If something doesn't change soon, GTL predicts serious consequences for the taxi sector.
De train stations, which were once considered safe gates to the world, are increasingly plagued by all kinds of nuisance and crime. However, the political players are playing a game of shifting responsibility. While Prime Minister of the Brussels-Capital Region Rudi Vervoort argues that security is a federal issue, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden suggest that responsibility should once again lie with Brussels. However, the action fails to materialise, and the problems pile up.
The National Group of Companies with Chauffeured Taxi and Location Vehicles (GTL) has sounded the alarm about a growing shortage of taxi drivers. The language requirement of the Flemish Government appears to be the culprit, and if not resolved, GTL predicts a "social and economic carnage."
This week in the mobility news we see a complex web of challenges, from safety concerns and labor shortages to ethical dilemmas and technological hurdles. While responsibility seems to pass from hand to hand, the question remains: who ultimately takes action?
The Russian company Yandex has drawn criticism for concerns about its users' privacy. It was recently revealed that Yandex cooperates with requests for information from the Russian government in 84% of cases, raising questions about data protection. After the recent revelations about Yandex and the Russian government, the importance of data protection is likely to be in the spotlight.
Taxi fares at European airports appear to be stabilizing after a sharp rise last year. At the same time, modern technologies such as data analytics have enabled insurers to calculate premiums based on individual risks, raising questions. In addition, calling data-driven insurance raises ethical issues about the fairness of premiums based on individual risks.
The term Mobility as a Service (MaaS) was launched a few years ago as a promising revolution in the transport sector. However, the reality in the Netherlands shows that MaaS initiatives are often fragmented and do not provide the integrated approach that was promised. Modern technology offers new opportunities, but also challenges. Mobility as a Service has not lived up to expectations, and the fragmentation in the sector is making a integrated approach complex.
