Two questions regarding taxis - the obligation to provide price information and the age requirement for taxi driver licenses
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns the obligation to provide price information and the age requirement for taxi driver licenses. C is positive about lowering the age limit to 20 years but proposes 18 years and individual assessments 1. S is skeptical about the reduction as the shortage of drivers is due to poor wages and working environment 2 3 4. V wants a larger investigation of the industry, to regulate platform companies and investigate a ban on percentage wages 5. M wants to raise the amount limit for price information and link it to the price base amount 6. KD considers that a lowered age requirement is necessary due to staff shortages 7. L considers the reduction well-balanced and emphasizes road safety 8.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Speakers (15)
Ulrika Heie (C)
Mr. Speaker! It is time to debate a government proposition on facilitating the taxi industry through two different proposals. Let me, however, begin my speech with a broader perspective and point out the importance of a vibrant taxi industry in all of Sweden. It is an important cog in our public transport system and enables medical travel, transport services, and school trips, but is also important for those who do not have their own car and are in need of an efficient transport system across the entire country.
It is important to see the challenges that exist and to have confidence in an industry that works with skills development and the transition to green electric vehicles. Therefore, it is desired that the industry is given good conditions to carry out this necessary transition. Many both larger and smaller entrepreneurs see this as an important part of creating mobility and being a part of the green transition.
The two proposals that we have to take a stand on today concern the obligation to provide price information and the age requirement for taxi driver licenses. When it comes to the obligation to provide price information, it is about providing the possibility of an increase linked to the price base amount, but I will not go into more detail on this distribution. I will, however, place slightly greater weight on the age requirement for taxi driver licenses which the government now chooses to lower from 21 to 20 years. In the bill, it is argued that it does not make such a big difference to lower the age requirement by one year. In the bill and the report, it states that it is well-balanced and that the effects for both traffic safety and the ability to meet customers should be marginal because the age requirement is lowered by only one year. I think this is a somewhat defensive stance regarding young people. We know that many both 18- and 19-year-olds could very well have a taxi profession and perform the job in a good way.
Two questions regarding taxi - the obligation to provide price information and the age requirement for taxi driver licensing
Centerpartiet is positive towards the age being lowered by one year but argues that the age could be lowered further. In that case, one would obviously also need to look at the two-year rule that exists, otherwise it would not work together with the age at which one can obtain a driving license. It is, however, important that the age is lowered from 21 to 20 years as a first step.
It is certainly important to look at the statistics, but the government is essentially sweeping all young people over one broad brush and saying that one is not so good at driving when one is 18 and 19 years old. I mean that there are great differences, and one should be able to make better individual assessments and not sweep everyone over one broad brush.
The taxi industry is very important for all of Sweden. Three of the opposition parties have objections to the government's proposal and write in their reservation: "Within the taxi industry, drivers work with great professional pride, and this is something that we also see that the serious and large companies value." I react to the fact that only the large companies are highlighted, because I know that there are many smaller companies that truly value the service and the interaction they provide. This breathes a special attitude towards the taxi industry: that the large companies handle everything exemplarily while the smaller actors do not. I think it is important to highlight that the good quality we want to see in this industry applies to everyone regardless of the size of the companies.
Mr. Speaker! I move for the approval of the bill. It is a good step forward, but the Center Party would like to see that further steps are taken and that the problems of the entire taxi industry are also addressed. I hope that we will hear from the government representatives what further plans the government has to create a sustainable taxi industry in all of Sweden.
Mattias Ottosson (S)
Mr. Speaker! The taxi business in Sweden was deregulated in 1990. There was much discussion about whether this was wise or not, but the idea was that one wanted to increase accessibility throughout the country, both in the countryside and in the cities, at all hours of the day. One also wanted free pricing in order to be able to lower the price when procuring different types of taxi services. These were wise ideas, but as so often perhaps one needed to deregulate to understand what should be regulated. But, Mr. Speaker, I shall not lead a discussion on a regulation of the taxi business, for I have no such ambitions.
