Taxi application

Taxi drivers in Czech capital Prague have a poor reputation for over-charging unwary tourists. However a new phone application aims to offer a solution to this problem, by using GPS technology to calculate the proper charge. While the city authorities have been struggling for some years to eradicate the problem, unscrupulous taxi drivers have continued to take passengers by longer routes than necessary and are also known to fix meters so that they overcharge. The city's mayor was himself overcharged some ye
February 20, 2012 Read time: 1 min
Taxi drivers in Czech capital Prague have a poor reputation for over-charging unwary tourists. However a new phone application aims to offer a solution to this problem, by using GPS technology to calculate the proper charge. While the city authorities have been struggling for some years to eradicate the problem, unscrupulous taxi drivers have continued to take passengers by longer routes than necessary and are also known to fix meters so that they overcharge. The city's mayor was himself overcharged some years ago by a taxi driver while investigating the problem. In one instance a taxi driver even wired up seating so as to give passengers questioning his high prices an electric shock; a case of overcharging in a different sense.

Related Content

  • Traffic control to beat congestion
    November 6, 2012
    Max Lay discusses how congestion has posed problems throughout history from early civilisation to the present day One of the earliest known human settlements was at the Springs of Elisha at Jericho. Inevitably, locals collecting fresh water from the springs would encounter other water carriers. When a path was too narrow, or access to it was too limited, or it crossed another path, some carriers would find it necessary to stand aside for others. Priority in such cases might be based on common courtesy and p
    Read More
  • Sophisticated wireless charging offers EV advance
    August 8, 2012
    Sophisticated wireless charging technology could offer major benefits to users of electric vehicles. A number of firms have been working together on developing new wireless charging systems that could reduce delays and extend range for drivers. Inductive-charging systems are being tested at present, with Renault carrying out research in Europe on its electric vehicles.
    Read More
  • Are road tolls the economic answer?
    November 12, 2012
    Tolling has been widely promoted as the answer to future road needs by many economists. The fundamental principle of a toll road is comparatively easy to understand: a driver wants to get from here to there and pays a small sum for the privilege. Drivers generally prefer to access roads without having to pay but the sums involved in toll roads tend to be comparatively low. For all but the most parsimonious, parting with a few coins to use a stretch of highway in good order is comparatively painless, made ev
    Read More
  • Taxing times
    May 16, 2014
    A taxi driver in Kyrgyzstan attempted to drive off after being stopped by police for a traffic infringement. The plucky policeman however had different ideas and held on tightly to the bonnet of the car, even as the driver veered from side to side of the road in an attempt to throw the officer off the vehicle.
    Read More

Highlighted Content