WORLDWIDE TAXI FOCUS from Ireland
SEVERE TAXI SHORTAGE LEAVES DUBLIN NIGHTLIFE STRANDED
Efforts to recruit new drivers into Ireland’s taxi industry are stalling due to skyrocketing entry test failure rates, leaving Dublin socialisers increasingly stranded after nights out. Data from the National Transport Authority (NTA) reveals that less than a third of test sittings were passed last year. Out of nearly 11,800 exam sittings, more than 8,100 ended in failure. Prospective taxi, hackney, and limousine drivers must score at least 75% across two modules covering industry regulations and local geography, but pass rates have hovered between just 31% and 35% over the last three years. For first-time test takers excluding retakes, the pass rate dropped to roughly 27% last year, with 6,489 out of 8,941 attempts failing. Over a three-year period, nearly 22,000 of 32,700 total sittings resulted in failure. In response to the low pass rates, the NTA updated the area knowledge portion of the exam to better reflect modern GPS technology. An NTA spokesman explained: “The findings showed that, while pas- sengers still expect drivers to have a higher- than-average understanding of local geography, the use of online maps is widely accepted.” Consequently, the revised exam focuses less on strict map memorisation and more on motorways, transport hubs, essential city routes, and major venues. The resulting bottleneck of new drivers is severely hurting Dublin’s nightlife. A survey by the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) found that six in ten regular socialisers go out less often because getting a ride home is so difficult. Two-thirds of respondents (67%) report struggling to secure a taxi after a night out, with 41% facing frequent difficulties. The shortage hits 70% of men and 71% of adults aged 35 to 54, despite taxis remaining the primary transport choice for 64% of late-night goers. LVA Chief Executive, Donall O’Keeffe, highlighted the growing crisis, stating: “We’ve been saying for some time that there aren’t enough taxis on the streets at closing time. If this is the extent of the problem amongst those who do go out regularly, then imagine how much it is also concerning those who only
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socialise occasionally?” To fix the deficit, the LVA is urging regulators to permit standard ride-hailing apps in Ireland, similar to those in London and across the EU. “People deserve to know they can get home safely and quickly at the end of the night,” O’Keeffe added.
from Japan
JAPAN’S LARGEST OPERATOR SHUTS DOWN SYSTEMS AFTER CYBERATTACK
The largest operator in Japan, Nihon Kotsu, has shut down parts of its infrastructure following a cyberattack
last month. The company, which generates roughly $1 billion in annual revenue and operates a fleet of over 8,500 taxis, confirmed that its internal systems were hit by malware. “We have confirmed that our internal systems were subjected to unauthorised external access,” the company announced. “Immediately after detecting the unauthorised access, we
implemented
emergency measures, including disconnecting systems to prevent further damage.” The shutdown knocked out telephone dispatch services, car hires, web bookings, and reservation management. It also suspended a specialised “labour taxi” service used by pregnant women in Tokyo and several surrounding areas. Nihon Kotsu advised customers to flag down taxis on the street or use the “GO” taxi app instead. External cybersecurity experts were brought in to investigate the breach and help restore the systems. While Nihon Kotsu is currently investigating whether any data was leaked, the extortion group AiLock has already claimed responsibility for the attack, threatening to leak stolen data “soon.” Customers have been urged to remain vigilant and avoid opening any suspicious email attachments or links claiming to come from the company.
AUGUST 2026 PHTM
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