Two Phones Plenty For Taxi Drivers: Transport Chief

Transport Commissioner Rosanna Law on Monday said a proposed ban on having more than two mobile devices on a vehicle's dashboard should not affect the needs of taxi drivers.

Law told a Commercial Radio programme that officials had consulted the trade on the proposal and it supports a two-device limit.

She explained that one device could be used to pick up orders through a ride-hailing app and a second one could be used to check a map if needed.

But the transport chief added that not all taxi drivers will need two phones if they know their way around Hong Kong and a second device could also be used for accepting customers.

Law dismissed suggestions that allowing taxi drivers to have two devices on their dashboard will still be unsafe.

"The drivers can do a quick survey asking their customers if they feel safer with two phones on the dashboard or seven. If the customers say they are okay with seven devices on the dashboard, tell me," she said.

The commissioner also said they are checking with taxi-hailing app developers whether their software supports voice control functions, so drivers can be banned from touching the screens when their vehicles are moving.

Officials are proposing fines of up to HK$2,000 for those ignoring a device limit, with the plan to be submitted to Legco next year.