Traffic jams and unfair competition at the port: taxi drivers appeal to the Prefect of Naples

NNaples – The Association of Basic Taxi Drivers launches a new, heartfelt appeal to the Prefect of Naples, Dr. Michele di Bari, to denounce the now unsustainable situation of the city's traffic and the ongoing irregularities that are affecting taxi service in and around the port area.

Two distinct problems but closely linked by a single common thread: the lack of concrete responses from local institutions, first and foremost the Municipality of Napoli.

City traffic on the verge of collapse

The city is paralyzed. The constant construction work scattered throughout the urban area has brought traffic to a standstill, as highlighted by numerous local media outlets.

A condition that puts public safety at serious risk: emergency vehicles struggle to reach emergencies promptly and taxi drivers are no longer able to guarantee a regular service, with serious economic and professional repercussions on a category that is already heavily penalised.

"Almost two years after the initial discussions," the Association states in its statement, "the Municipality continues to remain silent, while the situation worsens daily. For this reason, we request an urgent meeting with His Excellency the Prefect, to jointly identify immediate and concrete solutions."

Abuse and illegality in the port area

Meanwhile, the issues raised during the protest on July 8th in front of the Port Authority headquarters remain unresolved.

On that occasion, representatives of the Sitan/ATN and Unimpresa/Mobilità unions denounced serious violations that undermine legality and fair competition: from the opaque management of permits for new travel agencies and information points, to the irregular activities of the Beducci company and the CitySightseeing hostesses, who continue to sell tickets on land, in violation of the Navigation Code.

"Umbrellas, flags, makeshift stands, and makeshift sales outlets are still clearly visible," taxi drivers report, "despite promises made by Port Authority representatives regarding the implementation of checks by Polmar, the Guardia di Finanza, and the Municipal Police."

An urgent meeting to restore legality and security

The authors of the letter—Pasquale Ottaviano and Raffaele Serpico—express their deep disappointment at the failure to honor the commitments made and officially request the Prefect to convene a joint discussion among all the entities involved: the Municipality of Naples, the Port Authority, the Harbour Master's Office, the Municipal Police, and law enforcement.

The goal is twofold: on the one hand, to restore law and order in the port area, on the other, to urgently intervene to resolve the city's mobility crisis, before the protest turns into an even more sensational mobilization.

"The city is suffocating," they conclude, "and our profession, like the citizens, can no longer tolerate institutional inertia. We trust in the Prefect's authoritative intervention to restore dignity and security to Naples."