Taxi drivers condemn chaotic new school transport system

Taxi drivers and parents have criticised a new system for transporting children with disabilities and autism to special schools and special programmes, DR reports.

The more automated system was introduced at the start of the school year on 13 August. Since then, some children have not been picked up at all, while others have arrived late or been collected only after school has closed.

Jan Skaug, a driver with Aalborg Taxa, said two sisters were due to be collected by separate vehicles at the same time and taken to the same school.

“A large vehicle will come for one of them, so we will drive there in convoy in two vehicles with space for 16 people, while two small girls sit in them,” Skaug said. “It is foolish to see taxpayers’ money being used this way.”

Drivers also said they could spend several weeks building trust with children who have conditions including anxiety, autism and ADHD. Under the new system, however, children may encounter a different driver every day, which they said creates stress for the children, their parents and staff at institutions.

Marlene Quist, chair of BHOV, an association for parents of children with special needs in Aalborg, said she had received many complaints from frustrated parents.

“It is very chaotic. It puts pressure on families that are already under strain, as well as on the children,” Quist said. Being late for school, being collected too early and meeting new drivers every day could be particularly difficult for the children, she said.

Claus Madsen, a dispatcher at Terndrup Taxa and Tourist Buses, said the company’s phone had been ringing continuously every morning since the system was introduced. Drivers sometimes received orders that differed from the information on parents’ documents, leading to anger directed at both drivers and the taxi office.

Dorte Jespersgaard, head of Aalborg Municipality’s transport office, said she understood the frustration. She acknowledged that the office had been overwhelmed by the new system, but said staff were working to correct errors and other problems. She could not say when all the issues would be resolved.