Due to a delay in the legislative process, the entry into force of the Central Taxi Transport Database (CDT) has been postponed to July 1, 2025. The delay in entry into force has no consequences for the 2nd practical test.
The government is taking an important step in modernizing supervision of the taxi industry with the introduction of the Central Taxi Transport Database (CDT). The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has opened an internet consultation in which the public and stakeholders can give their opinion on the proposed changes to the 'Passenger Transport Decree' and the 'Transport Working Hours Decree'. These changes are intended to improve the supervision of working and rest times in the taxi industry and to make enforcement more effective.
Current regulations require taxi operators to collect and maintain data via a taxi on-board computer (BCT). Although this system is intended to monitor compliance with driving and rest times, it does not appear to function optimally in practice. Both taxi operators and the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) experience problems with the efficiency and effectiveness of the BCT. The data collected with the on-board computer is often difficult to access, making enforcement of the rules complex and time-consuming.
To address these problems, the ministry is now proposing a new system in which data is no longer stored locally in an on-board computer, but is collected centrally in the Central Taxi Transport Database (CDT). This central data collection makes it possible to share real-time data about driving and rest times directly with the ILT. The ministry emphasizes that this new approach is form-free, which means that taxi operators can provide the data in different ways, as long as they meet the ministry's requirements.
The change in regulations is based on research showing that a digital, central approach is the most effective way to monitor compliance with the rules. By sharing data in real time with the ILT, the inspectorate can take faster and more targeted action against violations. This should not only improve enforcement, but also reduce the administrative burden for taxi operators.
In addition to the draft regulation for the CDT, the ministry has also drawn up a policy compass and an assessment of data security and impact. These documents provide a framework for how the CDT should function and what safeguards are in place for the privacy and security of the data. The internet consultation provides a platform for feedback on all aspects of the scheme, including these technical and legal guarantees.
Stakeholders and interested parties can give their opinion on the proposed changes until October 13, 2024. An important question in the consultation is what impact the new regulation will have on the organization of taxi companies. The ministry appears to be aware that the introduction of the CDT will bring changes and is therefore curious about the expectations and concerns of the sector.
With this internet consultation the ministry wants to ensure that the new regulations are not only effective, but also widely supported by the sector. The responses received will be taken into account in the further elaboration of the regulations. The ultimate goal is a system that better guarantees compliance with working and rest times in the taxi industry, without unnecessarily increasing the administrative pressure on entrepreneurs.
postponed
The legal introduction of the Central Taxi Transport Database (CDT) has been delayed. The new regulations were originally scheduled to come into effect earlier, but due to complications surrounding the Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA), the introduction has now been postponed to July 1, 2025 at the latest. This postponement has to do with the need to address the privacy risks associated with the processing of taxi transport data to be thoroughly evaluated and mitigated.
The Central Taxi Transport Database (CDT) is intended to centrally store data, including personal data of taxi drivers, at the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT). This central registration should ensure that compliance with working and rest times in the taxi industry can be better monitored. The data collected will be provided in real time, which enables the inspectorate to take faster and more effective action against violations.
However, because the CDT also collects sensitive personal data, the government is obliged to analyze the privacy risks in advance via a DPIA. This is a legal requirement for projects that process personal data on a large scale, and its purpose is to minimize the risks for those involved. The ILT has stated that this assessment is carried out with the utmost care and that this process requires additional time.
