Taxi Driver Quality Cull

[Mulboyne]

[floatr][/floatr]Asahi: Tougher registration system planned for taxi drivers
The transport ministry plans to introduce a tough registration system to about a dozen cities to curb the number of taxi drivers competing in the deregulation-fueled rat race, ministry sources said Tuesday...The measure is aimed at stemming the growing number of taxi accidents that industry observers say stems from excessive competition amid the increase in new cabbies over the past few years...Under the current registration system, applicants must answer questions about roads and streets in a test commissioned by an industry organization. Those who correctly answer 80 percent of the questions are allowed to be registered. About 15,000 people took the test in Tokyo in fiscal 2004, and 42 percent passed...In addition, the panel is discussing plans for a retirement program. Although self-employed taxi drivers must retire at 75, there is no legal age limit for drivers hired by taxi operators...more...

[Gilligan]

Is that test for knowledge of the streets and roads a new thing? I've never been in a taxi in this country where the driver had any idea where he was going.

[dimwit]

Although self-employed taxi drivers must retire at 75, there is no legal age limit for drivers hired by taxi operators

So that is where all those retired farmers are going to.

[Greji]

Is that test for knowledge of the streets and roads a new thing? I've never been in a taxi in this country where the driver had any idea where he was going.

No, Gill! Ya got it wrong. The idea is if the applicant can recognize the streets and knows where he is, or is going, they fail him.

[Mulboyne]

Yomiuri: Panel seeks stricter rules for taxi drivers

A Construction and Transport Ministry panel on traffic policy has finalized a report proposing stricter qualifications for taxi drivers, sources said Tuesday. The report is in response to traffic accidents caused by taxi drivers reaching an all-time high. The report seeks to include past records of traffic accidents in taxi driver qualifications and exclude problem drivers and operators. People who have a Class-2 driver's license for passenger vehicles such as taxis and buses can become taxi drivers. The ministry plans to discuss implementing proposals mentioned in the panel's subcommittee report in fiscal 2007.
...The cumulative distance traveled by taxis in fiscal 2004 increased only 0.3 percent from fiscal 2001, but the number of traffic accidents involving taxi drivers resulting in injury or death increased by about 5 percent to about 27,300 in 2003 from about 26,000 in 2001. The figure for 2004 was almost the same as 2003. The ministry believes the increase is attributable to a decline in taxi driver competence and aptitude. It plans to discuss measures to urge taxi operators not to employ drivers who have caused serious traffic accidents for a certain period in the past and require applicants to undergo a safety training program before being hired.

[mr. sparkle]

[floatr][/floatr]It's awesome riding in a cab with Mulboyne. He's knows the streets better than the taxi guys. When he tries to take the long route, Mulboyne will start yelling at him in harsh Japanese. It's freakin' awesome.

[Greji]

[floatr][/floatr]It's awesome riding in a cab with Mulboyne. He's knows the streets better than the taxi guys. When he tries to take the long route, Mulboyne will start yelling at him in harsh Japanese. It's freakin' awesome.

When one always hangs out at the back street ginmills, especially in Shinjuku, it is quite easy to assimilate with the denizens!