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Inspectors from the Dutch Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) recently carried out intensive checks on taxis and coaches at Schiphol.

Together with the taxi team of the Royal Marechaussee, the checks focused on compliance with the rules regarding working and rest times. The investigation took place at several locations around the airport, including at departure and arrival halls and at taxi and coach parking locations. The results reveal a series of violations, for which a total of eight official reports and two fine reports were drawn up.

supervision of coaches

During the inspection of ten coaches, one violation was found. The driver in question was driving without a valid or correct country code, an essential registration for international transport. This is not only an administrative problem, but also has consequences for road safety and the reliability of cross-border transport. The driver was given a warning.

The situation among taxi drivers turned out to be considerably more problematic. Of the 30 taxis checked, several drivers did not meet the legal requirements. Four drivers were given a 72-hour cease-work order (BSA). This measure is only imposed when there is an immediate danger to safety. Two of them were also given a fine report because they had not taken enough weekly rest.

serious offences

Two other drivers were driving without a valid driver's card. This is not only prohibited, but also prevents the monitoring of their working hours. These drivers were reported. One taxi driver was caught with an expired driver's license. He too could expect a report. Another driver abused his taxi by using it for private work without registering this correctly in the on-board computer. Private use of a taxi is permitted, but only if this is indicated according to the rules and there is no commercial work.

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ILT
Photo: © Pitane Blue - ILT Inspectorate

The ILT carries out these types of checks to ensure compliance with the Passenger Transport Act 2000 and the Working Hours Decree for transport. These regulations are crucial for the social protection of drivers, guaranteeing the safety of passengers and other road users, and preventing unfair competition.

A spokesperson for the ILT stressed the importance of such checks: “As a supervisory authority, we not only want to prevent accidents, but also ensure that working conditions remain fair and safe for everyone in the sector. Violations such as these endanger both drivers and passengers.”

wake up call

In addition to the fines and reports, various warnings were also issued. These serve as a wake-up call for drivers to comply with the rules in the future. Although the number of violations was relatively low among coach drivers, the findings in the taxi sector show that there is still much room for improvement.

The ILT has announced that such checks will continue in the future. It is a clear message to the sector: violations will not be tolerated, and safety and fairness in passenger transport are paramount.

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