Saving Taxi Drivers...From Each Other!(b)|台湾运转手物语

The failure to control the number of taxis not only makes it hard for drivers to make money but is a huge waste of resources as well. It has been calculated that the time that a cab spends empty rose from 35 percent in 1995 to 80 percent in 2008. This means that the taxis of Taiwan are essentially driving around without passengers for six million kilometers per day, consuming 815,000 liters of gasoline. In real terms, over the last 10 years, the cost of fuel wasted this way adds up to over NT$50 billion.

Seeing the difficulty that drivers deal with, the MOTC has come up with one relief measure after another. For example, in 2008, when the financial crisis hit and the price of gasoline rose sharply, the MOTC gave drivers a subsidy of NT$3 per liter of fuel. Beginning last September, the MOTC also began a project encouraging civil servants to take taxis rather than government vehicles when going out on official business. The idea is that cars and drivers currently working for the civil service will be phased out. Since the average cost of a government vehicle and driver is NT$1,000-2,000 per trip, it's clear that the government can save a lot of money while helping to reduce the taxi vacancy rate.

The taxi industry is heavily dependent on the overall health of the economy. During hard times, the demand falls and many unemployed people join the ranks of the already existing taxi drivers, thereby increasing supply. The opposite happens when the economy rebounds. However, scholars and unions both are saying that the only way to deal with the problem is for the government to manage the total number of taxis.

　　出租车数量失控，不仅司机没钱赚，也耗费资源。据统计，出租车空车率由 1995 年的百分之三十五一路攀升至 2008 年的百分之八十，相当于每天空车总里程数达 600 万公里、共耗费 81.5 万公升的汽油，若以实际金额计算，过去 10 年累计油耗成本，更超过新台币 500 亿元。

　　眼见小黄生意难做，交通部相继推出抢救措施，如2008 年遇上金融海啸、油价狂飙时，汽油每公升补贴 3元；去年 9月起交通部也推动出租车公务车化，鼓励公务人员外出办公可改搭小黄，现有公务车和司机则逐渐淘汰，若与公务车一趟出车成本约 1 千到 2 千元相比，既省钱也降低出租车空车率。

　　出租车营生，多与景气荣枯有密切关系，景气差时，出租车的需求下降，而不少失业者则加入开出租车行列，使竞争加剧；景气渐苏时，部分驾驶人多会转行，且民众舍得花钱，运将就能增加载客量及营收。但学者及公会仍同声呼吁，政府应尽速实施总量管制，才是治本的解决之道。