I can however state that they did not succeed with the geographical distribution. Instead, taxi services in the countryside have decreased. In Östergötland, for example, which I come from, it is easy to find a taxi in Norrköping but more difficult in Valdemarsvik and Ödeshög. How it went with the price development we all know. It did not become cheaper, and when it comes to the quality, any pensioner with travel services can inform that nothing has become better.
We Social Democrats have therefore previously said that we want to see a review of the entire taxi industry in order to get it right in a good way.
Mr. Speaker! Today's report concerns two issues, and from a Social Democratic standpoint, we have reacted to one thing, namely the age requirement for the taxi driver's license. The proposal is to lower it from 21 to 20 years, and we are somewhat hesitant about that. One of the most important reasons cited is the shortage of drivers. But I am not so sure that the shortage is actually that large. The Transport Agency in Norrköping has issued 100,000 licenses, of which 80,000 are active. But it is only 10,000-15,000 holders who drive taxis. There are therefore many taxi drivers, but there is still a shortage.
I do not believe that lowering the age requirement is the solution, but rather I believe that the problem is poor wages, a poor working environment, and price pressure. That is why people have chosen to opt out of driving taxis. It is perhaps this that should be looked at, Mr. Speaker, and ensure that taxi operations are planned more efficiently so that the drivers get realistic schedules with breaks and a wage they can live on. If one makes these types of changes first and then sees that the number of drivers still does not increase, then one can look at whether a lowered age requirement is a solution. From a Social Democratic standpoint, we therefore say that one should look at the working conditions first in order to bring more drivers into the taxi industry. Today, it does not work in a good way.
Ulrika Heie (C)
Mr. Speaker! Mattias Ottosson says that other things should be done first before looking at lowering the age limit. But what is it that makes the Social Democrats not believe that a 20-year-old can provide the service and the safe journey that a 21-year-old can? The taxi industry wants to create opportunities for people to enter the industry early to create a future for themselves, but now it will take a number of years before they get the chance.
What is it that makes the Social Democrats judge that a 20-year-old is not as mature as a 21-year-old to carry out the work as a taxi driver?
Mattias Ottosson (S)
Mr. Speaker! The level of maturity our young people have and how it develops varies greatly. There are certainly – I am completely convinced of it – many 18-year-olds and 20-year-olds who have achieved the right maturity. Still, I believe it is good with a certain maturation process, that one is a bit older and has a bit more life experience when one is going to work with this out in traffic, and also that one has had a driver's license for a bit longer.
As said, the Social Democratic view is actually that we would like to review the entire taxi industry, not just the pricing and taxi license issue and what age limit one should have. I believe that would be important.
But before one does that, I think – I want to return to that – it is very much about something else. Today there is a shortage of taxi drivers. We would need to get more, and we know that they are out there. What it then concerns is such things as what kind of working environment they have. If they have a good working environment, breaks, good wages and such things, it would solve much. It also applies that the authorities that procure much of the transport offer contracts that the drivers or the companies can live by. I believe that is the most important thing. Then I believe that we will see many who would like to become drivers and will develop into that.
I do not believe, however, that a reduction from 21 to 20 years is the great solution.
Ulrika Heie (C)
Mr. Speaker! I am still very surprised that one does not have the same trust in 20-year-olds in our country as one has in 21-year-olds. It is strange that one generalizes all young people and says: Sure, there are surely mature 18-year-olds, and so on.
We know today that very many young people have actually operated vehicles. They have been given the opportunity to obtain a driving license for a moped car, for example, and have operated vehicles that can very well be equated with the other four-wheeled vehicles for which one can then obtain a driving license from the age of 18.
I would still like to hear: What is it that makes one believe that the maturity of the entire group would differ so much? It is still as an individual that one chooses a profession. It is not the group that is to be judged. There are a number of young people, both boys and girls, who from the age of 18 or 19 would already be very well mature enough to take on a profession in the taxi industry.
Not least in our rural areas, we talk a lot about differences when it comes to taxis. The member mentioned Östergötland himself; we can only imagine how it is in many municipalities in northern Sweden. Shall we then close the possibility for young people to become taxi drivers until they have turned 21, as the Socialdemokrater want, or 20, as the government proposes? Centerpartiet thinks that 18 years could be a good limit, but then one must also change the two-year rule.
