Taxi in Kamppi, Helsinki. Photo: Vesa Moilanen / Lehtikuva
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The Finnish government is preparing to introduce a comprehensive overhaul of taxi regulations in an effort to improve safety, standardise service, and restore public confidence in the industry.
The Transport Ministry’s draft proposal, published on Friday, outlines a series of stricter requirements for drivers and vehicles. These include mandatory training, enhanced licensing criteria, compulsory use of taxi meters, and special coloured license plates to identify licensed taxis.
Transport Minister Lulu Ranne said the proposal has now entered a public consultation period, which will run until 6 June. The new legislation is expected to take effect at the start of next year.
“The goal is to bring safe taxis back to you,” said Ranne in a statement. “We are working hard to restore trust in the entire taxi industry. We will ensure that the rules are the same for everyone and that taxi rides are safe for everyone.”
Under the new rules, first-time taxi drivers would be required to complete 21 hours of training. Drivers already operating in the industry would need to complete seven hours of supplementary training upon renewal of their license.
The legislation would also make it mandatory for every taxi to be equipped with a meter, with both the license holder and driver responsible for fare reporting. Vehicles would need to be registered to a specific taxi licensee and linked to a particular license. Licensees’ information would be made publicly accessible using vehicle registration numbers.
The reform includes the introduction of a distinct coloured license plate for taxis, designed to support better enforcement and identification.
The proposed changes follow deregulation in 2018, which led to a rise in reported problems within the taxi sector. These included inconsistent pricing, driver misconduct, and difficulty enforcing existing rules.
The current government’s programme, agreed nearly two years ago, included a commitment to reform the sector. The goal is to enhance safety, crack down on the grey economy, and improve service availability across the country.
Authorities have been working on the new rules for the past year. The legislation will amend the current Transport Services Act and related laws.
One of the key motivations behind the reform is passenger safety. According to figures reported by Yle, over 100 suspected sex crimes involving taxi drivers have been reported in Helsinki alone since 2018. In 2023, there were 40 such reports, compared to 11 in 2024. The Helsinki Police Department noted that the majority of suspects in these cases were foreign-born.
Currently, to qualify as a taxi driver, a person must hold a valid driver’s license, pass a driving test, and present a medical certificate. Traficom, Finland’s transport authority, also checks applicants for criminal records from the previous five years. Once issued, a taxi driver’s license is valid for five years, during which any new convictions may not be disclosed to employers.
The draft bill is now subject to feedback from industry stakeholders and the public. Final legislation will be submitted to Parliament later this year following the consultation period.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
