Smelly taxis a thing of the past with new cab deodorant

NICE SMELL: All Dubai taxis have a deodorant fitted under the driver's seat to rid any unpleasant smells. (Getty Images)

All taxis in Dubai are now fitted with a deodorant in a bid to improve customer satisfaction after reports of “smelly taxicabs”.

A statement from Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) on Thursday said every one of its 3,503 taxis have been fitted with a natural smelling deodorant.

"Dubai Taxi Corporation has opted to install deodorants with natural fragrance and place them below cabby's seat and will last for one month from the date of installation,” Yousef Mohammed Al Ali, director of DTC Fleet Operations Department.

"This natural scent has undergone a three-month test involving over 350 vehicles of Dubai Taxi fleet, and the material proved effective in removing odours and spreading a pleasant sweet-scented smell in the vehicle's interior.

“The success of this material has been measured in customer satisfaction surveys about the smells of taxicabs; particularly at Dubai International Airport,” he said.

"RTA in general and DTC in particular are engaged in discussions with the suppliers of Dubai Taxi vehicles about the smelly cabs,” he added.

DTC said it made every effort to ensure taxis were clean, including changing the air-conditioning filters every three months and cleaning the seats and interior.

Print | Email | Discuss this article

| Share |

READERS' COMMENTS

Towards a cleaner & fresher experience
Posted by MS, Dubai, UAE on Monday 12 October 2009 at 08:52 UAE time


I strongly believe that RTA should start some personal grooming classes / training for their taxi drivers. Of course one should not forget the difficult conditions in which these drivers are staying ( most of them stay in a sharing accomodation where living conditions are not so rosy ). A few simple suggestions :
1) Provide grooming classes / training on personal hygiene.
2) Provide the drivers with a shower & locker facility.
3) Inspect & enforce personal grooming is practised as required.

Both customers & drivers will benefit from this initiative. When you want to solve a problem, just don't take a short cut. Go to the root cause & TRY SOLVING IT over there. The result will be far better. It will demonstrate that RTA knows how to take care of issues not just take a short cut.

Just fitting cars with deodorants will not solve the problem. We will still have stinky & smelly cabs.

Think to resolve.

Smelly Taxis
Posted by James, Dubai on Sunday 11 October 2009 at 15:04 UAE time


Covering up smells is not the way to deal with the problem. Here is the solution. (i) RTA should provide locker rooms with showers for all drivers (this will also be a nice gesture towards its workforce), and (ii) the interior of all taxis should be given a wet valet every month. Simple!

the usuall south Indian
Posted by Suhail, DUBAI, United Arab Emirates on Sunday 11 October 2009 at 14:21 UAE time


Well it is very commom to sit in a Malluh or a South Indian cab where the entire smell is off Coconut combine with the smell of their bodies ... Yaaaaaaaaaak.... hope it will never happen again

Smelly Taxis
Posted by Alarmed visitor, Dubai, UAE on Sunday 11 October 2009 at 13:15 UAE time


Why doesn't RTA get to the bottom of the root cause? How can they think of covering stinking body odour with a 'sweet smelling' car deodorant. Even if the taxi drivers are "exploited" as people have mentioned in this forum, what stops them from having a bath regularly? Maybe RTA should supply them a stock of deodorants (and charge the passengers for that!) Also they should ensure that drivers are subjected to regular hygiene check-ups randomly. Hygiene is key and there should be no compromise on that. That is the only way to handle this "stinking' issue effectively.

View all comments (24) >>

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Enter the words above *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM