Taxi apps to be banned during rush hour

The Shanghai Municipal Transport and Port Authority plans to prohibit cab drivers from using taxi hailing apps during morning and evening rush hours, the agency said Wednesday.

The new regulations will take effect March 1.

Although the authority acknowledged that the apps make reserving taxis more efficient, it was concerned that their marketing promotions and tipping functions have led to unfairness in the market.

The regulations will ban taxi drivers from using the apps every day from 7:30 am to 9:30 am and from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

To discourage drivers from using the apps, the new rules will also prohibit drivers from answering phone calls and using mobile devices while carrying a customer.

The authority plans to continue working with taxi app developers on other measures, such as preventing the apps from sending messages to drivers who have already picked up a customer. It vowed to ban any taxi app whose developer refuses to act responsibly.

The authority encouraged passengers to report violations to its 12319 hotline. Under current regulations, taxi drivers can be slapped with a 15-day suspension if they are found refusing or dropping off passengers in the middle of a ride.