IANS | 05 Mar, 2015
Japanese authorities
have ordered ride-sharing app Uber to suspend its pilot programme, saying it
violates the country's laws, media reported on Wednesday.
The San Francisco-based firm that uses an app to put passengers in touch with
private car owners launched a pilot programme in early February in Fukuoka in
southern Japan, in collaboration with a local university.
The project was started with the alleged aim of collecting data on transport
demand, but the transport ministry called for the suspension of the programme
saying it violates a law that prohibits unlicensed taxi services, Efe news
agency reported.
It also expressed concern about potential problems that could arise from Uber's
activities, such as the identification of legal responsibility and liability
for compensation in traffic accidents.
The US company has said that it would try to resolve these issues in order to
continue the pilot programme.
It also said that it would pay drivers' expenses incurred during the trial
operation.
Uber, which started offering its services in San Francisco in 2010, is under
investigation in several countries, including India.
South Korea, Spain and the Netherlands have already banned the service saying
it provides unfair competition for professional taxi services, among other
reasons.