WORLDWIDE TAXI FOCUS from Italy


UBER DRIVER ASSAULTED BY TWO TAXI DRIVERS IN MILAN


An Uber driver in Milan has accused two taxi drivers of chasing and violently assaulting him in an alleged attack that left him in the hospital. According to the driver, the incident began near Milan’s central station, when he picked up two foreign passengers. Two taxi drivers approached his car, insulting and threatening him as he loaded the luggage. He drove away without reacting but was pursued by the same two men. The chase escalated when one of the taxi drivers allegedly got out of his car and attempted to open the Uber driver’s door. The Uber driver managed to escape, but the pursuit continued. The victim claims that while he was helping his passengers with their luggage, one of the men attacked him “with kicks and punches,” causing him to fall. He called police and took a photo of his alleged attacker before the man snatched his phone and continued the assault. Police have since identified the alleged attacker as a 30-year-old from Naples.


from South Korea


SEOUL LAUNCHES 100-DAY CRACKDOWN ON TAXI SCAMS


The Seoul Metropolitan Government has initiated a 100-day crackdown on illegal taxi practices in a major effort to protect foreign tourists from scams. The campaign aims to combat issues such as overcharging and trip refusals that have plagued the city’s tourism sector for years. The initiative comes after the Korea Tourism Organisation reported that nearly one in five complaints in 2024 were related to taxi services, with foreign visitors being particularly vulnerable. The crackdown, which will run from August to November 2025, will focus on high-traffic areas such airports and popular tourist destinations. Key measures include: Enhanced monitoring: with increased random inspections and enforcement officers at strategic


PHTM SEPTEMBER 2025


locations to ensure drivers follow fare regulations. Stricter penalties: fines for violations such as overcharging and refusing short trips. QR code surveys: to involve tourist, the city will provide QR codes at major transport hubs to allow tourists to report violations in real-time. Improved fare transparency: information on standard taxi rates will be made more accessible to help tourists understand the fare structure. The city hopes the crackdown will restore trust in its transportation services for visitors.


from Hong Kong


PUSH FOR SUBSIDISED HEALTH CHECKS AMID CALLS FOR STRICTER RULES


In the wake of a fatal taxi crash involving an 80-year- old driver, the Hong Kong government is facing renewed pressure to implement stricter health checks for elderly cabbies. However, the taxi industry is pushing back, warning of a potential manpower shortage and demanding that the government fully subsidise the cost of these medical screenings. Calls for tougher regulations intensified after a taxi mounted a pavement in Tsuen Wan, killing a 35-year- old Filipino tourist. The 80-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving causing death, reportedly telling police he felt “dizzy and lost control of the vehicle.” This incident has reignited calls for compulsory annual health screenings for drivers aged 65 and older. A government proposal from May 2023 to lower the age threshold from 70 to 65 for annual fitness certification was delayed. The current regulations require only drivers aged 70 or older to submit a fitness report every three years. Statistics reveal a troubling trend: the number of traffic accidents involving drivers aged 70 or older has been steadily increasing, rising from 454 in 2022 to 651 last year. The Transport and Logistics Bureau spokeswoman acknowledged “a broad consensus in society on bringing in new physical examination requirements” and stated that authorities were “preparing the necessary legal amendments and guidelines to move forward.”


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