Bluetooth headsets for 500 taxi drivers

Dubai Taxi Corporation at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in cooperation with Jabra Company specialised in wireless audio solutions, launched ‘Traffic Safety Campaign for Taxi Drivers’ by distributing Bluetooth headsets ‘BT2045’ to 500 taxi drivers who are part of the corporation fleet.

One of the taxis whose drivers now have Bluetooth headsets.

The move is aimed at spreading awareness and promoting safe driving to raise clients’ satisfaction by 82 per cent, the society’s satisfaction by 73 per cent and drivers’ by 80 per cent this year.

Ahmad Mohammed Al Hammadi, Acting CEO of Dubai Taxi Corporation said: “Dubai Taxi Corporation is committed to promote the safety of drivers and passengers on the roads. The corporation is making a lot of efforts to educate taxi drivers and train them on traffic safety due to the fact that taxi vehicles play an important role in the community, and we believe in our responsibility in promoting safety and there is no doubt that such joint marketing campaigns make the work of taxi drivers easier and safer.”

Al Hammadi said the Dubai Taxi Corporation prohibits cabbies from carrying mobile phones in hand, unless they are handing it over to the passenger, while the vehicle is moving or at a standstill (but not fully parked), and that the penalty for using mobile phone is three black points (or four black points if the violation is in a school area), in addition to a fine.

Ahmed Al Qalini, regional director of Jabra Company, said: “We aim to help Dubai taxi drivers drive safely without being distracted by the use of mobile phones. We are aware that the use of mobile phones while driving is not a behaviour that is safe and is punishable by law, but there are cases force the driver to make calls while driving. ” - news@khaleejtimes.com