IRU Policies and Taxi Regulation in Finland 28 th March 2013 Moscow Nina Nizovsky

1. IRU Policies and Taxi Regulation in Finland 28th March 2013 Moscow Nina Nizovsky The Finnish Taxi Owners´ Federation IRU Taxi Group www.taksiliitto.fi

2. IRU Policies on the Social Role of Taxis www.taksiliitto.fi

3. IRU Taxis and Hire Cars with Driver Group • Working Group in the IRU • Represents the interests of the taxi sector • Vis-a-vis national and international decision-makers • To promote and develop taxi transport for the good of the industry and of the customers • 15 member states • Meetings 2 times / year • Ad hoc Working groups and projects www.taksiliitto.fi

4. The Taxi Group monitors and intervenes • Exchanges experiences and best practices • Innovative new solutions for taxi transport, diversification of services • Traffic safety and security of taxi drivers • Iniatives to EU bodies • Industry-friendly social rules i.e. working time rules • Development of new markets and special services • Taxi fares • New and cleaner vehicles • New technologies , Apps, Smart phones, cahless payment, cameras www.taksiliitto.fi

5. The Taxi Group promotes • The quality of the taxi market and taxi services • Access to Profession rules • Recognition of taxis as a means of collective / public transport • The EU public-private High Level Group recognises now also taxis as a key part of the public passanger mobility chain • Doubling the use of collective passanger transport including taxis • The image of taxis • Taxis are the most flexible mode of public transport • Taxi – Anytime! Anywhere! www.taksiliitto.fi

6. Public Regulation of Taxi Services in Finland www.taksiliitto.fi

7. Taxi regulation in Finland • 10.500 taxis / 9.500 license-holders • Ca. 15.000 drivers • 55 million passengers and 830 million kilometres / year • Total turnover 1 billion euros • 55 % of taxis in cities, 45 % in rural areas • 40 % privately paid trips • 40 % publicly financed • 20 % business trips www.taksiliitto.fi

8. Taxi drivers requirements • Permanent driving licence • Mandatory vocational training of 30 hours • Retraining 7 hours every 5 years • Age under 70 years, • Criminal record check • Medical certificate • Local area knowledge www.taksiliitto.fi

9. Access to Profession / Taxi License • Experience as a taxi driver / in Helsinki up to 9 years / less in the country-side • Certain solvency criteria, no formal guarantees required • Good repute / criminal check • 120 hours mandatory training in an authorised collage / or specific higher education plus exam • Examination demonstrating professional competence www.taksiliitto.fi

10. Taxi regulation in Finland • The taxi industry is regulated by Taxi law • The law is enforced by Ministry of Transport and Communication • There are certain quality demands for all drivers and operators • License system is based on regional quotas, which are decided yearly by State Provincial Offices • These authorities also issue licenses • On the road checks on licenses, vehicles and working hours are made by police • SuomenTaksiliitto, The Finnish Taxi Owners´ Federation interacts with the decision-makers • Almost 90 % of operators are members www.taksiliitto.fi

11. Taxi licensing system • One license / car • No restrictions on amount of licenses / operator / normally 1 - 2 • Licenses are issued according to seniority among qualified applicants • From 2013 licenses are issued every 3 years to existing operators • Licenses are valid permanently • But there is a criminal record check and financial check yearly • Licenses are not transferable, except for 330 companies in Helsinki, which can be bought and sold until 2017 • Only tax is paid for the licence www.taksiliitto.fi

12. Other regulations • Registering taximeters are mandatory • The taxi sign is mandatory • Credit cards, smart cards, Taxi cards accepted • Safety cameras in approx. 40 % of taxis • Maximum fares for streetcustomersbased on the law and checkedonce / year • 40 majordispatchingcentres www.taksiliitto.fi