What is it that makes people lack confidence in young people in today's Sweden?
Mattias Ottosson (S)
Mr. Speaker! I have great confidence in Sweden's youth. I am completely convinced that they are growing up and will manage many things ahead.
It is not only within this area that we have slightly different age limits. It is the same thing when one is to drive a moped or a garden tractor. Then one must be 15 years old, but we have made the assessment that one needs to be 18 before one can get the B-license. We make those types of assessments in other areas too, even completely different areas. One becomes of age when one is 18, but one can only go to Systembolaget and shop when one is 20. Sometimes we make the assessment that age matters and that one needs to have a certain maturity.
I return to this: The problem we have highlighted is that there is a shortage of a number of drivers. That problem is not solved by lowering the age limit by one year, but by ensuring that they have a good working environment and a good salary.
It may sound as if it is only we Social Democrats who think this way. Now, Ulrika Heie does not represent the government, but in connection with the proposal having been out for consultation, it is not only the Social Democrats who have reacted. VTI, Trafikanalys, and Svenska Färdtjänstföreningen have also put forward these views. Transportarbetareförbundet makes it very clear that they do not think this is appropriate, but that there are other things they want to look at first.
That is how it looks in society. We have listened to several instances and landed on this: We can review the entire taxi industry. We believe that is needed. But we do not believe that this specifically will solve the problem of getting more drivers. It is other things that need to be done first and foremost.
Jimmy Ståhl (SD)
Mr. Speaker! We are debating two issues regarding taxis today. It is a legislative proposal where the government meets the taxi industry in two parts: partly the age for obtaining a taxi license, and partly the amount limit, which is linked to the price base amount instead of a fixed sum that needs to be adjusted over time due to inflation and so on.
There is quite a lot that can be said about taxis. Did it turn out as intended since the industry was deregulated after 1990? Is the availability better? Did it become cheaper to take a taxi? Is it safer today than before? Do you get the service you can expect? These are questions we have to take up in another debate, as this debate is about the obligation to provide price information and the lowered age to hold a taxi license.
All parties agree to change the price information from a fixed amount to link it to the price base amount, which is determined annually. The taxi driver shall provide a binding price information if the comparison price for the taxi journey exceeds 680 kronor.
Mr. Speaker! Regarding the reduction of the age to be able to obtain a taxi license from 21 to 20 years, this has long been requested by the industry. Now this reduction is coming, but it is still required that one has held a driver's license for at least two years before one can obtain the license.
S, V and MP do not consider it a good idea to lower the age as they argue that one lowers the quality within the industry, whereas we give more people the opportunity to enter professional life earlier. It is important to remember that we have not removed the requirement for a driver's license for two years, nor the theoretical tests and nor the driving test. All requirements remain; it is only the age that is lowered by one year. We have no concern that the quality decreases as a result of this measure.
In view of this, I would like to move for the approval of the bill and the rejection of the follow-up motion from S, V and MP.
Malin Östh (V)
Mr. Speaker! Members of the Committee! Taxi is an important and flexible part of the transport system. It fulfills several different needs and is used, among other things, for school transport, transport services, and medical journeys. It is important that the taxi industry functions, that it functions throughout the country, and that it also has the conditions to function well.
Today, one must be at least 21 years old to obtain a taxi license. Svenska Taxiförbundet wants to lower the age requirement to 18 years, and the government proposes 20 years, as we have heard here earlier today. The lowering of the age requirement is justified by a driver shortage and large recruitment needs.
Vänsterpartiet also sees that there is a shortage of taxi drivers today. We absolutely agree that it is a problem that needs a solution. But we do not believe that the answer is a lowering of the age requirement, rather we think it is important to look at the bigger picture and put the question in its context.
The taxi industry in Sweden was deregulated in 1990. A far-reaching deregulation was carried out in a short time and in one fell swoop. A few minor adjustments or re-regulations have been made during the nearly 35 years that have passed. But the deregulation of the taxi industry in Sweden is still so far-reaching that Sweden stands out in international comparisons.
This has had major consequences, not least for the taxi drivers and their working conditions. The profession has gone from being a high-status profession with good conditions before deregulation to today being a profession where substandard working conditions, stress, long working days, economic insecurity, and low wages are common.
