Amsterdam alderman "very concerned" about accidents involving taxis

Amsterdam traffic and transport alderman Sharon Dijksma is "very concerned" about traffic safety and taxis, she said after a 24-year-old woman died in a collision with an Uber taxi this weekend. "In recent times too many accidents happened where taxis are involved", Dijksma said, Het Parool reports.

The alderman met with the European director of Uber on Monday and is also in contact with other taxi organizations in Amsterdam. "Furthermore, I think Uber must take responsibility and ensure that their drivers comply with all applicable laws and regulations."

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management said that its been in talks with Uber for some time about the safety and quality of Uber drivers' services. State Secretary Stientje van Veldhoven will soon meet with Dijksma to discuss the problems on the Amsterdam taxi market, a spokesperson said to the newspaper.

Thijs Emondts, general manager for Uber in the Benelux region, is also concerned about the multiple accidents involving Uber taxis in a short time, according to Het Parool. "Safety is our greatest priority, which is why we are investigating whether we can do even more to increase road safety", he said. "Our thoughts go out to the victim's relatives." According to the newspaper, Uber said it is working on speech technology, so that drivers no longer have to operate the Uber app by hand while driving.

On Monday afternoon taxi drivers from the municipality authorized taxi organization TTO protested at the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam. According to a spokesperson for Taxi Central Amsterdam, around 500 drivers from various organizations participated. They placed mourning ribbons on their cars and will keep them there for the rest of the week. "The accidents with Uber taxis put the TTOs in a bad light", the spokesperson said to Het Parool.