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Dubai: Taxi drivers in Dubai are urging that more be done to inform the public that passengers are responsible for the Salik toll, following refusals to pay the additional Dh4.
Almost three weeks after the launch of Salik, drivers say that while most passengers are complying with the new regulations, some have refused, leaving drivers to pay the additional charge out of their own pockets.
"So far the Salik system has been very good for us and has made our job easier. But some people have refused to pay the additional Dh4 even though I informed them of the additional charge first," said a taxi driver from India who did not wish to be identified.
"I told the passengers that I was going to have to pay the Dh4 if they refused, but they didn't seem to care." Mohammad Javed, a Pakistani driver told Gulf News that many passengers are still unaware of the fact that they are responsible for the Dh4 charge and that several of his colleagues have had passengers who have refused to pay the toll.
Information
"I think more needs to be done to explain the system to passengers. Perhaps information regarding Salik and taxis could be provided for each taxi to display," said Javed.
According to Abdul Aziz Malek, CEO of the Dubai Taxi Agency, efforts to communicate the new Salik regulations to the public are ongoing, with leaflets being distributed to all taxis.
"If a customer refuses to pay the toll this is a legal issue, but passengers should know that they can call the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and ask about the regulations and we will be happy to talk to them," Malek said.
According to the RTA and taxi companies, drivers have undergone extensive Salik training and are obliged to always give passengers the option of taking the tolled route, or alternative routes that will not result in the additional Dh4.
Taxi drivers say they have also been informed that if a passenger fails to pay the additional charge they should call the police.
"This is not the solution though, because we are not going to call the police for a Dh4 complaint," said one driver.
Fleet executive for Arabia Taxi Mukhtar Ahmad said his company, like others, has introduced a system whereby the additional Dh4 is added automatically to the total cost of the trip displayed on the meter.
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