UAE | Traffic and Transport
Pink taxis top choice in Abu Dhabi
Women drivers are safer than male colleagues
- By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 February 18, 2010
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Thanks a lot TransAD.Now we feel free to go somewhere.Because of male taxi drivers,many of my jobs are gone.I dont wanted to argue or make some case but they reacts very badly.No manners of talking.Once I was standing for Taxi (I was in Abaya and niqab) and the girl 5 foot far from me was in jeans.The taxi driver went and pick her and left me. Thanks once again.This system would be a big help with all womens,girls in UAE.I appreciate you. ``May Allah give u much strength and success in this field`` TransAD
Shefali, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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I realy appreciate who involved in this system because women should be protected and they are more safe for driving than men. I suggest to increase more taxi for women.
Teody, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi women have extended a warm welcome to pink taxis, the female-only taxis introduced last week, a senior official told Gulf News.
"About 25 pink taxis have been introduced in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain cities," Abdullah Sultan Al Sabbagh, General Manager of TransAD, the taxi regulatory authority in the emirate, said.
As per a Gulf News report on January 28, pink taxis are meant for women and children younger than 10 years of age. The fare for the pink taxis remains the same.
Al Sabbagh said that the latest move has raised the number of female-driven taxis to 75 in the emirate. There were already 50, he added.
The difference
Explaining the difference between female-driven taxis and women's taxis, the official said men with families are allowed to travel in female-driven taxis.
"But in pink taxis, men are not be allowed to travel even with their families," he explained.
Al Sabbagh said existing female-driven taxis will be converted into pink taxis gradually.
A total of 25 pink taxis have been introduced by four franchises — Al Ghazal (10) Tawasul (nine), Q-link (three) and Emirates Taxi (three), he said.
"The feedback we received suggests that Emirati women have found it more convenient," Al Sabbagh said.
He added that although female drivers are free to work 24 hours, TransAd prefers them working only during daytime.
Female taxi drivers are safe drivers compared to their male counterparts, Al Sabbagh said.
"There are women drivers who [have] never caused even a single minor accident in [the] past two years," he said.
Pink taxis are also controlled by a centralised tracking and dispatch system.
The service could be booked calling 600535353.
Have your say
Do you think such a service gives women greater freedom to travel around the city? Do you see this move catching on in other emirates? Will you be using it. Tell us.
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