AZE.US
Thousands of taxi drivers in Azerbaijan have failed a mandatory certification exam, raising questions about whether the capital could face a shortage of taxis.
According to the State Examination Center, 40,372 candidates have taken the test for taxi drivers so far. Of those, 32,562 passed, while 7,810 failed.
The exam includes 20 questions covering traffic rules, passenger rights, service standards, and basic first aid. Drivers must answer at least 10 questions correctly to receive a certificate valid for seven years.
In recent months, some residents of Baku have complained about longer waiting times for taxis and more frequent ride cancellations.
“Before, a taxi would arrive in two to four minutes. Now sometimes you can wait up to half an hour,” one resident told local media.
Transport expert Yasin Mustafa said the stricter certification requirements are intended to improve service quality and remove unqualified drivers from the market.
However, another factor affecting the sector is the government’s quota system. Authorities have set a limit of about 25,000 taxi vehicles operating in Baku.
At the same time, more than 32,000 drivers have already passed the exam, meaning thousands may remain on a waiting list until new licenses become available.
According to the Azerbaijan Land Transport Agency, around 42,520 permits have been issued for taxi activity, while about 23,000 vehicles operate daily on the streets of the capital.
Officials say demand for taxis in the city is currently fully covered, with average waiting times of three to five minutes.
The limit applies to the number of vehicles, not drivers, meaning one taxi can be operated by several drivers working in shifts.