drivers who carry passengers without permission to prevent illegal transportation.
LICENSES OF ILLEGAL TRANSPORTATION DRIVERS WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR 1 YEAR
Vehicles used for illegal transportation will be banned from traffic. Additionally, under the proposal, drivers engaged in illegal transportation will have their licenses suspended for 6 months for the first violation. If they repeat the same offense within a year, their licenses will be invalid for 1 year. During this period, no new or temporary driver's licenses will be issued to the drivers.
DRIVERS ARE THE MOST SATISFIED WITH THE PROPOSAL
The new regulation discussed in the Assembly is most desired by taxi drivers. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of illegal taxis and Uber-style transportation. While Martı TAG is seeking legal remedies in this regard, it is proposing a different passenger transportation system against taxis. Taxi drivers opposing this are also taking a stance in favor of maintaining the current regulation through their legal applications. If the proposal is enacted, changes will be made to the Highway Traffic Law No. 2918, and penalties for illegal transportation will become more deterrent.
THE TAXI PROBLEM WILL GROW EVEN MORE
The need for taxis in Istanbul is increasing every day. The intense demand for taxis in neighborhoods and areas where metro, metrobüs, buses, and sea transportation are insufficient cannot be met by taxi stands. Thousands of Istanbul residents complain every day about the lack of taxis, especially in rainy weather, and their refusal to pick up short-distance passengers, leading them to seek different solutions. While illegal taxis, Ubers, and even Martı TAG, which can be easily accessed online, cannot meet this need, there are concerns that the elimination of other alternatives to taxis with this legal regulation will further exacerbate the taxi problem in Istanbul.
WHAT DOES THE LEGAL REGULATION AIM TO ACHIEVE?
The planned new regulation aims to completely eliminate applications such as illegal taxis and Martı TAG, except for commercial taxis. When this regulation, which taxi drivers have been demanding for years, comes into effect, the transportation grievances of Istanbul residents will increase even more. Under the current legal framework, Martı TAG is also considered illegal. Vehicles seized by civil traffic teams for illegal taxis are impounded for 90 days, and this is reflected in the driver's points, but licenses are not revoked. In this case, after the vehicle's impoundment period ends, the same driver can continue to carry passengers in traffic with the same vehicle. The new application is expected to completely ban rental or privately owned vehicles used for unauthorized passenger transportation from traffic, which will lead to the removal of all transportation vehicles except yellow taxis from traffic.