Photo/Illutration Local residents use a service that transports paying passengers on driver-owned cars in Aomori Prefecture in May 2022. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

The government is moving toward lifting its ban on ride-sharing to let ordinary people use their own cars to transport paying passengers.

With the growing shortage and aging of taxi drivers, how should owner-driven compact automobiles be used as a public transportation option? The government needs to seek broad public support by focusing on the needs of users in discussing safety and other issues.

Amid the economic recovery from the pandemic and the return of foreign visitors to Japan, a long line of people waiting impatiently for a taxi in front of a train station has become a familiar sight, especially in big cities. In the background is growing demand for taxis, even though the number of taxi drivers has shrunk 20 percent since 2019.

In view of this situation, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced, in his policy speech on Oct. 23, his decision to consider easing restrictions on ride-sharing. He intends to speed up discussions under digital affairs minister Taro Kono.

A service similar to ride-sharing is already in place in some depopulated communities. Called “Jikayo Yusho Ryokyaku Unso Seido” (literally, system for transporting paying passengers on driver-owned cars) and set up by the government in 2006, it is now operated by about 700 entities, including municipalities and NPOs.

Under this system, drivers need not have a commercially registered vehicle, nor the Class 2 driver’s license that is required of taxi drivers.

The operating entities appoint personnel in charge of operation management and vehicle maintenance, whose tasks include checking on the health and degree of fatigue of the drivers--who are local residents--and ensuring they are not under the influence of alcohol.

Every vehicle in the program needs to be covered by an optional insurance above certain conditions, and accident liabilities are borne by the operating entity. It is crucial that the ride-share does not compete with any taxi company, and that the taxi industry be involved in the settlement of negotiations.

The government intends to make this system easy to use in tourist spots and urban centers, and delegate its operation to taxi companies as a “Japanese-version ride-share,” the introduction of which will initially be limited to certain areas and hours.

There are still many specific issues to be discussed further in view of the existing “jikayo yusho” services, such as the fare level and the percentage going to the driver, various safety concerns, support for elderly and disabled users, and so on.

Unlike depopulated communities, urban centers have established taxi companies and heavy vehicular traffic. One of the concerns specific to the urban centers is how the ride-share will affect the wages of taxi drivers.

Many people who have traveled abroad must have personally experienced the convenience of ride-share services that are available with only a few simple taps on their smartphones.

And the ride-share providers seem to be working hard to improve their services and passenger safety by enabling the latter to select their rides according to the drivers’ accident records and customer reviews, among other things.

It is important to learn from such examples while using digital technology to create new services. One caveat, however, is that for the ride-share service to become fully established in society, all sorts of concerns must be handled with utmost care.

The government must never forget that.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 24

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