The Public Transport Agency, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai, has kick-started an ongoing campaign to monitor illegal passengers transport practices between various emirates of the UAE.
The aim is to realise the vision of the RTA (Safe and Smooth Transport for All) in a concerted effort aimed to uproot this practice which poses a genuine threat to individuals and the community.
Dr Yousef Al Ali, CEO of RTA Public Transport Agency, said: “It was decided to unleash these campaigns in December 2013 in a bid to mitigate the huge numbers of individuals detected using private vehicles to transport individuals against the law.
“Offences reported last year (before the launch of the campaign) amounted to 2647 offences, and about 1344 offences were reported last December.
“Intensive efforts were made to crackdown on this activity this year and during the period from March 10 to April 10 and the number of offences was substantially diminished to about 866 offences,” stated Al Ali.
The campaign contributed to detecting an array of offences besides the illegal passenger transport practice such as offences related to transporting general cargo on heavy vehicles, offences reported against vehicles belong to deluxe transport companies, offences against vehicles used in transporting passengers on hired buses, and individuals posting ads through the media to promote passenger transport on their private vehicles among others.
It is worth-mentioning that these campaigns are launched by the RTA to curb illegal passengers transport where owners of such vehicles offer passengers lifts to their intended destinations in consideration of amounts that fall short of the approved taxi fare set for this service; which constitutes a breach of the transport rules, be it within Dubai or from Dubai to other emirates.