AZE.US
Taxi drivers in Baku say some customers order a standard passenger car but then attempt to enter in groups of six or seven people – and sometimes even more.
When drivers refuse to carry the oversized group, passengers may argue or file complaints against them through the ride-hailing platform.
Drivers say larger groups should order a minivan or multiple vehicles. Although such situations do not occur every day, they remain a recurring problem.
Some passengers acknowledge that they try to squeeze into one vehicle to save money. In one reported case, a group of eight or nine adults and children attempted to use a standard taxi without informing the driver in advance.
Transportation expert Adil Nabiyev said drivers are fully justified in refusing such trips.
Under Azerbaijani law, the number of people carried in a vehicle cannot exceed the number of seats listed in its technical documents. A standard passenger car can carry five people in total, including the driver – meaning no more than four passengers.
If more people appear at the pickup point, the driver has the right to cancel the trip. A taxi driver is not required to violate safety regulations because passengers ordered a vehicle that was too small for their group.
The driver, rather than the passengers, is held responsible for carrying people beyond the vehicle’s permitted capacity. Violations of passenger transportation rules fall under Article 327.2 of Azerbaijan’s Code of Administrative Offenses.
Experts warn that saving a few manats can expose the driver to a fine while placing passengers at serious risk.
An overloaded vehicle may be more difficult to control, and passengers without designated seats and seat belts face a significantly higher risk of injury or death in a crash.
AZE.US