Since the platform companies established themselves, the problems have worsened further. Among the descriptions I have received from taxi drivers working for platform companies, there are plenty of examples of people who work 80 or 90 hours a week but still have difficulty making ends meet. It is a shadow industry within the gig economy that has emerged where people suffer and are exploited every day of the year. Taxiunionen, which at the beginning of this week organized a protest where a large number of drivers parked their cars at Arlanda, describes these conditions as modern slavery.
That it looks like this is no news. These are problems that exist and have worsened, but which have been known for more than three decades. But very little happens.
Vänsterpartiet has submitted several proposals in this area. Earlier during this parliamentary term, we submitted a motion titled Improved working conditions in the transport sector. It contains several sharp proposals. We want to see a larger investigation of the taxi industry where the negative consequences of deregulation are evaluated and addressed. We also point out that a clarified employer responsibility and improved driving and rest time regulations are needed. We also want to investigate a ban on commission-based wages, among other things. There is much to do.
We have also submitted a motion called Order and discipline in the labor market. It contains a whole battery of proposals to regulate the platform companies. These are changes that are needed immediately.
If the government is serious about solving the taxi industry's challenges and problems, it needs to stop letting ideological blinkers regarding free competition and market steering take precedence over people's right to good working conditions. What is needed is a unified, larger investigation of the taxi industry with clear measures for a sustainable and attractive taxi industry. That is where the long-term solution to today's recruitment problems lies.
Mr. Speaker! The second question being addressed today is the threshold for price information and how it should be designed. Here I would like to refer to our specific statement which we have submitted. There we explain how we view it. This change needs to be followed closely, preferably in close dialogue with the Consumer Agency and other relevant actors. Strong consumer protection is important and must be ensured.
Johanna Rantsi (M)
Mr. Speaker! Today we are addressing two issues regarding taxis here in the chamber: partly the issue of the obligation to provide price information, and partly the issue of the age requirement for obtaining a taxi driver's license.
Mr. Speaker! I would like to begin by moving to approve the proposition.
The proposition we are debating here today contains, as stated, two different parts. The first part concerns raising the amount limit that triggers the obligation to provide a specific price information. The Government proposes not only an increase of the price information but also that it should be linked to the price base amount instead of consisting of a fixed amount.
The Transport Agency's investigation into pricing and price information for taxi journeys, presented in September 2022, shows that the provision regarding the obligation to provide a price indication has had the desired effect. The obligation to provide a price indication means that a taxi passenger, even before taking a taxi, has the right to know if the price for the journey will be high, if the comparison price will exceed 500 kronor. Since there is free pricing within the market, this would help taxi passengers in choosing a taxi. This was decided as early as 2014.
Mr. Speaker! Since 2014, much has happened in our economy. We have, among other things, had high inflation. But nothing has been done with this amount. Therefore, the government now proposes that the amount limit be raised, and not only that it be raised but also that it be linked to the price base amount. It shall, therefore, be raised with the price base amount going forward and not need to be adjusted by the Riksdag in the same way as now.
Mr. Speaker! Just as it is obvious to decide on this, it should be to decide on the second part of the bill: lowered age for taxi driver license. The Government proposes that the minimum age to hold a taxi driver license according to the main rule shall be lowered to 20 years. But it will remain that at the age of 18 one can obtain a taxi driver license if one has relevant education in its possession.
The competence supply within various infrastructure occupations needs to be highlighted more clearly in the political discussion, and the current recruitment base for these occupations needs to be broadened. Many young people today have finished their studies at the age of 21 and perhaps chosen a completely different career path. This complicates recruitment to the industry. A reduction from 21 to 20 years would enable at least some more to choose the taxi industry as a profession. We know, at the same time, that unemployment is relatively high among people in exactly the 20-year-old age group.
To this, we also have tens of thousands of healthy men and women living on benefits while there is a shortage of, for example, bus drivers and taxi drivers, even though some industries even offer free training. This testifies to a larger systemic failure.
