Santa Cruz Taxis to Install Security Cameras, Launch Digital Booking Platform
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is investing €45,000 in security cameras for taxis and nearly €250,000 for a new digital booking platform, including a mobile app and WhatsApp service, to enhance safety and modernize its taxi service this year.
The taxi service in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is set for two major improvements this year: better safety and more modern services. The city council has set aside money to help taxis install in-car security cameras. This will be followed by a new digital platform for managing bookings, according to DIARIO DE AVISOS.
A total of 45,000 euros in aid will help taxi drivers put recording cameras inside their cars. This system is legal and aims to make both drivers and passengers safer. The idea brings back similar funding offered in 2021 and comes after the Taxi Board asked for it last year, following an assault on a driver in late July. This 45,000 euro fund couldn't be included in last year's budget but is now part of this year's, which has a total of 47.5 million euros for the Mobility department.
Mobility Councillor Evelyn Alonso has championed this safety measure. She continues to support the taxi sector, even though she recently transferred taxi management responsibilities to Councillor Gladis de León. Alonso confirmed that the technical rules for the subsidy are being prepared. These rules will detail the exact type of camera allowed, which must only record inside the car using infrared. The application process will be open, so each taxi driver can choose whether to apply for this help. The cameras are estimated to cost about 300 euros each, and drivers will be reimbursed after paying the invoice.
In addition to making taxis safer, the city is also digitalizing the service. The Strategic Planning department, led by Carlos Tarife, has hired Atlantis Tecnología y Sistemas to create a new technology platform. This project, costing nearly 250,000 euros, will include a free mobile app and a single WhatsApp number, making it easier for people to book and manage their taxi rides.
This new digital system will begin a six-month trial period in August. If the trial goes well, the platform should be fully up and running by October. It aims to give both passengers and drivers a modern and efficient way to use Santa Cruz's taxi service.