The government wants alternatives to taximeters in taxis

- We want a serious taxi industry that is safe for passengers and drivers. An industry that provides drivers with the right price for the service and properly reported to the tax authorities. Therefore, the government wants to facilitate new technical solutions as an alternative and supplement to taximeters in taxis, says Transport Minister Knut Arild Hareide.

The proposal is a continuation of previous consultations from 2020

The Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Today, they launched for consultation proposals for changes to several regulations that will allow the use of alternative solutions to taximeters in taxis. The proposal follows on from previous consultations from 2020 and is a further development of the previous proposal.

- New technology in the taxi industry can provide better solutions for all parties. It is important that we update the terms and conditions so that these solutions can be used. The proposed changes give customers greater freedom of choice, but in addition, economic operators have neutral rules at their disposal which they have to follow. Whether they choose to use a desktop device or a fully digital device, says Trade and Industry Minister Iselin Nybø.

It proposes technology-neutral requirements about functionsi

In order to be able to facilitate new technical solutions, it is proposed to define functional requirements for control devices, which will apply regardless of the type of control device used.

"Neutral feature requirements instead of the type of control hardware requirements will provide better industry competition, lower setup barriers, and an openness to services and solutions that customers and newcomers require," says Hareide.

Wall taxi license holders have to use control devices and two types of solutions are allowed

The proposal implies that all taxi license holders must use control devices and two types of solutions are allowed. One solution is control devices with a fixed unit in the vehicle, e.g. a taximeter. The second solution is the control equipment without a fixed unit in the vehicle, which presupposes that customers have the appropriate application on their digital device.

Both solutions must ensure correct price calculation, correct reporting to tax authorities and care for the safety of passengers and drivers.

OIt will be up to the new government to deal with this problem

The proposal continues the decisions made by the Storting in connection with the introduction of new regulations and rules for the taxi industry. The government has previously announced that work is underway on alternatives to taximeters. But it will be up to the new government to deal with this problem.

The consultation deadline is December 22, 2021

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