Why your Dubai taxi will never get lost again

The Public Transport Agency of the Roads and Transport Authority has begun to apply smart maps to taxi cabs, a hi-tech navigation concept to help drivers take passengers’ to their destinations without any problem.

The most recent update on smart maps has been applied to over 3,500 cabs in Dubai, said Adel Shakri, Director of Transport Systems at the RTA Public Transport Agency.

“All of our cabs totalling 8,007 will be applying the new system by the end of 2013”, said Shakri.  He said this advanced system will help drivers take customers efficiently and smoothly to their destinations.

“The system also records the real time of movement of the vehicle reserved by passengers through the respective reservation and distribution centre at the Transport Systems Department,” he said.

With a special audio communication feature linked to taximeters, the system will guide drivers to locations and addresses, said Shakri.  The new system gives drivers accurate information about locations of commercial centres, hotels, hospitals etc.

The use of smart maps comes in response to Dubai’s geographical expansion through the upgrading of its transport system, said Shakri.

“We need to keep up with Dubai’s expansion by adding to the maps strategic sites of public transport services. We need to boost efficiency of taxis by supporting them with hi-tech systems.”

In parallel, training on the new system has started with around 8,000 drivers so far enrolled, according to Marwan Othman, Director of Fleet Drivers Affairs at Dubai Taxi Corporation.