The Social Democratic Party (PSD) has suggested several changes to make TVDE (Transport in Uncharacterized Vehicles from an Electronic Platform) services better in Portugal and safer for passengers to address these concerns.
Cab services like Uber and Bolt have become very popular in recent years in Portugal.Many people use these services because they are convenient and often cheaper than traditional taxis. But concerns have been growing about the safety, professionalism, and regulation of this sector.
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PSD New Rules For TVDE Services In Portugal
At a press conference, PSD MP João Vale e Azevedo presented a list of recommendations. These suggestions aim to improve how drivers are certified and to make the experience safer for passengers.
He said:
We’re not demanding that TVDE drivers speak Portuguese, we think that would be disproportionate at this time and unjustifiable from an economic and business point of view, but we realise that there are people who demand it, people who want to speak Portuguese
Azevedo made it clear that these changes are not meant to create difficulties for drivers. But these changes are to solve some of the problems that have come up over time. According to him, the goal is to ensure more rigour in the way TVDE services are run and inspected.
Passengers Can Choose Portuguese-Speaking Drivers
One of the main suggestions is to give passengers the option to choose a driver who speaks Portuguese. This feature will be available on the ride-hailing apps as a filter that shows the languages spoken by each driver.
Azevedo explained that the PSD is not asking for all drivers to speak Portuguese. That will be disproportionate and unjustifiable for business reasons. However, they want passengers to have the choice as some people prefer to speak their own language with the driver.
This change will be especially helpful for older people or those who are not comfortable with technology. It can be stressful for them when the driver does not understand Portuguese. Allowing users to pick a Portuguese speaking driver will make the ride more comfortable and less confusing.
Driver Certification By The IMT
Another important suggestion is to make sure that all TVDE driver certification exams are conducted by the Institute of Mobility and Transport (IMT). The process for certifying drivers is not the same for everyone currently which leads to differences in the quality of service.
PSD believes it will make driver qualifications more consistent and ensure better trained drivers by having one central authority handle all the exams
This change is aimed at solving one of the biggest complaints passengers have that drivers not knowing the areas they work in. If drivers have better training then they will be more familiar with the local geography and be able to provide smoother and quicker rides.
Safety Features For Passengers
Passenger safety is a big focus of the PSD’s proposals. One of their ideas is to add a panic button to ride hailing apps. This feature will allow passengers to share their location with the police or other authorities in case of an emergency.
There have been reports of passengers who are feeling unsafe in certain situations especially women. This panic button will give passengers more security and confidence when using these services.
In addition to this, the PSD wants the government to speed up the implementation of a data platform that has already been announced by the IMT. This platform will help prevent the falsification of TVDE documents and ensure that only certified drivers are working.
This will help stop situations where unqualified or fake drivers operate in the sector and improve the overall safety and reliability of the service.
Waive Renewal Courses For Taxi License Holders
PSD has also suggested waiving the renewal course requirement for taxi drivers who already have a valid taxi license to make the process easier for experienced drivers. Taxi drivers often have years of experience and know their areas very well.
Forcing them to take a renewal course to work as a TVDE driver seems unnecessary. Removing this requirement will make it simpler for skilled drivers to switch between taxi services and TVDE platforms.
The TVDE sector has received a lot of criticism. Many people enjoy using these services but there have been reports of drivers who do not know the areas well, who share shifts with other drivers, and who are involved in unethical practices.
Some stories even suggest that drivers sleep in their cars between shifts, which raises concerns about passenger safety.
Azevedo added:
We just want greater rigour. So we recommend that the government rigorously inspect the sector
By suggesting these changes, the PSD hopes to improve the TVDE services in Portugal. They want to make sure that drivers are properly trained and that passengers feel safe when using these services. Offering language options and improving safety measures will help to make the TVDE industry more reliable and professional.
