Uber is here to stay: National Roads and Motorists' Association

The National Roads and Motorists' Association in Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales said that the market is facing a rapid transition and it is necessary that Uber is included in the wave. It urged the state governments to take the responsibility of managing all the ride-sharing services after the ACT became the first jurisdiction in the country to frame rules for UberX drivers.

According to NRMA President Kyle Loades, Uber is here to stay. “The reality that we face today is that Uber is popular and here to stay,” he said in a statement. “Uber needs to come into the regulatory framework to some degree, while the taxi industry needs to become more competitive in a fast-changing market.”

He also said that the fees levied on regular taxi drivers take almost 57 percent out of their earnings compared to the 20 percent of the Uber drivers.

Opal cards for payment can be adapted to keep pace with the rising ride sharing business, said Loades.

“Treating the taxi industry for what it is, a mode of public transport, is a good first step and that’s why the NRMA believes customers should be able to pay for their ride with their Opal card,” he said.

These suggestions came in response to the suspension vehicle registrations of 40 UberX drivers by Roads and Maritime Services this week.

NRMA said that given the dynamic nature of the market, taxis should be more competitive. And in a move keep the existing taxi businesses within the fold, ACT slashed fees imposed on taxi drivers and operators that are forced into competition with new ride sharing operators.

The reforms by the ACT will be implemented in two stages. In the first stage the UberX drivers would be allowed to operate in Canberra legally. And the second stage will require the ride-sharing taxi drivers to have driver-accreditation and insurance.

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