The shortage of drivers applies across all sectors, not just the taxi industry. There is not just one solution to address these challenges, even if this is a small step along the way. It is about a combination of things: a clear work line where it should always pay off better to work than to receive benefits, adjustments in age for different driver's licenses, reduced administration, combating organized crime, lowering costs, and ensuring that entrepreneurship gets better conditions.
Mr. Speaker! The Social Democrats show an inability to see that all these measures were needed. The party writes in its follow-up motion something along the lines that lowering the requirements to obtain a taxi driver's license implies lowered quality. It is completely incomprehensible. When you turn 18, you are allowed to vote. When you turn 20, you are allowed to shop at Systembolaget. All adult rights are obtained from the day you turn 20. You have also been able to drive an A-tractor for five years, a tractor for four years, an EU moped for five years, and a car for two years. What exactly does this reduction in quality consist of? What evidence do the Social Democrats have for the claim that 21-year-olds drive better than 20-year-olds?
It is, however, true, as the Social Democrats write, that there are many people who have taken taxi licenses. Many of these have driven extra in connection with studies or to earn extra in connection with, for example, starting a family, buying a house, or other reasons. They renew their licenses to retain the possibility of driving a taxi. A doctor who drove a taxi in their youth is, however, not an unemployed taxi driver who needs a job, but it is a doctor who also has the right to drive a taxi. And that is not a problem at all.
The Social Democrats are also partly correct in their follow-up motion that the taxi market has structural problems with low wages and a poor working environment. But that is not solved by either more regulations or an invented 21-year age limit to obtain a taxi license. The Social Democrats' and the Left Party's analysis is that people do not drive taxis because we have deregulated the market. But the parties completely lack any references to scientific support for this claim in the reservation texts.
Mr. Speaker! The Social Democrats' proposal does not provide better conditions, and it does not lead to less crime or greater safety. The only thing that policy leads to is greater difficulties in finding drivers, more expensive taxi trips, and more bureaucracy. The Moderates, on the other hand, say yes of course to a lowered age for driving a taxi, because we want less bureaucracy and more people in work.
Magnus Jacobsson (KD)
Mr. Speaker! Today we are debating taxi, as mentioned, and we are handling two tasks in the bill. I would like to start by moving for approval of the proposal in the committee report.
The first question concerns price information. Those of us who are somewhat older can state that it was quite chaotic before a decision was made a number of years ago to establish this requirement. It is a requirement that has actually benefited all consumers. Some of us take taxis at regular intervals, and at least I think it is very pleasing when one can see a sign that tells you about the prices. One can also see information about fixed prices when arriving at Arlanda or Landvetter and wanting to go into the city. The regulation that was made once upon a time has served us well. At the same time, it is a fact that the prices have changed. Therefore, it is wise that the government reviews the whole thing. It is also wise that the basic idea is maintained.
The second major issue we are addressing today concerns age limits. I think it is good. We are taking a step, which I believe is necessary. I also belong to those who believe that we will need to take further steps forward.
Just as a member previously pointed out, we see the same phenomenon for trucks, for buses, and in the taxi industry. There is a shortage of personnel, and we see how the entire system is actually being challenged by the fact that we are beginning to enter a phase where population growth is slowing down. More people are retiring, and fewer are entering the professional side.
I believe therefore, Mr. Speaker, that the issue will return. The discussions will recur. I personally think that the Swedish taxi industry points to a problem that we partly face by moving from 21 years to 20 years, and I naturally move for approval of the proposal, well aware that we will have this discussion in society during the next 10-15 years. It will apply to both truck and bus, railway and taxi, but we will also see it in other industries. We are entering a phase where there will be more job opportunities than there will be people who are prepared to enter these industries.
I move, as I have said, for approval of the proposal in the report.
Helena Gellerman (L)
Mr. Speaker! Today we are debating the Committee on Transport's report 2, which concerns two important issues regarding taxis: partly the obligation to provide price information, and partly the age requirement for taxi driver licenses.
The government is changing the age requirement for a taxi license from 21 years to 20 years. They are also changing the threshold for when taxi drivers need to provide a price estimate to the customer so that the customer knows what the journey will cost. This is linked to the price base amount instead of having to make a constant adjustment.
