Hundreds of “angry” taxi drivers disrupted traffic on Monday around Lyon (Rhone), where the movement continued on Tuesday, and in the south, to protest against an agreement being negotiated with the health insurance company for the transport of seated patients, which provides for a reduction in prices for patient transport and the obligation to use “collective taxis”.
The movement had begun before dawn. With emergency lights on, around 150 vehicles parked in a junction west of Lyon, without wholly blocking traffic, as in other action sites. “Angry taxis”, “health taxis in danger”, we could read about some.
Imposed tariff reductions
Among them, Nicolas Galliot, 43, from Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme). At the helm of a taxi company, medical transport represents 60 to 70% of its turnover. «But for national taxis it can go up to 100%», he specifies.
If this agreement is adopted, it will be “to the detriment of my employees, the value of our licenses, but above all the patients,” he says. But what does this agreement consist of, which could be signed in December?
To save 300 million euros on this medical transport, the Barnier government, threatened with censorship, wants to force taxis and medical transporters to negotiate measures with the health insurance, under penalty of imposing price reductions.
Moreover, an implementing decree of the social security budget for 2024 provides that a patient can no longer refuse, with some exceptions, shared medical transport, under penalty of the obligation to advance the costs and reimbursement only on the basis of shared transport. Patients must also be cared for in less than 45 minutes and by geographic area with a limit of kilometers of diversion per patient.
In 2023, according to the Health Insurance, more than 40,000 taxis were authorized to transport patients suffering from pathologies ranging from cancer to psychiatric illnesses, or almost three-quarters of taxis in France. with a certain cost: “Health transport costs are increasing again at a very high rate (+8.2% in 2022)”, reported in particular the Directorate of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (Drees) in a published study last November.
“Deterioration of service”
For the government, this measure voted by Parliament in the autumn of 2023 aims to improve the transport offer and reduce costs and the environmental footprint. For their part, the unions assure that this law will only strengthen the difficulties encountered by taxi drivers who already suffer from competition from VTCs.
“Not only will we wait a long time to fill the car, we will make endless trips, but we will also worsen the service that we have been providing for years with patients,” according to Abdel Grine, president of the Federation of Independent Taxis of the Rhône (FTI69).
There were also disturbances in Provence-alpes-Côte d’Azur, such as at the entrances to Toulon or at the Lançon-de-Provence toll booth, one of the largest on the A7, where around 800 taxis coming from Marseille and the region blocked the traffic channels. payment until approximately 7pm, according to the operator Vinci. around 150 taxis,though,blocked all lanes except one at the Bandol (Var) toll booth “which will remain busy all night and until Tuesday afternoon”,according to the Var prefecture.
Demonstrations had already taken place earlier this year in France, especially in the Île-de-France and Paris.
How have protests by taxi drivers in Lyon impacted local traffic and government response?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Taxi Industry Expert
Time.news Editor (TNE): Good morning, and thank you for joining us today. With the recent protests by taxi drivers in Lyon over the negotiations with health insurance companies, what can you tell us about the drivers’ primary concerns?
Expert (E): Good morning! The taxi drivers are genuinely upset about the proposed agreement that would reduce the prices for transporting seated patients. This is particularly concerning given that many of them depend on this service for their livelihood. Additionally, there’s the requirement to use “collective taxis,” which effectively changes their business model and can lead to a loss of income.
TNE: that’s a worrying advancement. We understand that hundreds of drivers participated in the protests, with vehicles displaying messages like “angry taxis” and “health taxis in danger.” Describe the atmosphere on the ground during these disruptions.
E: It was quite intense. The protests were not intended to cause complete chaos, but rather to draw attention to their grievances. Around 150 vehicles with emergency lights parked at critical junctions, showing their determination without entirely blocking traffic. The drivers are clearly passionate about defending their rights and their businesses.
TNE: With the ongoing movement affecting traffic in and around Lyon, how have the local authorities responded to these protests?
E: Authorities typically seek a balance during such protests. Their priority is to maintain public safety and minimize disruption while also engaging with the drivers to understand their concerns. However, there’s often a tension present, as officials strive to negotiate with the health insurance company while the drivers demand better terms.
TNE: You mentioned that many drivers rely on patient transport as a significant source of income. How do these changes affect their financial stability?
E: These changes could drastically cut into their earnings. A reduction in tariffs means that even if they have the same number of rides, their income per ride would be significantly lower. Collective taxis could further diminish passenger loads for individual drivers,compounding the financial insecurity already prevalent in the industry,especially after the disruptions caused by the pandemic.
TNE: Absolutely, it sounds quite critical. Looking ahead, what are possible solutions or compromises that could be explored to dissipate this situation?
E: It’s essential to foster dialogue between drivers and health insurance representatives. One possible compromise could be exploring tiered pricing systems that address the needs of both the drivers and patients without severely impacting the drivers’ income. Involving the taxi drivers in negotiations can also ensure that their voices and concerns are heard.
TNE: That’s a reasonable approach. As more cities face similar challenges with transportation services and healthcare agreements,what broader implications could this hold for the taxi industry in France?
E: This situation in Lyon may signal a trend across France where taxi drivers unite to advocate for their rights. It highlights the fragility of the transportation sector, especially when intertwined with healthcare policies. Other cities may be prompted to prepare for similar protests as taxi drivers recognize the strength of collective action to prompt change.
TNE: It’s a testament to the resilience of those within the industry. Thank you for your insights today. It’s clear that finding a resolution will require concerted effort from all parties involved.
E: Thank you for having me. These discussions are crucial for the future of the taxi industry, and I hope we can come to a fair resolution soon.
