JEDDAH — The Road Management and Transport Department have set up a joint committee to regulate plying of taxis in Makkah province under a campaign launched on Tuesday. Makkah Road Management and Transport Director General Mohammad Madani said Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal ordered to regulate taxis in the province in the interest of the people. "A committee was formed in compliance with the emir's orders. The committee held several meetings during the past few days to plan a campaign to remove taxis violating traffic laws off the roads. The campaigns to regulate taxis were in effect already but the committee launched an intensive campaign on Tuesday," said Madani. He added there are regulations on the model of the car used as a taxi and its outer appearance. "The directorate had previously stopped issuing taxi licenses as there were too many taxis on the road already. Having too many taxis obstructs traffic and harms the environment. The directorate does allow taxi companies to replace their current vehicles," said Madani. He added that the violating vehicles will be suspended from service and the taxi company will have a chance to rectify its status. Jeddah Traffic Department Director Col. Sulaiman Al-Zakari said the department is cooperating with the governorate in implementing its campaign to regulate taxis. "According to the department's reports, taxi drivers commit a lot of traffic violations. These violations include speeding, failure to signal and other violations that endanger them, their passengers and other drivers on the roads," said Al-Zakari. He added the department will submit weekly reports to Makkah emir of the progress of the campaign.