Mr. Speaker! In 1990, the maximum fare for taxis was removed and instead a price disclosure obligation was introduced, so that the customer would receive information in advance regarding what the fare was. The purpose was to give taxi drivers the conditions to be able to provide better service and availability and to increase competition to provide customers with more reasonable prices. Swedish taxi regulation has therefore differed since 1990 from most other countries because, from an international perspective, it is very unusual to have completely free pricing of taxi journeys.
The change did not, however, provide the price competition that was intended, and in 2014 the government decided to submit a proposition with the proposal that the customer should receive a price indication before the journey if a specific comparison price exceeded 500 kronor. In 2022, the Transport Agency evaluated the system and found that just this part had finally achieved the desired effect.
The reason for the government's proposition is that the price has not been adjusted since 2014 and that the amount, after the last few years of inflation, is set too low. Instead of determining a fixed amount, it is proposed that the price level be linked to the price base amount, which in 2024 is 57,300 kronor. The level is proposed to be 1.2 percent of this amount, which for this year would mean 680 kronor. Just this year, it will therefore be an increase from 500 to 680 kronor. Later, however, the price shall not be established in a document, but it shall follow the price base amount.
The Liberals consider it good to link the level to the price base amount to avoid fixed amounts that become outdated after a few years. It is also positive that the Transport Agency in its study has seen that the system has had the intended effect, that is, that it is easier for customers to understand what a taxi journey costs.
Mr. Speaker! When the taxi driver's license was introduced in 1998, the minimum age was raised from 19 years to 21 years for taxi drivers. The increase was justified by the responsibility it entails to transport other people. Above all, traffic safety was considered. At the same time, the requirement was introduced that one must have held a driving license with category B or with category D for at least two years.
In 2011, a provision was introduced stating that a person who has turned 18 could obtain a taxi driver's license if they had received certain professional driving competence for bus transport within upper secondary school or equivalent. The idea was that the training would compensate for the lower age. One can, therefore, already today obtain a taxi driver's license when one has turned 18, but in that case, one must also receive further training. In this part, we propose no change, and it will remain as it is.
The government now proposes that the minimum age be lowered from 21 to 20 years in order to be able to obtain a taxi driver's license. The requirement remains that one must have held a B-driving license for two years.
The Liberals believe that this is a well-balanced change. The taxi industry has a great need for new drivers, and a taxi driver's license is a good way to get a first job and enter the workforce. At the same time, we know from statistics that young drivers have a significantly higher risk of accidents than experienced drivers, and therefore the reduction by one year to 20 years and not by three years to 18 years is a well-balanced level. The risk of accidents is also visible among insurance. When young people want insurance for their first car, they often receive a significantly higher insurance premium because it has been seen in the statistics that the risk of accidents among young people is greater.
The Social Democrats claim that the quality in the taxi industry would deteriorate if the age is lowered. I wonder on what basis the Social Democrats base such a claim. How can one generalize about all young people? The quality depends entirely on which young people who seek employment in the taxi industry. One cannot say generally that the quality is lowered.
Simultaneously with this new change, it is important that we follow the development once the age reduction has been implemented to ensure that there is no deterioration of road safety when one can obtain a taxi driver's license from the age of 20.
I vote in favor of the government bill and against the follow-up motions.
Ulrika Heie (C)
Mr. Speaker! Now we have heard all the government representatives give their views on this regarding the age limits. I think I hear some differences between them in the view on the 20-year limit. Someone says that it is the limit that we should have, someone else that it is probably only the first step and that it may be necessary to lower it further.
The chairman said that the criticism against the Social Democrats is that they are sweeping everyone over with a broad brush when they say that one cannot lower from 21 to 20. But my impression is that the government also sweeps everyone over with a broad brush when it refers to statistics. Of course, the accident statistics are somewhat higher in younger age groups, but it is not the case that all young people drive unsafely.
The Chairman said that in 1998 it was raised from 19 to 21 years and that it is now time to lower it. I wonder then: Is there a discussion among the government representatives that this should be the first step and that one would be prepared to lower it to 19 years and also make individual assessments?
