In this 2007 file photo, an investor from the police’s Accident Reconstruction Unit takes a photograph of this car that crashed into a fence in Kingston. The car was said to be racing another taxi at the time of the accident.

Owners and operators of regular taxi services (red plates) who send white plates (robot taxis) “to the gates of passengers” even while acknowledging the dangers posed to those persons who use these services are being very foolish.

In the event of motor vehicle accidents, where the robot taxi drivers were careless, owners and operators of the regular taxi services will be at risk.

At best, these could result in thousands of dollars in legal costs. At worst, they could involve compensation claims that run into millions of dollars. Those costs would not be recoverable from motor insurers.

Compliance with Transport Authority regulations is only one of many features of an efficient and profitable transportation system. Prudent regular taxi operators should, ideally, know about many things. These include The Road Traffic Act and regulations, motor vehicle insurance, basic legal principles, and how to safely operate and maintain vehicles.

According to an article published in this newspaper on December 6, red plate operators are accepting business risks about which they know absolutely zilch.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20161211/insurance-helpline-risky-robot-rides#.WE7TYjYUNrU.email