from USA
WORLDWIDE TAXI FOCUS from Japan
NYC CABBIES KEEP DYING ON THE JOB, UNABLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET
New York City’s taxi industry has been shaken by the deaths of at least four immi- grant drivers who suffered fatal medical emerg- encies on the job over the summer while struggling against crushing financial pressures. The tragedies highlight the ongoing crisis in the city’s once-iconic taxi sector, which has been severely undercut by app-based ride services such as Uber and Lyft over the past decade. Data from the Taxi and Limousine Commission indicates that app services now operate over 84,000 cars compared to just over 10,000 active yellow cabs, leaving the average yellow taxi to bring in about $387 per day in fares before deductions. Faced with fixed weekly finance payments ranging from $800-$1,200, many drivers are forced to work long, gruelling shifts despite severe health issues. Among the victims was Babacar Dem, 60, a driver since 2001 who was undergoing dialysis three times a week. Dem collapsed in a toilet in a Bronx restaurant and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. He had fallen behind by about $3,800 on his lease contract. Other drivers met similar fates over the summer. Khalifa Siwa, a diabetic driver recovering from a stroke, was found dead in his taxi with his insulin pen in his hands. Richard Coulibaly, 73, died of high blood pressure and heart disease in his cab during a July heat wave, while Jagjit Singh, 53, suffered a suspected heart attack while alone in his vehicle in September. Union leaders and industry workers have heavily criticised the punishing financial structures of the trade. Bhairavi Desai, executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, described the situation starkly: “It’s a debtors’ prison. It’s an industry where your expenses are fixed, but your income is not guaranteed, and that’s why drivers feel that they’re handcuffed to the wheel. You begin each day at a negative and you have to keep working, whether you’re sick or have an emergency.”
78
JAPAN ALLOWS CABBIES TO KICK OUT RUDE PASSENGERS
Japan is updating its transport regulations to allow taxi drivers to throw out passengers who display disruptive behaviour, such as verbal abuse and unreasonable demands. The move comes as the nation was recently voted the world’s most polite destination for visitors. The changes will explicitly give drivers the authority to remove unruly passengers from their vehicles. Under existing regulations drivers could only ask passengers to leave under strict circumstances, such as physical violence, carrying dangerous/illegal items, or severe intoxication. The new rules aim to protect drivers from hostile situations rather than requiring them to continue serving abusive customers and are expected to take effect before the end of the year.
from South Korea
THOUSANDS OF FOREIGN PASSENGERS FALL VICTIM TO SEOUL FARE SCAMS
Foreign visitors in Seoul have submitted more than 6,000 complaints over alleged taxi fare overcharges over the past five years. Seoul city government data showed 6,481 reports were logged between 2021-Aug 2026 but despite the high volume of complaints, action was taken in just 204 (3.1%) of cases. Severe penalties were rare - only 28 drivers had licences suspended/revoked, while 176 received warnings. A significant majority of reports - 4,368 cases (67%), were closed internally because authorities struggled to verify details or because complainants withdrew their reports. In 2013, the Seoul city government revised its policy on taxi overcharge complaints, establishing a rule allowing foreign passengers to apply for 500,000 won (c. £280) compensation if their report resulted in administrative measures against the driver. However, records reveal this payout has never actually been awarded to a passenger. This has been attributed to a severe lack of public awareness and a complicated application process that proves especially challenging for short-term visitors to navigate.
NOVEMBER 2026 PHTM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82