The chairman pointed out that this possibility remains if one has an education within the upper secondary school that makes it possible to apply for a taxi driver's license from the age of 18. I would like to ask the question: Are there opportunities for young people to still have their driving experience validated in some way? Even if they have not acquired education within the transport area in upper secondary school, one could imagine that they could be given the opportunity to obtain a taxi driver's license somewhat earlier than at the age of 20.
I am sincerely curious about the discussion. Is this just a first step, or is this where one is supposed to land? Is there a possibility to get an individual assessment and not just end up within the collective of young people, who, as they say, contribute more to accidents than other age groups?
Helena Gellerman (L)
Mr. Speaker! I thank Ulrika Heie very much for the question. I think it is a very interesting thought that the member raises.
Centerpartiet proposes that it should also continue to be possible to obtain a taxi driver's license from the age of 18. This can be done today if one obtains additional training. I think that is good. If one undergoes additional training, one matures and gains a greater understanding of what can happen when one drives a taxi and is to transport others. The possibility of obtaining a taxi driver's license already exists today from the age of 18 - for those who really want to become taxi drivers at that age.
As I mentioned in my main speech, it is important that we follow what happens when we now lower the limit from 21 to 20 years. I may not have been so clear in the speech, but one thought is that one could see in the age statistics whether there are any major changes or not. I think it is important that one looks at the traffic safety statistics. Here is perhaps the main reason why a level above 18 years of age is set. It is known from both Transportstyrelsen's statistics in Strada and the insurance statistics that there is a much higher risk of accidents up to 24-25 years of age. But can we see that there is a change where perhaps we can open up to lowering the age further.
Ulrika Heie (C)
Mr. Speaker! I thank Member Gellerman for the answers. It is important that as many paths as possible are opened for young people to be able to secure a livelihood. Now the Member mentions that there is an opportunity to obtain a taxi driver's license earlier if one obtains an education within the transport industry. But we also see that the taxi profession can be a very suitable extra occupation while one is, for example, studying at a university, perhaps in a completely different direction. If one can obtain the taxi license earlier, one can participate and contribute to ensuring that there is an opportunity for travel throughout the country.
I experience that there are openings from the member's side. We have also heard from some of the other representatives for the Tidö parties that one could imagine that this could be a first step.
It is clear that road safety is extremely important even for the Center Party. I am still a bit concerned about what is written in the report. They mention not only road safety but also the handling. They believe that no major change will occur there if they lower from 21 to 20—as if a 19-year-old would not be able to handle schoolchildren, elderly people, or other customers in a good way.
I really hope that this trust exists for young people. There is an opportunity here not to generalize and just say that the accident statistics are high among young people, who thus receive higher insurance premiums, and that they also should not be given the opportunity to obtain a taxi driver's license because other people of their own age do not drive in a safe manner.
If one follows the developments and sees what is happening, how much room is there from the government parties when it comes to being able to take the next step and lower it to 19 or perhaps even to 18 years? There are quite a few young people today who have a driver's license and experience of driving. We often highlight tractor-trailers and moped cars as a concern, but they also give very many people experience in traffic and practice in respectful interaction already from the age of 15. I wonder how the member sees that.
Helena Gellerman (L)
Mr. Speaker! I represent the Liberals, and it is in that capacity that I speak.
For me, road safety is the most important part. When one has just received a new driver's license and has no experience of driving in traffic, should one then be able to obtain a taxi driver's license and set out to drive other people? All of us who have entered a new profession know that one needs a certain amount of time to learn the elements of that profession. Therefore, it is important that one has driven for a while before being given the opportunity to drive others. If one has gone through this training in upper secondary school, one has practiced it and shown a certain maturity.
The development that the member is bringing up, I think is very interesting. It is now that many more are driving moped cars. We also see a dramatic increase in the number of A-tractors. There are risks with this in traffic, and there is a frustration. But it also gives young people an opportunity to practice driving a car. Those people who want to become taxi drivers and have had A-tractors since the age of 15 have indeed practiced for a longer period. I think that is an interesting development.
I rely very much on the accident statistics. If we see an improvement there, there might be a possibility to lower the age further. But road safety is the primary reason why we choose 20 years.
The deliberation was hereby concluded.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.