It is the agreement they have reached with the Cabildo in a meeting in which they also discussed security, intrusion and the possibility of taxi drivers wearing a uniform to improve the tourist image.

Taxi drivers commit to installing GPS before February 28 to definitively implement the Auriga System

The facilities were inaugurated last May, but the Auriga System was just that, a place with computers, because for its operation it is necessary that each taxi driver install a system in their vehicle...

August 22 2007 (20:39 WEST)
Updated in May 21 2025 (09:00 WEST)
Taxi drivers commit to installing GPS before February 28 to definitively implement the Auriga System
Taxi drivers commit to installing GPS before February 28 to definitively implement the Auriga System

The facilities were inaugurated last May, but the Auriga System was just that, a place with computers, because for its operation it is necessary that each taxi driver install a GPS system to make the location of the vehicle and the centralization of calls from users throughout the island effective in the same point, located at the guguas station. However, few were the taxi drivers who had installed it. Now, with the agreement that the sector has signed this Tuesday with the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Fabián Martín, the drivers have committed to implement it before February 28 and the Cabildo to facilitate its acquisition.

This was agreed in a meeting of more than two hours that was held this Tuesday in the Cabildo. The president of the Lanzarote Autoturismo Association, Manuel de León, assures that in a week it will be implemented in Teguise and will be progressively installed in the vehicles of the rest of the municipalities until finishing with Tías, although he points out that it is something voluntary on the part of the drivers who can choose not to put it, so they would be outside the location of the system. And the device has a cost of 1,800 euros, in the face of which the Cabildo will help to find subsidies through the Government of the Canary Islands or to mediate with banking entities to facilitate financing.

According to professionals and the Minister of Public Works, with the system, in which all the Radiotaxis of the island will be integrated, it would be possible to adjust the demand to the supply of taxi drivers. An organization that would save time and money to the sector, although the allocation of taxis prioritizes the municipality and then the proximity of the vehicle to the user who demands the service. And it is that, from the sector the call "insularization" of the taxi is discarded. Regarding the problems on Thursdays at the airport, the day on which the arrival of passengers increases, it was decided to reach a specific agreement.

Regarding the system that they will install in their vehicles, taxi drivers highlight the security device, which consists of a button connected directly to the central, so in case of a risk alert the taxi would be located, through the GPS.

During the meeting, other issues were also addressed, such as the Cabildo's proposal to uniform the clothing of the professionals in order to improve the tourist image. In this regard, eight suit models were presented, to which the professionals were in favor. In addition, they took advantage of the meeting to present their requests, among which the renewal of the fleet stands out. The sector expressed this need and requested the economic support of the Institutions for the purchase of new vehicles. Another of the proposals was to place marquees at the taxi ranks to avoid the long waits of the drivers in the sun.

Intrusion

The representatives of the taxi sector insisted on the intrusion that the group is suffering. According to Manuel de León, they assume that the disorganization and deficiencies of the service make users opt for these "pirate taxis". Therefore, he trusts that the implementation of the Auriga system will improve this situation, but they demand that the Authorities take charge of the unofficial service that harms taxi drivers.

From the Cabildo the issue was addressed with caution due to the difficulty of detecting these practices and requested the participation of the taxi drivers to report the cases of which they have knowledge

Lack of taxis in Playa Blanca

Similarly, they trust that the new call centralization system will alleviate the deficiencies of the lack of taxis. Last week, the professionals of Playa Blanca expressed their complaints about this issue. In Yaiza there are 54 licenses, and the drivers assure that during the summer season, with the increase of tourists, they cannot respond to the demand.

Currently in Lanzarote the distribution of licenses is 109 in Tías, San Bartolomé 64, Haría 9, Tinajo 6 and the capital, Arrecife 122.

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