Egypt seeks to put the brakes on crime riding tuk-tuk wave
Many unlicensed drivers of motorised rickshaws found guilty of theft, rape and drug trafficking
Whether in Egypt’s working-class areas, villages, or on highways, it is ubiquitous. The tuktuk, a motorised rickshaw, has become a main mode of transport in this country of nearly 100 million people.
Its low fares, compared to other means of public transport, and small-size mobility have boosted its popularity. The three-wheeler vehicle has also provided jobs for hundreds of thousands of Egyptians amid life woes resulting from harsh economic reforms.
However, the tuk-tuk has gained notoriety after several of its unlicensed drivers were found guilty of unlawful acts including drug trafficking, thefts, rape and even murder.
Months ago, Nermeen Rami, a university student, was talking on her mobile phone on an almost empty street in Cairo when a tuk-tuk driver snatched the pricey gadget and sped off.
“I screamed for help and ran after the tuk-tuk, but it soon vanished,” the 23-yearold woman told Gulf News. “It looked like the rest of tuk-tuks, having no plate number or a distinct sign. I reported the incident to the police, but they have not since been able to identify the culprit because tuk-tuks are still not licensed in Egypt.”
Egypt first came to know the tuk-tuk in the early 2000s ■ when the government allowed its import from Asian countries.
In recent months, there have been calls for banning the tuk-tuk in Egypt with critics accusing its operators of compounding traffic congestion, involvement in illegal acts and employing child drivers.
No regulations
“Being an unlicensed vehicle that does not respect traffic regulations, the tuk-tuk should be prohibited altogether,” said Shehata Mohammad, the head of the Cairo-based non-governmental Arab Centre for Integrity and Transparency. “It is also difficult to reach offenders in crimes and thefts involving the tuk-tuk because this vehicle has no licence,” he said.
Mohammad’s group has filed a lawsuit, requesting a blanket ban on the use of tuk-tuks.
Some tuk-tuk drivers have defended themselves against what they call a “distortion campaign”. “I drive a tuk-tuk, owned by a neighbour, for 12 hours every daily in return for 200 Egyptian pounds [Dh42] in order to support my family,” said Mohram Abdul Jelil, a former painter. “This vocation has saved my family from starvation because my previous job is no longer in demand.”
The 46-year-old father of four blamed the “bad image” of tuk-tuk drivers on misconduct by some of them. “There are some youngsters, who take drugs while they are at the wheel. They also harass women and speak badly to customers. But not all tuk-tuk drivers are like this,” he said.
Nearly two million tuk-tuks are estimated to operate across Egypt. They are believed to be a main consumer of the country’s heavily subsidised petrol Octane 80. Traffic authorities have refused to license them, saying they do not comply with safety standards.