The number of accidents involving taxi drivers in Prague is on the rise, prompting the city to negotiate with the Ministry of Transport about tightening regulations for taxi services, especially concerning foreign drivers. The capital is looking to adopt changes similar to those in Poland, where foreign driver’s licenses alone are no longer sufficient for taxi work.
In July 2020, the taxi industry in the Czech Republic was liberalized, including the removal of mandatory taximeters and driving exams. In recent years, following the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the number of foreign drivers has increased. Digital platforms like Uber and Bolt have made it easier for drivers to follow navigators to their destinations, reducing the need for communication with passengers.
Zdeněk Hřib, Prague’s Deputy Mayor for Transport, expressed concerns about the situation in the taxi industry, noting that many foreign drivers from third countries are interested in working as taxi drivers, despite often not speaking Czech and being minimally informed about the legal obligations of the profession.
“There have been numerous complaints recently about these drivers having issues with driving in heavy traffic and adhering to traffic regulations in general,” Hřib added.
The number of taxis in Prague has increased by 23% since 2019, and overall, the number of cars on the road has grown by 11%. The accident rate for taxis has risen from 13% to 16%, equating to 16 accidents per 100 taxis—4.7 times higher than for regular passenger cars. In 2019, the ratio was only 3.7 times higher.
