Taxi drivers fall by quarter since 2014 - report

The report found the number of licensed drivers had fallen from 488 in 2014, to 363 last year

The author of a review into taxis in Jersey said driver numbers had declined by more than a quarter in the last decade.

The report, submitted by the leader of the Jersey Alliance Political Party, found the number of licensed drivers had fallen from 488 in 2014, to 363 last year.

Mark Boleat said numbers had dropped because applicants were being asked to commit to full-time driving and spending 18 months working for a recognised company before their license could be issued.

Andy Jehan, the island's minister for infrastructure, said there had been a "10% increase" in the number of new driver licenses in last year.

Mr Boleat's report was discussed during a meeting of the independent think tank, The Policy Centre.

'System isn't working'

It said public dissatisfaction with the service was shown by the increasing popularity of the online group Jersey Lifts, which now had more than 28,000 members.

"The system clearly isn't working for the people of Jersey," said Mr Boleat.

"The fact we have had Jersey Lifts, an informal service, which was massively used, is an indication that people don't like the service that is officially on offer."

On the island there are three Jersey-specific apps offering taxi services: Jersey Taxi App, Yellow Cabs and Ryde.

The report added Jersey Lifts was a "predictable effect of regulation", meeting the demand that in the UK was met by minicabs, including Uber.

Due to regulation, Uber does not operate in the island.

"They've created a system in which two thirds of all drivers are over the age of 60 and 28% are over 70," Mr Boleat told BBC Radio Jersey.

"The numbers of drivers are going down and there's a problem with availability."

Responding to the report and its criticism, Andy Jehan said the States was trying to get more people to work part time.

"We've seen some 30 new drivers this year alone which is a 10% increase in licenses issued," he said.

"I'm surprised we don't have more people working part time.

"We've just seen a cost of living crisis, we've seen mortgage rates increase and there's an opportunity for people to work on a part time basis to supplement their income , so I'm looking at ways we can encourage that."