New app “Taxi OK” all set for launch in January
The Department of Land Transport says it’s high safety standard taxi service via the mobile application called “Taxi OK” will be launched on Jan 25th.
Sanit Phromwong, director general of the department, said the “Taxi OK” service, a scheme of the department to upgrade Thai taxi service to international standard both in the driver qualification and the safer vehicle, would resolve problems related to the impoliteness of the driver and the refusing of passengers.
He said all new taxis registered after Nov 9, 2017, were required to take part in the scheme and have all the equipment installed.
Under the registration scheme, taxi must be equipped with global positioning system (GPS) device that will keep tracking of the vehicle.
The system will identify the taxi driver, the route the vehicle goes and the speed it is going, he said.
In case of passengers need help, an emergency button will be right on the passenger seat to push. A video camera inside will send real-time information to the taxi service centre, he said.
Passengers can hail the Taxi OK service on streets by noticing the green light display which shows the taxi is vacant, or by using a Taxi OK mobile application which will be ready for download on IOS and Android systems on Jan 25.
Taxi OK’s rate is the same as ordinary taxis, but calling taxis via the application will have an extra 20 baht fee, Mr Sanit said.
He added that now 18 taxi cooperatives in Bangkok and taxi operators in the provinces have registered over 20,000 taxis to join the scheme.
Source: PBS
