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Carpooling registration without incentive in the UAE
RTA provides little incentive
Today’s The National frontpage has an upbeat headline reading, Carpools win approval in war on congestion. This is a rather odd headline, seeing that carpooling will happen whether it gets a governmental approval or not. If people can afford to drive their own cars, they will. If they can’t, they will find alternatives such as carpooling.
Perhaps what is odd about this in particular, is that the government is not providing any incentive to register. Motorists are fined AED 5,000 for allegedly running illegal taxis.
Khalid Mohammed Hashim, a director at the RTA says that this only happens when it is glaringly obvious there is an illegal taxi operation going on. Someone apparently waits for money to change hands before issuing a fine.
So, if that is the case, why would I bother to register then? If I were carpooling with a colleague from work, why would I want to register? I am not going to be fined, since there is no financial transaction (at least, not one we would have to conclude in public). I also don’t get anything from the government for doing it. Government incentives such as the State of New Jersey’s Ridesharing program makes sense. I register, I get my petrol subsidized. There is an incentive.
As long as the incentive in the UAE continues to be, “avoid getting wrongfully fined”, this is not a program that is going to work. I wouldn’t be too quick to hail this as a groundbreaking achievement.
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This reminds of me of my Private Pilot Licence air law examination!
I’m pretty sure the same would apply to other forms of personal & private traportation be it cars, boats, trains etc.
With a PPL your not allowed to offer any commercial flights or hire services or ever be rewarded or compensated financially.
You ARE however allowed to let others share the running costs with you such as fuel/oil/landing fees etc PROVIDING that it is split equally. So 3 people (pilot included) would be required to split the bill equally 3 way.
There is nothing wrong with carpooling & it should be promoted as much as possible! It’s good for the environment, good for congestion, and a win-win for both driver & passengers!
good decisiopn to reduce traffic problem
I would like to resgister for car pooling. Can you tell what is the procedure. How to register?
Thanks
Santano