Passenger transport act to make it fit for the digital age

Berlin (ots) – Ridesharing offers +++ return duty for car rental with drivers legalize more +++ Technical safety guarantee +++ opinion of the TÜV Association

New mobility services, such as the so-called Ridesharing or Pooling should be made in the context of the planned Reform of the passenger transport act on a legally secure basis. The TÜV-Association has claimed in a recent statement. While Ridesharing can be shared among several persons, a vehicle, if your destination is in the same direction. The booking is via a Smartphone App. Yet this collection are taxi services such as Berlkönig in Berlin, myBUS in Duisburg or Moia in Hannover and Hamburg, according to the current law only with the exception of regulations or as a part of the public TRANSPORT permitted. „The Federal government needs to make the passenger transport act finally fit for the digital age,“ said Richard Goebelt, head of vehicle and mobility at TÜV Association (VdTÜV). „The goal of the Reform must be to enable new mobility services and the networking of the different modes of transport better.“ Platform-based Services, such as Ridesharing or car-sharing, offer new ways of locomotion, and are also ecologically meaningful, because the users share resources. Goebelt: „New mobility services are currently being tested especially in cities. Soon you could be a important addition to in rural areas, which are not supplied with public transport is sufficient.“

Digital technologies enable a range of new mobility services by bringing the demand of the users, to get from A to B, and the various offers, whether by car, Bus, train, Bicycle or scooter, better, together, travel routes can be optimized or the billing easier. The passenger transport act regulates the market of commercial passenger transport and sets out the requirements of the companies and the drivers. In 2013, an amendment to the law has been liberalised, for example, the long-distance bus market. From the point of view of the TÜV-Association of the market participants should have the same requirements for the carriage of passengers. „It is no more time under that car hire with driver (Chauffeur services) must return after each journey, without delay, to the headquarters,“ said Goebelt. „Empty should trips for reasons of environmental and climate protection are to be avoided at all costs.“ In addition, it might be in the future, the mandatory installation of distance meters (taximeter), when the passengers get ahead of the commencement of the travel of the optimal Route using a navigation device is displayed and the ticket will be charged the price on a cashless basis. Goebelt: „The user has full control over the cost and the travel routes.“

Under no circumstances should be in an amendment to the passenger transport act, the requirements of the company, to the technical condition of the vehicles, as well as the knowledge and reliability of the drivers softened. „The passengers must be able to rely on the fact that in the case of all mobility services to the same high standard,“ said Goebelt. For example, the driver must provide certain qualifications and the vehicles once a year for the main study, to ensure technical safety.

Maurice Shahd
Press Secretary
The Association of the TÜV e. V. – VdTÜV
friedrichstraße 136 | d-10117 Berlin
T +49 30 760095-320
presse@vdtuev.de
www.vdtuev.EN/press